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I know a young couple where the groom's parents had some financial problems, mainly due to some serious health issues resulting in temporary unemployment, and the future bride refused to get married until the financial issues of his parents were discussed and "solved". I believe that she was worried that she and the son would have to support them (BTW, that was not the case, it was just a temporary financial glitch).
It would depend on their income, their age, and when they graduated. First of all, he has to make as much or more than I would. Once I'm done with school, I will probably start out at $65k.
I definitely would have to SERIOUSLY reconsider the following:
24 year-old who graduated 2 years ago and makes $30k w/ $100k in student loans
33 year-old who graduated 10 years ago and makes $80k w/ $30k in student loans
Would people give the same side-eye to somebody with a mortgage on a, say, $200K house? Or a monthly car payment that exceeds a monthly student loan payment in amount? Doubt it.
My student loan debt was less than the average person's car loan, so, not really a factor.
As is most people's. My children will graduate with a combined debt of a moderately priced car.
Would you marry a person who had taken out a loan on a 40 thousand dollar vehicle? My guess it that vehicle might even attract potential mates of a certain type.
Would people give the same side-eye to somebody with a mortgage on a, say, $200K house? Or a monthly car payment that exceeds a monthly student loan payment in amount? Doubt it.
For me the house would depend on the their income and their other debts... If the monthly car payment exceeded the monthly student loan payment, I would need them to sell it.
It would depend on their income, their age, and when they graduated. First of all, he has to make as much or more than I would. Once I'm done with school, I will probably start out at $65k.
I definitely would have to SERIOUSLY reconsider the following:
24 year-old who graduated 2 years ago and makes $30k w/ $100k in student loans
33 year-old who graduated 10 years ago and makes $80k w/ $30k in student loans
Even if debt payments are fairly large, unless they're eating up your spouse's entire income, then they aren't hurting you, really. Moreover, most student loan debt leads to a higher income, or at least a higher quality of life (and thus a happier spouse).
Suppose Persona A marries Person B. Person A paid off her $50k student loan before getting married and now makes $50k per year. Person B has $100k of debt but makes twice as much money as a result of having a nice degree. The extra $1000 each month hurts, but that's only in the short run. Without the fancy degree, Person B's monthly salary would likely be lower by more than $1000. The debt still hurts when it's time to get a mortgage, but it's not enough to sink the deal.
Person B makes up for much of the student loan debt by driving a beater car.
Fast forward ten years. Now, Person B has no debt remaining, and the fancy degree has opened the doors to promotions. Person B now makes $200k per year, and Person A is able to retire.
Person A might have taken a slight financial risk by getting married, but the long-term picture was much easier for her.
Now, consider Person C and Person D. They both have $100k of debt and $35k salaries. This is painful, definitely, but they get married and combine their housing costs into one smaller bill. They are in dead-end fields with little room to advance. They have to be poor for a while. Their life together is tough, but their loans are still paid off in 15 years, after which they combine to make $100k per year. It's still an easier life for them.
Basically, don't throw your potential future family away over money. Unless you're married to someone with a gambling addiction or a drug problem, you're almost certainly better off financially being married. More importantly, every study ever done on the matter has concluded that a solid family is much more important to happiness than money, though money doesn't hurt. Passing on the thing that brings so much happiness to society as a whole just because you're going to have a tighter monthly budget is pretty silly.
I'll emphasize this again. If you're worried about student loan debt, just drive the cheapest car you can find, or, if possible, use a bike to commute. Even large student loan debts only take as much out of your budget as a car loan, and you can knock the car loan down to zero by buying something old and ugly (but not necessarily unreliable -- you can get a Toyota or Nissan or Hyundai or something that will last you for a hundred thousand miles for only a few thousand dollars). The expensive degrees cost as much as an expensive car. So, just make up for it by cutting the expensive car out of your daily life until you're making enough money to afford one (and then only get one if you value a nice car over whatever else you can get for $50k).
Some people will complain about student loans, but they'll ignore the $500/month car bill, $100/month for cable TV (really $100/month for ESPN, because in the age of unlimited online entertainment, cable is completely useless), and other wasteful expenditures.
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