Private Student Loan Advice & College Financing Resources

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.  

When considering your college options, a school’s financial aid office should be at the top of your “people to make friends with” list. They offer invaluable aid and financing information to you and your student, but there are some things they may not always be so forthcoming with.

There are several reasons that students might hold a job alongside school. Some reasons are personal, and others are more general. Let’s look at some of the factors that may affect your decision on whether or not to be employed while enrolled..

Education is a big investment, and many students like you may need help paying for it. The price of tuition alone may seem like a barrier between where you’re at now and where you want to be. Even then, tuition isn’t the only expense you might face—the cost of textbooks, housing, transportation, food and supplies all add up.

A study commissioned by Ascent Funding reveals interesting insights regarding the cost and financing of higher education

July 9, 2018 (SAN DIEGO, CA) -- As thousands of college students finalize their financial aid plans for the coming year, a new nationwide survey by Ascent Student Loans has found that while the financial responsibility on students is greater than they expected, they don’t believe the value of a college education is keeping pace with the increasing price tag.   Nearly half of students report they are now shouldering more responsibility for paying for college than originally anticipated – and in most cases are covering at least 50 percent of the total investment.

Financial literacy is a subject that everyone should master because we all use these skills far beyond graduation. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn how to budget, handle debt, and build an emergency fund.

You've received your acceptance letters and now it's time to pick your college of choice. Read our tips on how to pick a college to make your decision easy!

Student loan counselor Taunya Kennedy knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed by debt. The 45-year-old single mother has a mortgage and credit card balance, and still shoulders her own college loans after years of postponing payments.

Borrower defense to repayment is a federal student loan forgiveness program for borrowers whose schools violated certain laws or defrauded or misled students. For example, a federal court found that the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges engaged in deceptive practices such as advertising programs the schools didn’t offer and false job placement rates. Fifteen thousand forgiveness claims from Corinthian students had been approved as of October 2016.

San Diego, CA - Goal Structured Solutions (“GS2”), a San Diego headquartered education finance company was recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in San Diego. The annual list of the Best Places to Work in San Diego was created by the San Diego Business Journal, Best Companies Group.