Since taken up residence in a nursing home.

Student loan debt in the u.s. has more than doubled in the past 10 years, hitting an all-time high of $1.36 trillion in 2018--that's according to the experian.

News 15's leigha mcneil took a look at how debt has affected some students here in louisiana.

Leigha?

Well jazmin...over the last decade louisiana student debt peaked at $18.7 billion at the end of 2018... with the steady climb of student loans..the better business bureau folks to be aware because student loan forgiveness scams are resurfacing sot: "unfortunately that is the society we live in where people will take advantage of you regardless of your finantial situation."sot: "it's wrong for people to take advantage of people like that especially college students who may not know any better."

Student loan debt is somthing these studentrs know wellsot: "i have 30.000 in student loan debt'sot: "alot..i dont know how much i owe but i know its alot."

Sot: "im currently about 43 thousand dollars in debt."

All three have worked their way through college.

The students they wouldnt fall for the scam, but see how someone wouldsot: "i think the stress of bills over all and the fact that its a huge lumpsome of money that they may end up falling into that trap."sot: "if it sounds too good to be true it is."

Business administration manager with the better busuiness bureau chris babin explains these scammers are opportunists.

They will say just about anything to get you to beleive they are legit.sot: "this is definately the case where they will tap into the emotions a little bit."

Sot: anybody requesting information or trying to find out information about their student loans or how they are going to repay their loans can contact loan consilidsted information center or student loans dot gov."

One has already started paying off her debts sot: "i am currently paying on interest and i do have a plan after school to start paying."

While the other two dont have a set plan---they do intend on paying off their loans--without falling into the trap of scammers sot: "im gradually thinking about how im going to pay once get out of school because i know six months after i graduate they'll come knockinh."sot: "i actually havent started thinking about that but hopefully i'll just get rich and ill be able to pay it off."

We'll krystal i hope we all get rich some time soon...for more information about how you can start paying off your student loans you can visit student loans dot gov leigha mcneil news 15 thanks leigha....experts say the sooner you can pay off your lonas the better because with interest you can end up paying twice as much as you initially