Millennials, also known as Generation Y,  have birth years ranging from the early 80’s to the early 2000’s and now make up the largest and most diverse generation in the U.S. workforce, according to Pew Research. These Generation X successors are defining clear goals, making a passionate effort to achieve them yet find themselves under a heavy blanket of student debt.

Unfortunately, more than half of this highly motivated group of individuals remains stagnant in their careers, many of which are outside of their field of study, fearful to take the big leap to launch their dream business. This has left many researchers stumped, asking themselves why. In a recent poll conducted by Young Invincibles, data found 61 percent of millennials attended college, compared to a fewer 46 percent of baby boomers. This group is a highly educated one although this leaves many of them carrying five or more figures in student loan debt alone.

Many of these young college grads are not letting the burden of student debt deter them from their future endeavors. Instead they are the ones launching those risky businesses full-time, or deferring loans. Also available to grads are access to investors within peer-to-peer networking and mentorship from companies such as SoFi, a provider of student loan refinancing. Their market place lending models are set up to tailor to the motivated entrepreneur by providing access to affordable consolidation and refinancing rates through investors.

Sam Hodges, Stanford graduate and co founder of Funding Circle, found himself with 96 loan rejection letters expressing how broken our banking system really is. His idea for Funding Circle bloomed, yet he was hesitant stating, “Starting your own thing with no income and no certainty of when you’re going to get an income when you have a mountain of student debt is a scary thing.” He found relief connecting with a number of investors through SoFi.

Alternative options to the traditional standard are available and many millennials are finding success in more ways than one by exploring these outside-the-box avenues.