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.  
  • The College Grad’s Guide to Insurance
    You survived college and graduated – now what? Check out these four helpful tips on navigating insurance as a college graduate.
  • How to Write an Effective Cover Letter
    Launch into your future career by taking the time to create an effective cover letter as you apply for part-time jobs and internships.
  • 7 Tips on How to Prepare for a Phone or Video Interview
    Preparing for an interview? Launch yourself into your future career by following these 7 tips on how to prepare for a phone or video interview.
  • How to Write an Effective Resume
    Learning to write a resume is the first step to becoming a professional. Launch your career by taking the time to create an effective resume.
  • 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.
  • The Differences Between Wants and Needs as a College Student
    College is a time of newfound freedom as well as increased responsibilities for students transitioning from the comfort of their home to the uncertainty of college life. Striking the balance between studying vs. socializing and spending vs. saving may seem like an enormous task, especially with limited resources to help students understand how costly each decision can be for their academic and financial well-being.
  • Ascent Launches New Bright Futures™ Engine to Bring Transparency to the College Decision Making Process
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SAN DIEGO, CA (December 10, 2019) – From chemical engineering to sociology, a student’s future earnings after graduation and cost of attendance should be part of their overall college decision.
  • School is in Session, But Students Still Don’t Have the Money They Need – New Study Reveals What Students Are Actually Doing About It
    Ascent 2019 fall national study measures college students’ preparedness to pay for college for the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Exploring Your Options: 4 Ways to Choose Between A College Dorm or Living Off-Campus
    Living or off-campus is one of the biggest choices to make. We’ve put together four tips to help you choose your home away from home.
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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.