We’re proud to provide award-winning loans for lifelong learners.
Ascent's Student Loans
Ascent helps you cover up to 100% of your cost of attendance and other school-related expenses (up to $200,000*) at over 2,200 colleges nationwide by offering loans for students.
*The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information.
Cosigned
Credit-Based Loan
For students with a creditworthy cosigner (For U.S. citizens, DACA & international students)
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or have a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status
- Must have an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
- International students also may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. - See eligibility requirements.
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment
- Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
Non-Cosigned
Credit-Based Loan
For students that qualify based on income & credit (Must be a U.S. citizen or and DACA student)
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S.permanent resident or have a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with a valid social security number
- Must have at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and minimum income requirements
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment
- Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
Non-Cosigned
Outcomes-Based Loan
For juniors & seniors with a 3.0+ GPA & no credit score**
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled as a junior or senior full-time OR half-time within 9-months of graduation at an eligible school
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or have a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with a valid social security number
- Must maintain GPA of 3.0+ AND meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP)
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment
TERMS*:
- 10 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
MBA
Student Loans
For graduate students persuing their MBA with or without a cosigner.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
REWARDS:
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
EXTENDED IN-SCHOOL PERIOD:
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
Medical School
Student Loans
For graduate students persuing their MD, DO, DVM, VMD, or DPM with or without a cosigner.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
REWARDS:
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 36 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 36-months after graduation or leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
EXTENDED IN-SCHOOL PERIOD:
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
Dental School
Student Loans
For graduate students persuing their DMD or DDS with or without a cosigner.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
REWARDS:
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 12 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- Postpone full principal and interest payments up to 12-months after graduation or leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less than half-time enrollment status
EXTENDED IN-SCHOOL PERIOD:
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
Law School
Student Loans
For graduate students persuing their JD or LLM with or without a cosigner.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
REWARDS:
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
EXTENDED IN-SCHOOL PERIOD:
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
General Graduate
Student Loans
For graduate students persuing their MA, MS, PhD, or other graduate school programs with or without a cosigner.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
REWARDS:
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
REPAYMENT OPTIONS (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)*:
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
TERMS*:
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
(No penalty for early repayment)
GRACE PERIOD:
- 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
EXTENDED IN-SCHOOL PERIOD:
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
Tips & tools for financial success
To help you borrow responsibly, we incorporate financial wellness into our student loan application process and give you exclusive access to tips and resources to prepare you for financial success in college and after graduation.
Resources
Student Loans 101What is Financial Wellness?4 Student Loan Tips for College Grads Read MoreWhat are others saying about Ascent?
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.
They talked to me and helped me out in the most possible way. They made sure I got the most that I possibly could.
Ascent was great because they were able to answer all of my questions. They made getting to college a lot easier for me.
Being young I don’t have a strong credit history. Ascent made it possible for me to have my own loan without the help of others – I’m thankful I found them.
Your Guide to Paying for College
Download the FREE How to Pay for College Checklist today.
Get ready to take on the complicated and ever-changing world of financial aid! Use these insider tips to help you launch your journey to paying for college.
View Guide
Have questions about student loans?
We have answers.
Ascent is an innovative private student loan program that provides access to higher education funding for an expanded population of undergraduate and graduate students, while encouraging the financial wellness of students and their families. We advocate awareness of the potential financial outcomes of your higher education 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 loan products to help undergraduate and graduate students pay for higher education.
- Undergraduate students have the option to apply for a Cosigned Credit-Based Loan, Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan or Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan (for eligible juniors and seniors – see eligibility requirements.)
- Graduate students have the option to apply for a Cosigned Credit-Based Loan or Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan. Ascent created customized repayment terms for:
- Business School (MBA)
- Dental School (DMD, DDS)
- Law School (JD, LLM)
- Medical School (MD, DO, DVM, VMD, DPM)
- General Graduate School (Health Professionals, Nursing, Pharmacy, MA, MS, PhD, etc.)
The Ascent Student Loan program provides more opportunities to qualify for a loan with a cosigner or without a cosigner. . Ascent also offers credit-based loans for graduate students. Ascent loans are competitively priced. You can choose from affordable fixed or variable rates, customize your repayment terms, and pay off your loan early without any penalty. In addition, Ascent offers benefits that can help save money with a 1% Cash Back Reward upon graduation and an Automatic Payment Discount of at least 0.25% for Credit-Based Loans and in some cases up to 1.00% for Undergraduate Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loans. The Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month.
Not necessarily. Ascent considers several factors, including: creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, cost of attendance, and other factors that allow for students to potentially obtain a loan in their own name without a cosigner. Nevertheless, applying with a cosigner may result in a lower interest rate.
Students that are a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply without a cosigner. Students that are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident may apply with a creditworthy cosigner that is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
