Hmm! I’m not sure if I can be too helpful in this department. The $22,000 private student loan I’m paying off above was offered to me as part of my financial aid package, and I felt okay with taking it out in part because of the low interest rate that was offered to me (which was low because it just happened to be at the right place and the right time AKA pre-Financial Crisis). The best thing you can do hit up your financial aid office for help/advice (I spent a lot of time talking to counselors at mine). And obviously don’t take out more than you’re comfortable—I felt okay with mine and then the Financial Crisis came and I felt differently about it, but I was able to weather it out okay.