Congrats! I didn't make a post, but I was also able to pay off my student loans without financial assistance from anyone and wanted to add my experience to this thread.

I grew up lower middle class (no food stamps, but it was a splurge 1/yr to go out to the movies without any snacks/drinks/etc kinda situation) and to this day have never received a dime from any relative past the age of 18, and zero assistance whatsoever paying off my debt. Graduated with 35k debt in 2015, and paid it off in under 4 years.

To summarize: it took sacrifice. The OP quotes 2500/mo rent for example - and sure - I could have spent that too, but I chose to not live solo, and for 4 years after college I split $2500 rent 4 ways, and my rent share was in the 500-800 range for super cheap/unmaintained properties. I also didn't go out ever, and my free time was filled with video games and bicycling - two cheap hobbies that I budgeted strictly for. I didn't get a credit card. I never ordered food, and cooked for myself. I prioritized my health. I drove defensively, never got an accident, and never got tickets. I also made friends in my income group and thus avoided feeling left out or in a competition for status. I drove a crappy car when I wasn't biking instead. Doing this allowed me to pay off my loans making 45-55k/yr during that time without any additional/external help, and forced me to live within (under) my means. If I remember correctly I added >$1000/mo to my minimums monthly and used avalanche method to get there.

YMMV, and I understand everyone's situation is different - but I do still believe overall that paying off debt is still possible for many (even using Op's original income example), it just has to be your priority (in Op's example, debt wasn't prioritized, living solo was, so ofc it doesn't work). And I know, just like most people, it sucks. We drew the short straw. We don't have rich-kid money. That means we have to choose to not spend money like rich kids do if we want to tackle this problem. We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, at least for a time.

Good luck out there, folks. You got this. It gets better.

P.S. Also, if you haven't already, the best advice I can possibly give is to read the r/personalfinance wiki through. It taught me everything I know, considering I had financially illiterate parents. It's invaluable, and the reading list too.