Student loan debt is tricky. There are 45 million borrowers in the United States who are burdened by student debt and there are a number of factors that can contribute to not being able to pay these debts back. Unfortunately, student loan debt usually cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, in which case, a settlement may be your best option to relieve student loan debt you cannot afford to pay. A student loan debt settlement is a negotiation between the borrower and the lender that allows the borrower to pay back the debt often at a greatly reduced amount. Your ability to settle your student loan debt will depend on whether the loan is a private student loan or a federal student loan. Contact an attorney to discuss whether you qualify for a student loan debt settlement.