Ascent Benefits for Students

Tips & programs to help expand possibilities for students

Beyond a Student Loan

Ascent is invested in your journey to academic achievements and financial wellness by offering benefits that go beyond a student loan. We encourage awareness of the potential financial outcomes of your college choices (school, major, years in school, financing your education), helping you visualize where your career could go and what it could be – encouraging better decisions today to open up greater future opportunities. Ascent offers additional resources to help you thrive throughout college and beyond. From learning how to find a cosigner and how to budget during school to how to find a mentor and secure a job after college, Ascent is committed to helping you on your journey to financial success.

Bright Future Hubs

Your Journey to Financial Wellness

Whether you’re just getting started or a financial planning guru, the sooner you apply financial wellness in your daily life, the longer you will reap the financial benefits. We’re here to break it all down for you with exclusive content and tips that you can actually use and start applying today!
Financial Wellness Hub

Top Budgeting Hacks

Like everything else, budgeting takes time, practice and patience as you learn to manage your monthly bills and expenses, while still enjoying your college experience. Fortunately, we have resources to help you start to manage your money better and set yourself up for financial success, even after you graduate.
Budgeting Hub

Top Career Advice

Landing an internship is one of the best opportunities you can take advantage of while in college. For tips on how to land your dream internship or how to get ready for your first job after college, Ascent has helpful videos and blogs to prepare you.
Career Advice Hub

Guide for College

Deciding on class schedules, finding housing for the next school year, having awkward (and sometimes uncomfortable) conversations with your roommates – all new adventures as you start your college career that no one really prepares you for beforehand. Luckily, there’s probably an Ascent blog or video for that.
Guide for College Hub

The Checklist will help you navigate the complex world of funding your studies with:

Key dates for financial aid and scholarships
Lists of resources you’ll need for the FAFASA
Tips about student loans

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Shining Stars

When financial aid, grants and loans aren’t enough, Ascent’s scholarships may help cover the cost of your school-related expenses – including tuition, books, rent, groceries, parking and transportation, and more.

Enter Now

Community Champions

Ascent’s Community Champions Scholarship Giveaway is dedicated to students making an impact in their community and beyond.

Enter Now

Bright Futures Engine

Ascent’s Bright Futures™ Engine aims to bring transparency to the college decision journey by helping students and parents evaluate the return of their college investment.

Create Yours!

Helpful Blogs

6 Tips to Research & Apply for a Private Student Loan

Private student loans can be a daunting task, here's how students can research and apply for a private student loan.

How to Qualify for Student Loans & Eligibility Requirements

Confused about private student loans? Learn how to qualify for private student loans and other eligibility requirements in this blog.

Celebrating Earth Day as a Student

Earth Day 2023 will land on April 22nd this year, right around the corner! For better or for worse, this […]

How to Get a Student Loan

There are several ways to get student loans, with a cosigner or without. Read how to get a student loan here to learn more.

Financial Wellness Videos

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Ways to Get Cash

Over $80,000 in Scholarships

We’re giving away two $1,000 student scholarships every month. Enter for your chance to win our Shining Stars Scholarship and Community Champions Scholarship in 3 easy steps – no essay required.

Earn $525 for Each Friend You Refer

Ascent’s Refer A Friend Program helps you earn money to help cover the cost of college and other expenses. You can earn up to $525 for each friend you refer, and your friends get paid too! Learn more and start referring today.

Ascent Rewards Program

Ascent Rewards is an easy cash back program designed to help you earn cash from making purchases at over 60,000+ of your favorite stores. You can accumulate cash rewards and make payments with Ascent Rewards. *

1% Cash Back at Graduation

If you choose to fund your education with an Ascent Student loan, you can apply to get 1% Cash Back on the principle loan amount at graduation. See full details.

Tips to Plan & Pay for College

Guide to Paying for College

Our Guide to Paying for College has key dates and tips to help you master the complicated and ever-changing world of financial aid. Download your free copy now.

Finding the Right College & Major

See how your major and college choices measure up – Ascent’s Bright Futures™ Engine powers students to evaluate the return of their educational investment by comparing the expected salary with the cost of attendance.

Meet Your Student Loan Sidekick

Chipper is a loan management app that encourages you to tackle debt in a smarter way by rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar and applying those extra cents to your highest loan amount each week.

Superpower Your Spare Change

ChangEd securely links to your credit and debit cards, then rounds purchases to the next dollar and sends that extra change to the loan servicer.

*Ascent Funding, LLC receives a small commission for every user who clicks on this partner link and signs up to receive the services offered through Ascent’s Benefits for Students page. Ascent is not responsible for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of a partner site or reliance on any information provided on the partner site. The use of a partner site and where available a partner’s mobile application, and your reliance on any information contained therein, is solely at your own risk.