<prompt> Human: I dont know if this is the right sub, but here goes. Today, I discovered that my 60k degree will take 34 years to pay off, and will cost me 180k in the process. 285 payments of 628 a month. Interest is accruing at approximately 300month, so I will need to pay more than that to even make a tiny dent. At 30,000year, I simply cant afford the full amount and I fear that I will never get this paid off.I am legitimately panicking. I have never regretted anything so much in my life. Even if I go on an income-based repayment plan, I will keep drowning. I am not a teacher, my degree requires a masters degree, and I dont know if signing up to be in an active combat zone is worth the loan forgiveness. I was working a minimum wage job prior to this, so my income-based repayment was 0, but now Im facing the full reality of the situation.I wanted to buy a house, get a car, move overseas...and now Im seeing all of that fall apart. I dont know what to do. Has anyone else been in this situation? I feel so hopeless.ETA: My loan is consolidated at 5.5 interest rate.  <response>: my 60k degree will take 34 years to pay offNo it wont. Zero plans are 34 years. Most are 10 or 15 years, and the extended income based plans that the Feds offer have forgiveness after 20 or 25 years depending on the specific plan youre in.At 30,000year,Well, what kind of job did your 60k degree get you, and do you have any prospect of more gainful employment with it?I have never regretted anything so much in my life. Even if I go on an income-based repayment plan, I will keep drowning.No you wont. Thats the whole point of the plan. 15 of disposable income should be manageable for anyone.I wanted to buy a house, get a car, move overseasjoke redacted Want isnt the primary motivator for a lot of adult decisions. When you have obligations you have to deal with them.Your repayment on a 10 year plan should be on the order of 600mo. Thats 7200yr. Or 3.6hr. Sure, at 30kyr its about 12 of your net income, and sucks a bit, but ifwhen youre making more money its easily dealt with. Post a budget and really look at your expenses. Even if you cant manage the 10 year plan right now, you should be able to make a dent in it. 