I had my student loans paid off within 5 years of graduation, but I also graduated with an engineering degree and hopped into a decent role within 6 months of graduation. Anyone who got a BA in Liberal Arts is likely standing in picket lines demanding a $15/hr. “living wage.”
I served an additional four years, earned my Masters degree through the GI Bill. Paraphrasing Chico Escuela, the Army was "berry berry good to me."