How much should I take out in student loans?

This decision involves a number of factors: the overall cost of your education, how long you’ll be in school, your expected earnings after graduation and your future lifestyle. In general, you should compare the total amount you’ll repay, including accumulated interest, to your starting salary. Experts say your student loan debt should be less than 15% of your gross income because you’ll have so many other expenses, like housing, food and transportation. Remember that you’ll still be responsible for repaying your student loans whether or not you graduate and regardless of your earnings.