If you've been diligently paying all of your bills every month, maybe you're reading this article while enjoying a congratulatory glass of wine or a piece of chocolate cake. After all, don't you deserve a reward for all that discipline? 

But hold on ... shouldn't your excellent credit score be worth a little more than a booze or sugar hangover?  So why, exactly, is your lender not showing you some love?

Before we headed off to college, most us heard how our college years would be the best years of our lives. And yes, they were great, but they were also pretty expensive. 

As we try to get the hang of this adulting thing—showing up for work on time and paying our bills—our college education can start to take on a different hue. If you've ever spent any time wondering about how you could've done things differently, you're not alone according to our recent survey.

No matter how much student loan debt you have, it’s the monthly payments that truly impact your day-to-day life. Finding space in your budget to pay a hefty student loan bill can be challenging—if not impossible.

If you have federal loans, you probably qualify for an income-driven repayment plan that can can make your monthly payments a lot easier. They are:

1. PAYE
2. REPAYE
3. IBR
4. ICR

Going back to school can be a fantastic career booster. In some roles, having a masters degree increases your earning potential by tens of thousands. And certain careers—like being a lawyer or a doctor—simply aren't possible without additional higher education. 

But managing a student debt load while you're in a graduate program can feel a little like running a marathon with a boulder strapped to your ankle. The good news is that deferring your loans is an option for most students, but it won't be the best choice for everyone. 

While the process of applying to refinance your student loans isn't particularly time-consuming, you'd probably rather not spend the half hour collecting documents and filling out paperwork if you think your application will be denied. 

One of the best ways to increase your chance of successfully refinancing your student loans is to apply with a cosigner. 

With Americans now owing over $1.4 billion in student loans, some states have stepped up to help their residents pay back those loans a bit more quickly — especially if they can do so while providing much-needed skills to other state residents. 

To incentivize health professionals to work in areas of high need, Massachusetts offers loan repayment assistance to borrowers in the medical field.