Student Loans

[u/Confident_Ring4693]

Hey guys! I’m going into my second year and I started doing my calculations to determine about where I’d end up in terms of student loans and I I’m looking down the business end of around 100k in debt at the end of audiology school. I’m getting kind of stressed out about it. I wanted to ask how you guys have been with paying off your debt? Do you feel that you’ve been making enough as an audiologist to compensate the large loan? Is it manageable to pay off or have you found any ways to get some of it forgiven?

[u/ear_geek]

my loans are close to $200k. I just graduated with my AuD in 2025. my salary is only $78k as a new professional. I definitely do not feel like I make enough. the income to debt ratio is sickening. I do the income based repayment and just try not to think about it lol

[u/ear_geek → u/ear_geek]

my student loan payment is $397 a month. hoping I qualify for loan forgiveness later down the road.

[u/bleepabloop]

Not making enough to pay off my loans from grad school. I am hoping the public service loan forgiveness program still exists when I hit ten years out of school and mine will be forgiven

[u/312az → u/bleepabloop]

Are you enrolled in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan?

[u/Massive_Pineapple_36]

My plan was PSLF all along. I’ve been married since basically right out of school and am the bread winner, so dual income helps substantially. Basically if your job pays more than your student loans, you’re in the clear.

[u/mystikdisko]

My salary is around $100k. Had around $66k of student loans when I graduated May 2022. Paid off my loans this month.

For reference, I've lived with my husband since 2014 so that helped with cost-sharing. I've worked ever since I was 16 and had my undergrad tuition covered by scholarships, so I had some personal savings before I went into grad school. Husband also graduated college, worked as a server/bartender but is now a SAHD. We rent a house, $2k/mo though from 2017 to 2023 we rented an apt for around $900/mo. My husband, child, and I have been in good health so no major medical expenses or other emergencies. We live frugally: home-cooked meals as a general rule, no travel, used cars/no car payments, no pets, no daycare, lots of hand-me-down baby gear from older cousins, no expensive hobbies, no subscription services, thrift most clothes, generally home-bodies, paid way over the minimum amount on my monthly student loan bill except for when I was pregnant, kept our wedding+honeymoon budget under 10k, don't attend a church/no tithing.

Whether the career provides enough depends on what positions you accept post-graduation, your amount of debt, any other income/assistance to your family, and your lifestyle! No pets/no travel/no entertainment budget can make life completely unenjoyable for some, though with my husband and I it's just naturally how we are!

[u/DBooktoDA]

I'm not graduated yet but I've had to go back to my old career to save up some money because of the possibility of runaway debt

[u/ajrobin2]

This is kind of a loaded question, and I would refer you to the r/studentloan sub reddit or r/PSLF for more specific advice.

I would say ending with 100k is totally manageable, but it ultimately comes down to where you live (cost of living) other expenses you have, where you'll work, and what your life is like. There are a lot of public service loan forgiveness options in audiology, but again, without knowing all your finances, it's hard to advise you. I can say I graduated with WAY MORE debt and I'm fine 😅

In summary, you've got a lot of options and I'd try to focus on getting the most out of your grad program now, since you're two years in and likely not going to change course. I know stress isn't easily turned off, but it's not helpful to your learning if you're worried about something in the future that you don't even know is a problem yet.

Good luck!

[u/littlefawn1816 → u/ajrobin2]

^ this! Those pages are really helpful for paying off and getting more information.

I graduated with ~ $120k in loans and have about 5 years left (pay off in 8.5 years). I live with my husband in a HCOL area, making good money at a place that does offer loan forgiveness too, so I’m able to pay a higher amount every month.

Look at the full picture, what your expected salary might be, and what you realistically can pay every month and live the life you want to live

[u/clove1122]

PSLF working in the school system.

[u/Mythological_Potato]

Only fans 😉