Graduate Student Loans for the Next Generation of Leaders

Ascent is an award-winning company, committed to revolutionizing how students pay for higher education at colleges and coding bootcamps. Ascent empowers students from all economic backgrounds and disciplines (including DACA students) to maximize the return on their education through their Bright Futures Engine.

To set students up for success, we incorporate financial wellness into our application process (the ONLY lender to require this) and offer exclusive benefits for students like the opportunity to qualify for a loan without a cosigner (for undergraduate juniors and seniors), 1% cash back, no fees, and over $80,000 in scholarships awarded every year.

Ascent’s credit decisioning criteria is proprietary and subject to change, but you can check what rates you pre-qualify for in just four (4) steps without impacting your credit score. We consider credit history and several other factors including, but not limited to, credit score.

Ascent considers several factors which may include creditworthiness, school, program, GPA, and cost of attendance.

Ascent Graduate Student Loans are for graduate students that are at least half-time enrolled in a degree program at an eligible institution.

Students applying without a cosigner must be U.S. citizens, have U.S. permanent resident status, or have DACA status. Students that are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents may apply with a credit-worthy cosigner that is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

Yes. A student who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident or has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

Non-U.S. citizens are required to upload the following documentation to verify identity as applicable to their individual resident status:

1. U.S. Permanent Resident Aliens: Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I‐551); or
2. Non-Permanent Resident Aliens (temporary residents): Valid visa – acceptable forms: F-1; J-1, M-1; E-1; H-1; L-1; G series; TN-1; TN-2; OR I-20 Form (pages 1 & 2 signed) AND Unexpired Passport from the country of origin; and,

In addition to 1. or 2. above, applicants must upload the following:

1. Unexpired foreign passport; and
2. A copy of a government-issued document or identification that includes your national identification number. NOTE – For countries that include the national identification number on the passport, confirmation therein is sufficient.
3. DACA status: Documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that indicates DACA status that does not expire before the end of the enrollment period for which the loan is being requested.
4. Form I-797, Notice of Action and unexpired passport from country of origin from an eligible Temporary Protected Status country from this list: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status.

NOTE: The option to apply to release the cosigner after making twelve (12) consecutive full principal and interest payments on-time or an equivalent prepayment amount and meeting other eligibility criteria. is only available to student borrowers that are U.S. citizens or have U.S. permanent resident status or DACA status. (See FAQ, “Can I eventually remove the cosigner from my loan?”)

Yes. Ascent gives away over $80,000 in scholarships every year. Enter for your chance to win our Shining Stars Scholarship and Community Champions Scholarship in 3 easy steps – no essay required.

The maximum loan amount for Ascent loans is limited to the total cost of attendance for one full academic year, minus any financial aid, as certified by your school. Keep in mind that your school may certify your loan for less than the amount that you requested.

• Minimum:  $2,001
• Maximum (aggregate): $200,000 for Undergraduate Loans; $400,000 for Graduate Loans
• Maximum for the academic year:
• $400,000 for Graduate Credit-Based Loans

Your interest rate on the loan is the cost you pay to borrow the money. Your monthly payment is based on the interest rate for your total loan balance. You can choose between a fixed rate or a variable rate.

A fixed-rate means your interest rate will not increase or decrease while you are making monthly payments until your loan is paid in full. It will stay the same for the life of the loan.

A variable-rate means your actual interest rate could be lower or higher during your loan term than the rate you are given while completing the loan application.

Choosing a fixed rate versus a variable rate is entirely up to you but be sure to do your research beforehand on what will be best fit for your journey to financial wellness.

With federal graduate student loans, you borrow money directly from the Department of Education. To apply for a federal graduate student loan, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application by visiting: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out.

Private graduate student loans help fill the gap between your college expenses, including books, school supplies, rent, groceries, parking, gas, and anything else not covered by FAFSA or scholarships. Ascent offers flexible options to help you manage your monthly payments as you enter repayment.

Yes, it’s possible to get a grad school loan without a cosigner if you meet the requirements – you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or have DACA status, have an income of at least 24,000 annually, and have at least 2 years of credit history, as well as meet a minimum credit score. The credit score required for a student loan varies, but you can easily check your rates and whether you need a cosigner or not.

When we send your loan disbursement, it’ll go directly to your school first. Your grad school will apply the loan to your tuition, then send any leftover funds to you.

You can use these other funds for your books, study supplies, or even rent and groceries.