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The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates that over 1.3 million U.S. residents are currently eligible to participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). As the cost to pay for college continues to rise, for many DACA-eligible students, going to college may seem out of reach.
One common challenge is that undocumented students, including DACA students, are not eligible for federal student aid. On top of this, many states don’t allow DACA students to claim in-state tuition, and while there are scholarships specific for DACA students, they may be harder to come by.
Fortunately, Ascent offers scholarships and student loans for undergraduate and graduate DACA students.
Who is Eligible for a DACA student loan?
DACA students are eligible to apply as a solo borrower or as a borrower with a qualified cosigner.
For DACA status information, you can visit this site.
To verify your individual resident status, DACA students will need to provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that indicates DACA status that does not expire within 6-months of the end of the enrollment period for which the loan is being requested
Ascent’s loans for DACA students
Ascent helps you cover up to 100% of your cost of attendance and other school-related expenses (up to $200,000 for undergraduate loans and $400,000 for graduate loans*) at over 2,200 colleges nationwide by offering DACA student loans for undergraduate and graduate students.
*The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s year in school, credit history, certified cost of attendance by an eligible school, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or, leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
For full-time undergraduate junior and senior DACA students with a 2.9+ GPA and no cosigner**
**NOTE: To be eligible without a cosigner, you must meet additional eligibility and credit requirements in addition to the eligibility requirements below. A cosigner may be required if you do not meet these requirements.
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
10 or 15-Years
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or, leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
May apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Students who apply without a cosigner must have a valid social security number, at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or, leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Maximum in-school period is 36-months
Medical School
Student Loans
For DACA graduate students pursuing their MD, DO, DVM, VMD, or DPM with or without a cosigner.
Students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Students who apply without a cosigner must have a valid social security number, at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 36-months after graduation, up to 9-months after leaving the program or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Maximum in-school period is 48-months
Dental School
Student Loans
For DACA graduate students pursuing their DMD or DDS with or without a cosigner.
Students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Students who apply without a cosigner must have a valid social security number, at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 12-months after graduation, up to 9-months after leaving the program or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Maximum in-school period is 48-months
Law School
Student Loans
For DACA graduate students pursuing their JD or LLM with or without a cosigner.
Students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Students who apply without a cosigner must have a valid social security number, at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or, leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Maximum in-school period is 36-months
General Graduate
Student Loans
For DACA graduate students pursuing their MA, MS, PhD, or other graduate school programs with or without a cosigner.
Students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Students who apply without a cosigner must have a valid social security number, at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 9-months after graduation or, leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
Maximum in-school period is 36-months
*Rates displayed above are effective as of 06/01/2023 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based loans and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information.
Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.
Check your rate without impacting your credit score.
You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for school.
Step 1
Submit your pre-qualification
We ask you to provide important information such as your name, address, date of birth, the school you’re applying to, and employment information. If you’re applying with a cosigner, they’ll also enter their information.
Step 2
Select your repayment plan
Once your completed loan application is approved, you’ll be able to view your repayment options and select the loan terms that work best for you.
Step 3
Complete your Ascent portal tasks
After you choose your loan terms, your Ascent portal will be populated with tasks to complete. These tasks include a financial wellness quiz and providing us with any additional information we need to prepare your loan.
Step 4
We pay your school
When your portal tasks are complete, we send your loan for school certification. Once certified, we’ll disburse your loan directly to your school.
Ready to start your loan application?
See your rates today without impacting your credit score.
Ascent provides more opportunities for students and their families to qualify for student loans with a cosigner or student loans without a cosigner, as well as these additional benefits:
Start payments up to 9 months after graduation (depending on the loan you choose) and if you need to make lower payments after graduation, consider our Progressive Repayment option.
Apply for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan (for eligible juniors and seniors), or apply to release your cosigner after making 12 consecutive, full principal and interest payments on-time or an equivalent amount and meeting other criteria.
Stay up to date with your student loan and make payments using our AscentConnect mobile app. Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Applying for DACA or college shouldn’t put undocumented family members at risk. Colleges typically have privacy policies preventing them from sharing students’ personal information, including immigration statuses, with outside entities. For more information, please contact your school.
Yes, there are loans for DACA students, but they aren’t available through the federal government. DACA student loans can be secured through private lenders like Ascent.
One of the most common loans for DACA students are private student loans.
Private loans for DACA students can be secured from certain banks and private lenders. Not all lenders provide loans for DACA students like Ascent. Our mission is to empower underserved students from all backgrounds to take control of their education, including providing more opportunities to qualify for a loan.
Ascent stands out for its range of payment reduction and postponement options, rare among private lenders. Borrowers can choose a graduated repayment plan, which provides a lower monthly payment to start that increases over time.” Read more
- Forbes Advisor Best Private Student Loan 2021
We are recognizing Ascent with our Editor’s Choice™ Award as Top Private Student Loan Provider thanks to the company’s student-focused efforts and innovative loan options. ” Read more
- BadCredit.org Editor’s Choice™ Award 2021
The best thing about Ascent is the fact that they make the process easy. I was able to do everything online and the money was sent directly to my school.
Anjellica C. Northern Arizona University
They talked to me and helped me out in the most possible way. They made sure I got the most that I possibly could.
Rnajee M. Mississippi State University
Ascent was great because they were able to answer all of my questions. They made getting to college a lot easier for me.
Grace G. Simmons College
Still have questions about Ascent’s private student loans?
We have answers.
Our customer service team is here to help. You can reach us via phone at 877-216-0876, email us at [email protected], or take a look at our top FAQs for DACA students below.
Ascent Funding is an award-winning lender, committed to revolutionizing how you pay for higher education at colleges and coding bootcamps. Ascent empowers students from all economic backgrounds (including DACA students) and disciplines to maximize the return on their education with resources such as our Bright Futures Engine, Bootcamp Selector, and financial wellness tips. To set students up for success, we offer scholarships (over $80,000 this year) and exclusive benefits for students.
Not necessarily. Ascent considers several factors including: creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, GPA, cost of attendance, and other factors that allow for undergraduate DACA students to potentially obtain a Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan in their own name without a cosigner. Nevertheless, applying with a cosigner may result in a lower interest rate.
Students with DACA status that do not qualify for an Outcomes-Based Loan or Credit-Based Loan on their own may also apply with a creditworthy cosigner that is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
Your cosigner must:
Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
Have a minimum credit score, which is determined on a case-by-case basis
Have a minimum gross annual income of $24,000 for the current and previous year
Yes. You can apply to release your cosigner after making twelve (12) consecutive full principal and interest payments on-time or an equivalent prepayment amount while also meeting the other eligibility criteria to qualify including, but not limited to electing to make automatic payments, meeting certain minimum credit and income requirements and completing a Cosigner Release application. See full eligibility criteria requirements at AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. The student borrower must make the request to release a cosigner directly through Ascent’s loan servicer, Launch Servicing, or the loan holder. Note: The option to apply to release the cosigner is only available to student borrowers that are U.S. citizens or have U.S. permanent resident status or DACA students.
Yes, you may be able to get an Ascent student loan as a DACA recipient. Ascent offers Cosigned Credit-Based and Outcomes-Based Loans products for DACA undergraduate and graduate students with or without a cosigner.
Yes, Ascent’s scholarship giveaways are open to students that are (i) enrolled in a degree program at least half-time, or technical skills training program (for example, a coding bootcamp) and (ii) legal residents of one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia or DACA student, age 18 or older.
