. >> reporter: adela is just one of many students we talked to about student debt and lots of it. she currently owes $80,000. many students like her say it can be hard to focus on classes at hand knowing how much of the red you're in and counting. we sought the expertise of kiplinger's personal finance to show you how to reduce your student loan debt as fast as possible. first, you've got to know what you owe. you want to use the national student loan data system to find out where all of your federal loans are and get them in order. then pick a payment plan. just remember the longer that you make the plan for, the more interest you're going to pay. the best way is to give a fixed amount every month or a graduated plan where you build up the amount over the ten years. and finally save for a sizable drop in the bucket. once you make at least the minimum payment, put a few dollars aside to make a big payment. you make a dent in the debt and you buy yourself a little cushion room too. erika gonzalez, news4. >> this year's college graduating class is walking away with the highest stude