Don't despair, OP. Educational debt is the most manageable form of debt you can have (mortgage is the worst). In 5 years, I should be owing close to $260,000 in loans (two very expensive professional degrees). Most people I know have educational debt from $50,000 to $300,000. Thank God(s) for 30-year repayment plans.
If you're going into academia, then you might need a slightly different story depending on your branch of academia. The overall picture, though, is that educational debt seems almost inevitable in many circumstances.