NPR.

Ania Marina first discovered psychology in high school.

I fell in love with it.

And just learn how the brain works and how people operate and stuff and why they do the

things that they do.

So Ania got her bachelor's in psychology and she's now working as a case manager with

homeless young people in Baltimore.

But the pay isn't that great.

She really wants to become a licensed therapist working with children, a solid professional

job.

But to do that, she needed a master's degree.

So she decided to go back to school on her nights and weekends.

And a couple of years into the program, her combined student debt from her bachelor's

and master's has spiraled up to $128,000.

I really don't think I'll be able to pay that like I have to add gradually.

I don't think I have no choice but to default.

I mean, that's a very big decision, right?

Because default could affect your credit and your ability to apply for loans.

Everything, everything, it affects everything.

Ania is facing one of the toughest dilemmas of her life.

And it's a dilemma that many other black students like her face.

Because black borrowers are defaulting on their student loans at a rate up to around three

...