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            With approximately two thirds of all students graduating with some form of debt it’s important that programs and organizations be made available to help educate and assist them in paying off that debt.  Due to over lending, lack of understanding and a number of other factors over a third of those graduating with debt find that their debt has become unmanageable and they can no longer handle it on their own.
                For those with student loan debt and other bills that are mounting up there is help that can be utilized before the problem becomes overwhelming.  Depending on the state of your finances there are a number of resources and solutions you can exercise to put your credit back on track and bring control back to your debt repayment.  The longer a person allows their debt to accumulate the harder it will be to get out from under debt, so at the first sign of strains you should be considering your options.
                Help can come from a number of sources to provide everything from basic information on debt repayment and credit to filing for bankruptcy in extreme cases.  Students can look towards their schools, financial institutions, the government and credit repair services to lend a hand in helping you realize what you can do to remedy your current financial situation and steps for keeping it healthy for years to come.

Schools
            Many universities, both online and traditional, will have a financial aid advisory office with at least one individual to help students make decisions about using credit, managing debt and more.  It’s quite possible when seeking out financial aid you went through the financial aid office to do so.
            Financial Aid officers should have materials to help you plan your finances from beginning to end.  They can help you in understanding how to budget and creating a budget as well as solutions for default prevention.  Many will also have training courses so that students can work one on one with an advisor to help them apply information and solutions directly to their problem areas.

Financial Institutions
            Your bank or financial institution is also a valuable resource for obtaining information on credit and debt as well as finding solutions to managing debt.  Additionally, a financial institution can serve as a private student loan provider and may have someone on staff who specializes in student loan repayment.
            Any reputable financial institution should have an abundance of material to help you use credit better and make smarter decisions in borrowing and repaying debt.  Like Financial Aid offices in schools many financial institutions will also give seminars on various finance topics to provide hands on instruction and answer any questions that you may have.

Government
            If you have a federal student loan there are ways in which the government lender will help debtors manage their debt.  Because many students will just be entering the workforce it’s understood that students could have difficulty finding a job after college or will be in a lower, starting salary range.  This very often can lead to difficulty repaying loans and bills.
            Loan rehabilitation programs can help former students avoid or get out of default by reworking the repayment terms between yourself and the government lender.  If you haven’t yet made payments then there’s a possibility of getting payments deferred, or if you have begun repayment you could apply for forbearance to halt required payments for a specific period of time.
            There’s also the option of consolidating federal student loans if you have more than one monthly loan payment.  This would combine your multiple payments into a single payment that often is lower.  Using a Direct Loan Consolidation plan the U.S. Department of Education would become the single lender. 
            The Dept. of Education is in and of itself a fantastic government resource for finding information online and understanding what your rights are as a student borrower.  The Federal Trade Commission is also an invaluable resource on the latest in credit and debt laws and regulations.

Credit Counseling Agencies
            Credit counseling agencies can be either non-profit or for-profit organizations with trained credit counselors that work to assist those having trouble managing their debt.  A preferably certified credit counselor works one on one with clients to analyze their current financial situation and formulate a plan of action to make managing debt a possibility.
            The services of credit counseling agencies are typically free or at a low cost.  Depending on your need their solution can be as simple as enrolling you in educational programs online or in-class and creating a budget you can live by or using a debt settlement or debt consolidation program.  These professionals can help you get a true understanding of how to use credit and manage debt. 
            They can also work with your creditors to get your interest lowered, monthly payments lowered and more.  When considering credit counseling agencies do a lot of homework.  There are a number of unscrupulous businesses that will take advantage of those in need and just add to your financial woes.  Check to see that the agency and its agents are accredited or certified, get everything in writing and never pay someone before any services are actually put into place.
            The providers of CareOne Credit Counseling Services are highly reputable credit counseling agencies and their website has a wealth of financial information and is a great place to start.

Creditors
            It may seem like the last place you’re likely to get help if you’re having trouble paying your debts, but your creditors have just as much at stake as you do.  If you don’t pay them they lose money which gives them plenty of incentive to help you do so.  By contacting your creditor the moment you realize repayment is an issue they can help you make adjustments that might be enough to make your monthly payments manageable.
            One of the first things to discuss is your payment options.  Most creditors will have more than one method for calculating and making payments which include at what time of the month the payment is due.  There’s a possibility they could lower or freeze the interest rate for a short time, defer payments, use forbearance, lower monthly payments and more.