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College Loans

Medical School Loans

Pay for medical school – including optometry, osteopathic, podiatric, and veterinary medicine. Find your best private student loan option in minutes.

Check your rate without impacting your credit score.

Competitive medical school loan interest rates

Fixed APR

5.01% - 14.76%*

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  • Make the same payment every month
  • Your interest rate is set the day you apply and doesn’t change

Variable APR

7.01% - 15.18%*

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  • Your payment may change each month
  • Your interest rate may vary with the market conditions

*Rates displayed above are effective as of 04/17/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% on credit-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Automatic Payment Discount 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 interest rates require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples below, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.

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Customize your medical school loan repayment options

Flexible Repayment Plans (available while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during Grace Period)

  • Deferred repayment if you want to wait to start loan payments
  • $25 minimum repayment* if you want to get started on your payments while you're still in school.
  • Interest-only repayment if you can afford larger payments while in school.

In-School Period

  • We offer deferment of medical school loans up to 48-months while you're enrolled at least half-time.

Postpone Payments

  • The grace period allows you to 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, giving you time to focus on what matters.

*Want to see what your repayment plan and monthly payments could look like?

Check out our loan repayment examples to help you make your decision.

5 Benefits of medical school loans with Ascent

  • No application, origination, or disbursement fees

  • No penalties for early repayment

  • 1% cashback graduation reward + discount for automatic payments

  • Refer a friend and earn $525 for each friend who takes a loan

  • Defer payments up to 36-months after graduation or leaving the program

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How to get your medical student loan

You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for medical school. Getting the financing you need shouldn’t stop you now. We’ve streamlined our application process so you can get your funds without getting a headache.

  • Satelite
    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.

  • Astronaut
    Step 2

    Customize your loan details

    Once your completed loan application is approved, you’ll be able to view your loan details and select the loan terms that work best for you.

  • Clipboard
    Step 3

    Complete any open loan tasks in your Ascent portal

    After you choose your loan terms, complete any loan application tasks in your Ascent portal.

  • Moneybag
    Step 4

    We pay the school

    When your portal tasks are complete, we send your loan for school certification. Once certified, we’ll disburse your loan directly to the school.

Ready to start your loan application?

See your rates today without impacting your credit score.

Apply Now
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More ways to pay for medical school

Ascent offers additional ways for you to earn more money throughout the year. Expand your possibilities with our benefits.

Frequently asked questions about medical school student loans

From your first application to your final payment, we’re committed to helping you every step of the way. Our 100% U.S.-based Ascent’s customer service team is here for you.

Ascent’s credit decisioning criteria is proprietary and subject to change, but you can check your pre-qualified rates 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’s Graduate Student Loans are for graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time in a degree program at an eligible institution.

Students applying without a cosigner must be U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or have a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status. DACA students or students who are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident may apply with a credit-worthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

Yes. Ascent’s graduate student loans are available for international students attending U.S.-based institutions. To apply for our student loan for medical school as an international resident, you’ll need to apply with a creditworthy cosigner. Your cosigner must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

DACA students may apply on their own with the proper documentation or with a qualified cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

Yes. Ascent awards over $80,000 in scholarships every year. Enter for your chance to win our monthly scholarships in 3 easy steps – no essay required. To learn more about scholarships, visit here.

The maximum loan amount for an Ascent loan is limited to the total cost of attendance for a period not to exceed one full academic year, including any financial aid you receive, as certified by your school. Note: Your maximum loan amount may be less than the amount requested on your application due to the school certification or other underwriting factors.

  • Minimum:  $2,001*

  • Maximum (aggregate): $400,000 for Graduate Loans

  • Student borrowers may borrow up to their institution’s cost of attendance as certified by the school and may not exceed the aggregate loan limits as stated above.

*The loan minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

Yes. Many medical school students apply for federal loans first through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), then cover additional expenses with private student loans. The federal loans available to you may consist of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans.

If your federal loans don’t cover all of your living expenses, a private student loan and scholarships may give you the relief you need.

Medical school loans with Ascent work in 4 easy steps. After you’ve been accepted to your medical school, you can begin the application for your loan. Once you’ve pre-qualified for your loan, you can accept the loan and customize your repayment options. We’ll keep you updated on additional tasks and documents that need to be uploaded.

Finally, your medical school will certify the amount you’re approved, and your funds will be sent directly to your school – any money that doesn’t go toward your school’s necessary funds will be sent to you to cover additional expenses.

Don’t see your question? Check our FAQ page.

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Contact Us for Help With Medical School Student Loans

If you have questions or concerns about your medical school loan application, don’t hesitate to contact Ascent. We’re available to assist you and provide clarification on the loan application process, as well as any additional information you need to help make your decision.

Fill out our contact form to reach the Ascent team.

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Pursuing a Different Educational Route?

Ascent provides private student loans for various graduate student routes. If your heart isn't set on medical school, we can still help you out! Check out our other graduate loan options.

Graduate Loans