#162: Tactical Tuesday: Are you an aspiring entrepreneur burdened with student loan debt?

<p><strong>OVERVIEW:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason A. Duprat, Entrepreneur, Healthcare Practitioner and Host of the</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Healthcare Entrepreneur Academy</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">podcast talks about how - and if - you should start a business when you have student loan debt.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><strong>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the US, student debt totals 1.6 trillion dollars. The average student graduates with just under 38k in student loans. And 15% of the US population currently has student loan debt.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the last 30 years, tuition has tripled for public universities and doubled for private schools. 31% of students are using other forms of debt like a credit card or home equity loan to help offset high tuition. </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason shares five tips for those struggling with student loans yet still want to launch their  business.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, choose your institution wisely. As a student, think about the return on your investment! Don’t just pick the most expensive school. The odds of getting your money back, especially in the healthcare field, is relatively low. </span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Second, make sure you’re paying the least amount of interest as possible after you graduate. Consider loan consolidation. Also, there are governmental loan forgiveness programs. They often have a strict contract so make sure you can commit to avoid penalties.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next, reduce the amount you owe. Jason joined the Navy Reserves and reduced his loans by 30k. This has its pros and cons, which you should consider when looking for new opportunities to repay your debt.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fourth, spend wisely and live lean. Self-discipline and self-