For many graduates, student loan debt can feel like a life sentence, delaying major life purchases for years or even indefinitely. However, a recent report highlights that with strategic planning and determination, clearing this burden in under a decade is possible.
Strategic Refinancing and a Side Hustle
Lauren Braley, a 35-year-old from Arizona, managed to eliminate approximately $125,000 in student debt in just seven years. Remarkably, she achieved this without putting her life on hold, buying a house and having a child during this period.
Her key strategy was taking advantage of historically low interest rates during the pandemic. She refinanced her federal student loans, slashing the interest from around 6% to below 3%. After refinancing twice more, she estimates saving a staggering $55,000 in interest.
Braley, a physical therapist, also created a lucrative side gig. After posting career advice on LinkedIn, she began coaching other therapists for a fee. She used this extra income to make the final push, becoming debt-free in December 2025.
Escaping the Interest Trap
Christopher Villarreal's story is one of escaping poverty. The 31-year-old from Denver used college as a route out but graduated in 2016 into a retail job paying just $13 an hour. His monthly payments didn't cover the accruing interest, making him feel like he was "drowning."
His fortune changed after landing a job at a ski resort company and starting a side business in event security. He began saving aggressively, sometimes up to $2,000 a month. Crucially, he enrolled in a repayment plan that halted interest accrual, allowing him to finally chip away at the principal on his $46,000 debt.
Motivated by the Trump administration's 2025 announcement to restart interest accrual on such loans, Villarreal focused all his efforts to clear the remaining balance over nine years before the debt could grow again.
A Plan From the Start
For NiaChloe Bowman, a 28-year-old teacher in New York City, foresight was everything. She paid off her loans in an impressive two years by planning from the outset.
She chose a university with a strong financial aid package to minimise borrowing. During her studies, she worked both on campus and in a restaurant, paying down $2,000 before she even graduated. "Debt and oppression have been two of the things that have held us back as Black and brown people," Bowman stated. "I didn’t want that to be my narrative."
Her first job paid a $70,000 salary with a $10,000 signing bonus. She maintained $500 monthly payments even during the pandemic-era repayment pause. To celebrate her freedom from debt, she visited Niagara Falls to honour her late mother's dream.
Key Takeaways for Borrowers
These stories, while unique, offer valuable insights for anyone facing student debt:
- Refinancing when rates are low can yield massive interest savings.
- Side incomes can dramatically accelerate repayment timelines.
- Enrolling in plans that pause interest can be a game-changer.
- Early planning and consistent, aggressive payments pay off.
While the average federal student loan balance sits around $40,000, these cases prove that with a tailored strategy, significant sacrifice, and sometimes a dose of luck, achieving debt freedom years ahead of schedule is within reach.
