Federal student loan payment requirements have resumed after a break that lasted more than three years, which means a big change in monthly financial planning for many Bay Staters.

According to the Education Data Initiative, almost 13% of Massachusetts residents held federal student loan debt in 2022, and the average federal student loan debt total was more than $34,000 per individual.

We at The Common wanted to get an idea of how that kind of debt impacts borrowers’ short and long-term financial goals, and more generally, what it's like to pay such a high cost for an education.

We asked people in-person, across the region and online to share their experiences with student loan debt. Today, we bring you their stories.

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