Situations like this makes following something like Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps nice because you wouldn't even have to think about it: you obviously pay off the loans before you take on a mortgage (although they also have kind of a weird hang-up with moving back in with family sometimes).

The PRIME DIRECTIVE is not always so clear on the best path forward when it comes to student loans that are somewhere in between low and high interest.

One piece of advice I'd feel confident in giving is, if those student loans are federal loans on pause, then it makes sense to just stack up that cash and push the decision down the road. That way you have options later on if you have trouble with your living situation or work situation. You can't undo payments if it turns out you need that money for something else.