You can qualify for a mortgage with student loan debt if your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio meets lender requirements, typically not exceeding 43%. Some loans, like physician mortgages or those with co-signers, may exclude student loans from DTI. Options to improve approval chances include income-driven repayment plans, adding co-borrowers, and exploring low down payment loans. Different mortgage programs have specific student loan guidelines. Paying off loans first depends on interest rates, DTI, and savings.