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Loans that help you plan, pay, and succeed in school and beyond

College loans with zero fees³, low rates, and 40 flexible payment options⁴ – no other student loan has more.

Check your rate in under 3 minutes without impacting your credit score.
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100,000+ people have used Ascent to pay for school

4.6 out of 5
6,776 reviews

Cover up to 100% of your undergraduate, graduate, or career school tuition and expenses.

With award-winning loans to fit your needs and a team that goes above and beyond for our customers, we’re here to help you succeed. Borrow by yourself or with a cosigner, preview your rate and repayment options without affecting your credit, and choose from multiple repayment plans.

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I’m a college parent or guardian

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I’m a college student

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I’m a bootcamp student

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Get pre-qualified in minutes, choose your repayment plan, and stay focused on your future.

School is hard work, but applying for an Ascent loan is fast and easy.

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No need to stress about payments while you're studying

Your loan can pay for up to 100% of school-certified costs (tuition, housing, meals, textbooks, etc.) and gives borrowers access to a powerful combination of student-friendly benefits.

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Make no payments until up to 9 months after graduation*

You have the option to make no payments during college and up to 9 months after*. Or, you can choose to get a head start on payments early – it’s up to you!

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Get career & financial support with AscentUP1

We want to set you up for success. As an Ascent borrower, you can get support in financial wellness, career training, and even access to paid, remote internship opportunities!

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Gain financial independence and build credit in your name

Healthy financial habits start here. If your college loan is cosigned, Ascent’s cosigner release gives you the option to remove your cosigner’s responsibility after making 12 consecutive, on-time payments.

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Putting students first, with benefits that help you succeed.

We’re invested in your journey to academic, career, and financial success. Ascent customers get benefits that go beyond loans.

A loan is just the start

100,000+

people have used an Ascent loan to pay for school

85%

of outcomes-based borrowers increased their credit score

1.2 million+

minutes of financial wellness education accessed

$332,000+

scholarships awarded by Ascent since 2020

No two lenders are alike, but one always has your back

Just ask our borrowers.

Resources for students and families

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Have questions about student loans?

We have answers.

Ascent is a leading provider of innovative financial products and student support services that enable more students to access education and achieve academic and economic success. We are obsessed with driving positive student outcomes. Everything Ascent offers is designed with the best-in-class teams and technology to increase every student's ability to plan, pay, and succeed.

Ascent’s college loans are private student loans for those attending undergraduate and graduate programs at eligible institutions.

Ascent’s bootcamp loans are consumer loans for those seeking to transform their career at a bootcamp or accelerated-learning program.

For college loans:

The maximum loan amount for an Ascent loan is limited to the total cost of attendance for a period not to exceed one full academic year, including any financial aid you receive, as certified by your school. Note: Your maximum loan amount may be less than the amount requested on your application due to school certification or other underwriting factors.

Minimum: $2,001*

Maximum (aggregate): $200,000 for Undergraduate Loans; $400,000 for Graduate Loans

Maximum for academic year: Student borrowers may borrow up to their institution's cost of attendance as certified by the school and may not exceed the aggregate loan limits as stated above except for Ascent’s Undergraduate Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan, which has a maximum of $20,000 for the academic year.

*The loan minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

For bootcamp loans:

You can apply for as little as $2,000** up to the maximum tuition for your school, program, and location, but not to exceed $40,000 in total borrowing with Ascent bootcamp loans. Depending on your program, you might have the option to borrow living expense funds, which you can use to help cover your living costs. You need to apply for at least $2,000** in tuition to add living expenses.

To see the options for your bootcamp program before you apply, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page. If you need to lower your loan amount or cancel after you apply, we can help!

**For Ascent's Short-Term Loan borrowers, the minimum loan amount is $1,000 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

When it comes to interest rates, most private lenders offer the choice between fixed and variable loan rates.

Fixed rate: A fixed interest rate will remain the same for the life of the loan.

Variable rate: A variable interest rate may fluctuate based on market conditions. Variable interest rates can change monthly, quarterly, or annually.

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Flexible repayment options. Affordable rates. Bigger discounts.

Check your eligibility in under 3 minutes with no impact to your credit score.

*Rates displayed above are effective for Ascent college student loans as of 11/01/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.

¹Eligibility for the AscentUP platform requires that an applicant be enrolled in an Ascent approved institution who has been conditionally approved for an Ascent loan, either as the borrower or through a parent, grandparent, guardian, or sponsor. Ascent’s graduate student loan applicants and consumer loan applicants qualify for access to the AscentUP platform if their approved school has granted access. All Ascent borrowers have access to free AscentUP resources through the AscentConnect mobile app and are eligible to apply for the AscentUP Internship Program. Eligible students must agree to the AscentUP terms of service and privacy policy before accessing the AscentUP platform. Please note that eligibility criteria and program terms are subject to change.

²Ascent’s 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward is for eligible college students only and subject to terms and conditions. Eligible students must request the graduation reward from Ascent. Learn more at AscentFunding.com/CashBack. 1% Cash Back Reward amount dependent upon total loan amount for Ascent college loan borrowers; approximately $365 average reward amount based upon eligible borrowers who received Cash Back Rewards in 2023. Aggregate cash back limit of $500.

³Only Ascent college loans are eligible for no fees. Ascent bootcamp loans are subject to late fees, NSF fees, and a one-time origination fee of 5.0% of the loan amount. All Ascent loans are eligible for no application, disbursement, or early payment fees.

⁴The final ACH discount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% is for credit-based loans and a 1.00% discount is for outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.