According to FinAid.org, the average cumulative debt for 4-year undergraduate students who applied for federal student aid was $24,651. Gawker has a profile of one of the outliers, a 23-year-old Northeastern graduate who has racked up more than $200,000 in student loans.

You might want to sit down while she explains what her monthly payments will look like for the next 20 years.

From Gawker:

I am actually forced to live with my parents (forced = I am lucky! But…) as the monthly payments for just my private loans are currently $891 until Nov 2011 when they increase to $1600 per month for the following 20 years… attached is my payment plan. I also mentioned I have a job – which is great! And I probably have my college education to thank for that!

Ouch. Just… ouch. If you’re a high school senior investigating your financial aid options, please educate yourself. We’ve compiled a Big-Ass List of Student Loan Resources to help.

Please remember that student loan debt is serious, serious business. Student loans are difficult, if not impossible, to discharge in bankruptcy. Check out Student Loan Borrowers Assistance from the National Consumer Law Center for more information.

What $200,000 in Student Debt Looks Like [Gawker]

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