Federal student loan debt has ballooned in recent years. In 2007, debt totaled $642 billion dollars. 14 years later, this number has risen to close to $1.7 trillion. More than 43 million Americans have student loan debt, with the average person owing around $39,000. With payments on student loans expected to restart early next year after an almost two-year freeze due to the pandemic, will more people struggle to pay back what they’ve taken out? What should students know before heading to college?