Private Student Loan Advice & College Financing Resources

We’re proud to share that Ascent has been recognized as one of Southern California’s Best Places to Work by Best Companies Group, an independent organization that honors companies creating strong workplace experiences for their teams.  Best Places to Work SoCal is a research-driven program from Best Companies Group that reviews participating companies’ practices, programs, and benefits, then gathers employee feedback about their workplace experience. Companies that meet the program’s criteria are named among the Best Places to Work SoCal. For Ascent, this recognition reflects more than our benefits or programs. It reflects the people who make our work meaningful every day.  At Ascent, we’re focused on building a workplace where people feel supported, trusted, and able to grow. Our mission is to help students access education and move toward academic and economic success, and we know that work starts with our own team. When employees feel valued and connected to the work they do, they’re better equipped to make a meaningful impact.  Our team is curious, collaborative, and open to new ideas. Leaders encourage learning, create space for feedback, and support career growth across the company. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere, and we work to make sure employees feel heard, included, and empowered to contribute.  Supporting employees means supporting the whole person. Ascent offers flexible and hybrid work options, generous PTO and leave policies, paid parental leave, wellness support, continuing education opportunities, and a 401(k) match. These benefits are designed to help team members care for themselves, grow professionally, and build sustainable careers.  Recognition is also part of how we show appreciation. Through programs like Cosmic Kudos, professional development opportunities, and company-wide celebrations, Ascent makes time to acknowledge the work happening across the team. It’s one way we help create a culture where people support each other, celebrate progress, and take pride in the impact they’re making.  “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.”  At its core, Ascent’s culture is people-first and purpose-driven. Team members support one another, celebrate wins together, and stay connected to a shared goal: helping students and families plan for, pay for, and succeed in school. That mix of mission, collaboration, and opportunity is what makes Ascent a great place to work.  We’re grateful to every employee who helps shape that culture every day and proud of what we’ve built together. As Ascent continues to grow, we’ll keep investing in our people, strengthening our culture, and creating opportunities for employees to do meaningful work while building rewarding careers. Because when our people succeed, the students and families we serve benefit too. 

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.

The holidays are a time to focus on family and friends; don't let eating healthy on a budget during the holidays fall this year. Read more here.

It can be stressful balancing school, work, relationships, family obligations, a social life, and especially finances.

Don't make these common money mistakes in college. Keep your finances in check and stay on track on your journey to financial wellness.

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.

You’ve followed the tenets of financial literacy, applied for financial aid and saved up all you can for tuition costs. You may have taken on some subsidized federal student loans. But what if despite all of this, there is still a gap between the money funding you have and the funding you need?

Whether you’ve experienced it or not, you likely realize that finals week is a stressful time for your college student. As a parent, you probably want to help and support your student as much as you can.  Sometimes, too much encouragement can backfire.  Here are some tips on how to best support your college student during this stressful period.

Are you and your family struggling to pick a college?  Having options is great but making a final choice is difficult.  With National Decision Day right around the corner, we’re here to help give you some advice to ensure that you and your family makes a good choice.  The deadline for making the first college deposit is rapidly coming due.

When you put your tax refund to work for your future, you can reap the benefits for years to come. With that in mind, let’s look at some tax refund tips for college students so that you can be better equipped to thrive in the long run.

Nearly 40% of student borrowers are expected to default on their student loans by 2023 and more than one million people default on their student loans annually. This is a daunting statistic for sure, but that’s where you come into play. You can help set the expectations in the beginning so that they understand that neglecting student loan payments isn’t an option.