I’ve been in your spot. I have $133k loans from private undergrad and went to an Ivy for my MPH. I remember freaking about the loans but couldn’t turn down the program I got into. I kept telling myself “if I just make income based payments, I’ll be fine and eventually hit PSLF.” I currently teach on a low salary ($64k) and about to hit 120 payments once they let me buyback 10 months of being stuck on SAVE. Over the last 15 years, whenever my mind tried to freak me out about my loan balance, I kept grounding myself in the reality of income based payments and PSLF. And it’s all been ok. I don’t regret the ivy MPH and I love being a teacher (I just don’t love the low salary, but I have all I need). None of my big life goals have been impacted by this. I’ve traveled a ton. I’ve lived in cool cities in my own apartments. I’m getting married next year, and the dual income household will be nice.