Image Credit... Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Humberto Tapia, 28

‘We’re stuck’

Owes Navient around $35,000 on 27 separate loans

Attended ITT Educational Services, a for-profit technical school chain that closed last year, from 2009 to 2012; earned an associate degree in computer networks systems.

Looking for I.T. support work in Sacramento.

“The marketing at ITT pushed that they would help you find jobs right away, and they talked about the salary range you should expect. It turned out to be the opposite: You end up with more loans and interest than the amount of money that you are making. I would have been better off getting study materials and just taking some certification tests. I’m working now on a Cisco certification.

“Most of my field is contract work. I have to go out and get health insurance on my own, and I lost my job three times when temporary contracts ended. I’m always behind; I lost my car because I couldn’t pay. I purchased a small scooter instead. That’s how I get to work.

“ITT was able to file for bankruptcy, but the students can’t do that — we’re stuck with the loans. I’ve stopped paying on most of them. My view is, if I die, who is going to pay for the loans? I’m not married. I’m not tied to anyone. There’s nothing they can do.”