You might be wondering how much student loan debt is “too much.” A standard rule of thumb when deciding how much student loan debt an undergraduate should take out is to not exceed your estimated first year income. For example, if you plan on making $30,000 in your first year out of college you should aim to stay under $30,000 in undergraduate student loans. An important thing to remember is that your first year out of college you will likely be making an income on the lower end of the “average” salary for your profession.