Private Student Loan Advice & College Financing Resources

Expert guidance on private student loans including how to plan, pay, and succeed for students and parents from the start of school through graduation.

  • Ascent Named Best Places to Work in Fintech 2026   
    Ascent, a leading provider of innovative financial products and student support services that enable more students to access education and achieve academic and economic success, has been named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Fintech, an awards program created in 2017 by Arizent and Best Companies Group.  This annual survey and awards program recognizes the top employers in the financial technology industry. Honorees operate across a wide range of financial services sectors, including banking, mortgages, insurance, payments and financial advisory. To be eligible, companies must provide technology products or services that support financial services delivery, have been in business for at least one year, and employ at least 15 people in the U.S.  "Each year, the Best Places to Work in Financial Technology offers a glimpse into the practices of fintechs whose employees rate their workplaces highly," said Penny Crosman, executive editor of technology at American Banker. "This year, employees appear to value remote work and schedule flexibility above all else, at a time when many traditional financial firms have enforced strict return-to-work policies."  Companies from across the United States entered a two-part survey process to determine Arizent’s Best Places to Work in Fintech. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and determined the final ranking.  “We’re proud to have built a workplace where employees feel trusted, supported, and genuinely connected to the work they do,” said Emily Skoubo, Director of Human Resources at Ascent. “This recognition reflects the collaborative culture our team has created together and our continued focus on providing an environment where people can grow, contribute, and feel valued.”  For more information on Arizent’s Best Places to Work in Fintech program, including full eligibility criteria, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkFinTech.com or contact Penny Crosman at [email protected].  About Ascent  Ascent is a leading provider of innovative financial products and wrap-around student support services that enable more students to access education and achieve academic and economic success. Everything Ascent offers is designed by leading industry professionals and with advanced technology and innovation to increase every student’s ability to plan, pay, and succeed. Ascent’s rare Outcomes-based Loan provides funding to credit-invisible borrowers who generally do not benefit from traditional credit. Ascent products also include: Cosigned Loans, Solo Loans, Career Loans, Parent Loans, Graduate Loans, Access Loans, Enterprise Loans and Impact Loans.  
  • Personal Finance Tips from Dads
    Father’s Day: Financial Advice from Dad
    To celebrate Father’s Day, we asked our team to share the best financial tips their dads have passed on to them over the years, and that are still true to this day. 
  • Guide to Paying for College
    Your Guide to Paying for College: 4 Tips to Get Started
    Feeling overwhelmed about your options to paying for college? Here are five money management tips to get started with your journey.
  • Ascent Named Best Private Student Loan for 2021
    Ascent has done it again!
  • Looking Ahead to a Brighter 2021: A Message from our CEO
    Ascent's CEO, Ken Ruggiero, shared his thoughts on the past year and what he's looking forward to in 2021 - including advice for students. Check it out here.
  • What is Financial Wellness?
    What is financial wellness? Whether you’re a financial planning guru or just getting started, we want to help you on your journey to financial wellness.
  • 7 Financial Wellness Podcasts for College Students
    At Ascent, we provide free resources to help you throughout college, which may include links to third-party websites (where security and privacy policies may differ from Ascent's).
  • Juneteenth Black Community
    What is Juneteenth? How to Support Black Communities Today and Every Day
    Don't know where to start? Here's a few steps you can take to support Black Lives Matter in your community today and every day.
  • 15 Must Have Student Discounts
    From tuition to housing, and those pricey textbooks, the list seems never-ending. But, did you know you could get some discounts just by being a student?
  • Enter Ascent’s Second Annual 50 Days of $1,000 Scholarships
    Starting today, you can enter for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship from Ascent every weekday through August 10, 2020.
  • 3 Steps to Help You Decide on a College Major
    We’ve compiled three steps to help you decide on a college major, not just based on your interests and passions, but based on your potential future income.
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Your Ultimate Guide to College Funding

Discover interactive tools, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you pay for college with confidence.