In terms of student loans, I think I am in the same boat with you and I have difficult pursuing education that requires me to either make a huge payment every semester or taking student loans. Almost every case, student loans have interests, either high or low percentage. Whatever the case might be, dealing with interest should not in the picture at all. Interest is completely forbidden in Islam and there should not be doubts that anyone who deals with interest is at the edge of being at war with Allah. For your reference, this is stated in the Qur?an and there are no disagreements among Muslim scholars on this.
Another point, say someone is intentionally committing a sin knowingly that its practice is forbidden, and it is clearly defined in the Qur?an and Sunnah as a major sin, such behavior will step you outside of the boundary of Islam and the rejection of such rule will make the guilty of kufr. Similarly, Sh. Ibn Taymiyah once said,
?The belief that the well-known obligations are obligatory and that the well-known prohibitions are forbidden is one of the most important basic principles of faith, and the one who rejects that is a kaafir according to scholarly consensus.?
Let it be clear that dealing with interest is something that?s as danger as it?s to deal with adultery, practicing magic, taking innocent lives, and etc. Additionally, interest is a lot more danger than what most of us think, it?s one of two things that can qualify you to being in a battlefield with Allah and Islam. This is not a joke.
I don?t want to sound like a preacher, but there are many other alternatives that we can get by, in terms or paying higher education. There are many Somalis/Muslims that I know who pay for their school and guess what; some of them are 4.0 students. Some of them work for companies that reimburse tuition for employees. I?m not that lucky but I strive to pay with my minimum wage salary and thanks to Allah, I?ve no problem though it?s difficult. What?s better, being at war with Allah or trying harder to make the payment? I don?t? know about you but I know if my intent is not only being practicing Muslim but also helping the Muslim communities at large with my education, I better not be fooling around with sinful stuff. Hey, work OT hours or seek a job with a company that will invest in you. Don't just sit there, do whatever you can do to continue to purse a career in life but NEVER fall into a loan unless it?s interest free. Fear Allah in what you invest in your future.