With student loan payments becoming one of the more controversial topics around the world, it just might be time for you to get an idea of how to take control of your debt before it becomes too out of hand.

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According to CNBC, over 44 million Americans collectively hold nearly $1.5 trillion dollars in student debt. If numbers aren’t your thing, this means that roughly one in four American adults are paying off student loans. If you are part of this statistic, this likely isn’t a topic that you want to brush off to the side.

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There is a good chance that these payments will follow you around for a long time following graduation – especially now that 30 percent of student debt holders are now facing serious struggles including default. The most common form of default is when you fail to make a scheduled student loan payment after 270 days, or nine months, of its due date.

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According to the Office of the U.S. Department of Education, the consequences of default can be severe. Perhaps the worst is that the entire unpaid balance of your loan and interest will become immediately due. You will also lose the ability to choose a repayment plan that best suits your current financial standing. Your loan holder can also take you to court, causing you to owe more money in court costs, collection fees, and attorney’s fees – all matters that are recommended to not be taken lightly.

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But this isn’t meant to scare you. It’s simply meant to make you aware of your options before it becomes too late. Depending on your interest rate, it is very likely that your interest will quickly accumulate throughout your college years, adding a large chunk of change to the amount that you already owe. However, paying a small amount toward your interest every month could prevent this from adding up to an even more alarming amount than it has to be. Even paying 25 dollars a month toward each loan could benefit you immensely in the long run and reduce the amount that you owe as you start your entry-level job following graduation. And better news yet, holding a part-time job through college could make these seemingly low payments possible while also giving you experience to help you land a job in order to make these payments once deferment (postponing your payments until a certain amount of time after graduation) ends.

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However, if you find yourself falling behind in payments, contact your loan provider before it becomes too late and negotiate a different plan. They will generally work with you if you reach out to them for help early on. No matter what you do, try to remain educated on your student debt to stay on top of your finances as you enter the working world. If nothing else, be happy that you were informed.