Anecdotal, but when I dropped out of college, I had a relatively decent time with my student loans. I was raised with the idea that I shouldn't borrow more than I think I could pay back, do what I can to pay on time, and a loan is like any other promise, if you give your word, you have to keep it. So, after dropping out I didn't have much to show for myself, other than a big, ugly debt. I buckled down, got two full time jobs, and started working 70-80 hours a week, paying off that loan as quickly as possible. After about three years, it was gone. I still kept those two jobs though, to try and keep myself out of debt, build a nest egg, etc. Unfortunately, I made some very bad decisions that left me in a financially bad state for a few years that I had to crawl out of as well (life pro-tip people, just because you can afford something this month, doesn't mean you can afford it every month for years, this applies to car loans, apartments, etc.). Anyhow, I came out relatively intact.

The thing though? I didn't owe anywhere near what your wife or other people end up owing by the time they graduate, so they struck me as reasonable and managable. If I had owed that much money I would have found myself so overwhelmed it would have shut me down emotionally. I would have taken a hard look at my loan payments and a hard look at that shiny El Camino on Craigslist and make the logical choice. I'd get the El Camino. College already burned me. That car? That car is material happiness bro.