<p>"You need to realize that in your yearly pay, a certain amount will be taken out for taxes, utilities/rent (mortgage if you want a house), your own living expenses (groceries, clothes), and there will only be a small amount left that you could pay for loans."</p>
<p>What? Whoever said anything about paying it off in one year or even two years?</p>
<p>If you have a job that pays 80k a year, it wouldn't be an extraordinary burden if you had 80k in debt. It's a rule of thumb. These values are relative not absolute.</p>
<p>Too much is what you can't afford. If you're going to rack up 100k in debt you better come out with a job that pays 100k in salary. As most grads will see jobs in the 20-30k region it would be wise to not take on much more than that.</p>
<p>No one was ever saying "pay it off in 1-2 years." However, you don't want to be paying off student loans over 20-30 years, when you get into your 40s and 50s. </p>
<p>I'm sure you could manage to pay it off, but you will have to make sacrifices in your lifestyle. When you grow up and have 2 kids, a wife (or husband) and you're the sole provider with your salary, the last thing you'll have money for are student loans.</p>
<p>Read articles about how many people regret taking out student loans and having a portion of their paycheck go to them each year, people who do it will tell you not to do it, not to put that much debt on yourself, and that it isn't worth it.</p>