Of the 20 million Americans who attend college each year, approximately 12 million rely on student loans to cover costs. If you are part of this group, you know one thing to be true: this debt can begin to weigh on your mind from day one.

While it may be a dream come true to earn your college degree without taking on debt, this not reality for the majority of students.

Student loan debt may be a part of your life right now, but it doesn’t mean you have to let this drag you down well into the future. There are steps you can take to aggressively pay down your debt, allowing you to eliminate it sooner rather than later.

1. Don’t wait six months after graduation to start paying. Your lender will give you this time to secure a job and settle into life after college, but that doesn’t mean you should take full advantage.

If possible, begin paying on your student loans as soon as you can after graduation.

2. Start paying on your student loans while in college. This may sound like a crazy idea, but the benefits run deep. By doing this, you are making a dent in your debt before you have a diploma in your hand.

This strategy may hold you back from having excess money while in college, but it will work in your favor over the long run.

3. Pay extra when possible. Just the same as any loan (such as a mortgage), paying extra each month allows you to speed up the repayment process.

Even if you only throw a few extra dollars at your loan, it will add up over the long run.

Tip: anytime you receive a large chunk of money, such as a work bonus or tax refund, consider putting it towards your student loan debt.

By following this advice, you can aggressively tackle student loan debt in hopes of eliminating this from your monthly budget in the near future.