If the college degree doesn't lead to a career that earns a living wage and also at the same time retires that student debt within 10 years, I think an individual has to really examine their options and perhaps pursue either a different career path or a different college funding option. In that 10 year timespan, most college graduates will want to start a family, buy a home that includes a mortgage and have a desire to maintain a certain lifestyle that goes along with the career field, and ultimately should start to fund a secure retirement. If the student debt can't be retired by the time the graduate is ~32 years old, I think it's going to severely handicap future financial security. And that debt service should be a stand-alone situation.....no help from a spouse or other. In the long run, you can never be 100% sure of anything outside your control.  It would be great if every student loan portfolio could fit that bill, but sadly, many do not.