Student loan debt is an ever-growing financial challenge for millions of borrowers. The cost of higher education has soared over the past few decades, leaving graduates burdened with significant debt that can take years, or even decades, to repay. Many borrowers seek solutions to make repayment more manageable, and debt consolidation is often one of the first options they consider. But is debt consolidation a good idea? To answer this question, it is important to understand the mechanics of student loan consolidation, its potential advantages, and its drawbacks.