In an ideal world, all students could make it through college with no loans. In the real world, though, many students have to take out loans in order to complete their degrees. If you have student loans, you can use these five tips to help you pay them off as quickly as possible.

1. Begin Paying ASAP.
It may go against your initial instincts, but take every essay buying opportunity you have to pay. If possible, pay the interest while you are in school. When you are a student, all payments are deferred, but unless you have a need-based federal loan, interest still accrues...and that adds to your balance due. You also may be allowed to put off payments for a period of time after graduation, but if you start making payments as soon as you graduate instead, you will wipe out your college loans faster.

2. Seek out Rate Reductions.
Look for opportunities to reduce your interest rate. Most student loan lenders offer discounts for people who agree to pay by direct deposit. Lenders are more likely to get their money that way, so you will get a break on your interest rate. The discount may seem small, but over the course of the entire loan, even a 0.25% reduction can be significant.

3. Consolidate.
Private lenders and the federal government offer consolidation loans for students. You may be able to reduce your overall interest rate by consolidating the loans from every semester into one total loan. Take a look at the math before you decide to consolidate, though: You won't save money if you end up with a higher total interest rate than you had before.

4. Make Extra Payments.
Paying more means paying off your loans sooner. Depending on the job you get after graduation, you may decide to add a few hundred dollars to all of your regular payments or send in extra amounts once or twice a year as you get bonuses. Some companies offer biweekly payment programs to help you pay loans off faster. These programs are attractive because they offer early pay-offs and often coincide with payday schedules. Biweekly loan payments work because if you make a half a loan payment every two weeks, you will make at total of 26 half payments each year. This is the same as making 13 monthly payments. Whether you schedule regular payments or just send more when you can, extra payments are the key to getting out of student loan debt faster.

5. Don't Borrow More than You Need.
It is tempting to borrow the maximum amount allowed each semester. The problem is that you will have to pay off the extra funds, plus interest, when you graduate. One key to paying off your student loans fast is to borrow only what you truly need each semester. Don't take extra to pay for a better car or so you don't have to work to pay for groceries. When it comes time to start paying on your loans, you will be glad you took the conservative route.

Student loans can be used responsibly. For some students, loans are the only way they can finish their degrees. But once you graduate, you will want to pay off your loans as soon as possible. Use these five tips to pay off your loan(s) fast and get on with the rest of your life.