The goal should be to borrow as little as possible. Try to limit your total student loan debt at graduation, including federal and private student loans, to no more than your annual starting salary. If your total student loan debt is less than your annual income, you should be able to afford to repay your student loans in ten years or less. Keeping your student loan debt in sync with your income after graduation will help you afford your monthly payment. Predicting your income after you graduate can be difficult, and it depends on many factors, including where you live, what you major in and the general state of the economy. A good way to estimate your post-graduation income is to check with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). This group produces regular reports that estimate grad’s incomes based on their majors. Other sources of salary information include PayScale.com, Salary.com and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With federal student loans, you may be able to use an income-driven repayment plan, but most private loans don’t offer this option. You have to use the same repayment plan regardless of your income, which can be a problem if you make less than you expect to after graduating. The safest bet is to borrow as little as possible while still getting a good college education. Taking steps to reduce the cost of your education or to find ways to earn money to pay for school while you’re studying can help reduce the amount that you have to borrow.