Those who will graduate from Eastern this May probably have thought about one thing.

No, not finding a job (though that is possibly true as well), but student loans.

Whether you’ve been in college three, four or five years, those student loans add up, and with graduation comes paying them off. It’s important to be smart about it.

The average senior acquires about $20,000 in student loan debt.

The amount may seem overwhelming, but they can be paid off without much problem.

There are many types of student loans, all of which give you a different amount of time after graduation to begin paying those dreadful payments.

Many allow about six to nine months before repayment begins.

Others may ask you to begin repayment sooner.

It’s up to you to find out what your repayment options are and to figure out which will work best for you.

But if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask them.

The office of financial aid is available, and the lender you received loans from is there too.

Professors and friends who have already begun the repayment process on loans might also be able to lend some advice.

Use your resources.

One thing can be said for everyone, though: It doesn’t hurt to plan for repayment in advance. This will help you manage your money better.

If you’re having trouble finding a job, extending your student loan term can reduce your monthly payments, but if you snagged a job quickly, you might be fine with a higher payment.

Another thing to be said is to remember to pay those student loans on time. However, if for some reason you think you will have trouble making a payment, it’s best to contact the service in which funds were borrowed from.

Borrowers should contact their lender or service as soon as they know they will have trouble making a payment.

Lenders will work with students and will sometimes offer a deferment.

Some of this advice may seem obvious, but since it’s the end of the semester, students may have their minds focused on other things such as final projects, papers or enjoying the last month of college to the fullest.

But one thing is certain: Student loans should not be put on the backburner.

The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: [email protected].