Ascent offers private student loans without a cosigner
If you don’t pre-qualify for our credit-based non-cosigned loan, eligible juniors and seniors may apply for our outcomes-based student loan without a cosigner.
You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for college.
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
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.
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.
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.
Am I eligible for Ascent’s Outcomes-Based Student Loan without a cosigner?
Student borrowers without established credit** and those who meet the minimum credit requirements but don’t meet the income or repayment requirements may qualify for a loan without a cosigner based on several alternative factors, which may include:
School
Program
Graduation date
Major
GPA
Cost of attendance
SAP (Satisfactory Academic Performance)
Other factors
Additionally, students seeking a loan without a cosigner must:
Be a college junior or senior enrolled full-time at an eligible institution or be enrolled half-time and within 9-months of graduation in a degree program at an eligible institution
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
Meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP) with a 3.0+ GPA or greater.
Be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence
**NOTE: Ascent applicants without a cosigner AND less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history are not tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, they are evaluated based on the factors listed above and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
FAQs about non-cosigned student loans
Creditworthiness refers to your eligibility to receive credit from a lender. Lenders use your credit history to assess the level of risk involved with issuing a loan or another form of credit to borrowers. There are many factors that contribute to creditworthiness including your credit score and repayment history.
Since many students have not yet established credit, Ascent determines creditworthiness for loans without a cosigner in the following ways:
Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan
Student borrowers must have more than two (2) years of credit history with a minimum credit score
Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan
Eligible student borrowers with no credit score, or eligible students that meet a minimum credit score with or without two (2) years of credit history
There is no minimum income requirement for Ascent's Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan.* For Ascent's Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan, the minimum income requirement is $30,000 per year.
* NOTE: If you are applying for a loan without a cosigner AND have less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history, you will not be tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, evaluation is based on the school of attendance, program, major, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
If you are a student borrower with or without a cosigner AND have less than 2 years of credit history:
Instead, students are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
If you are a student borrower without a cosigner and have at least 2 years of credit and make a gross annual income of $30,000:
You will be tested against the following criteria to determine your eligibility for the most favorable rates and terms available:
Must meet a monthly debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
Must submit satisfactory proof of income
NOTE – Ascent applicants without a cosigner AND less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history are not tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, they are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
Yes. Students who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution may qualify for Ascent’s Cosigned Credit-Based Loan option. Students who are enrolled half-time within 9-months of graduation in a degree-seeking program at an eligible institution may qualify for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan option. Certain limitations may apply for applicants who apply without a cosigner.
Choose from affordable fixed or variable rates
Ascent offers private student loans without a cosigner at competitive rates.
Fixed APR
Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan:
8.45% - 13.81%*
Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan:
13.01% - 15.00%*
Make the same payment every month
Your interest rate is set the day you apply and doesn’t change
Variable APR
Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan:
8.38% - 13.61%*
Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan:
12.90% - 14.85%*
Your payment may change each month
Your interest rate may vary with the market conditions
*Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 05/01/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans when you enroll in automatic payments. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. 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 full principal and interest payments, the shortest loan term, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants 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.
More ways to customize
your private student loan without a cosigner
Flexible 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-year repayment terms for non-cosigned credit-based loan option and 10 or 15-year repayment terms for non-cosigned outcomes-based loan option.
NOTE: For certain loans with low balances, the minimum monthly payment amount may cause the loan amortization schedule to be less than the selected term.
For Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Credit-Based student loan, students can choose from our Interest-Only, $25 Minimum, Deferred Repayment or Immediate Repayment* options.
For Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based student loan, students can choose our Deferred Repayment option and start payments up to 9-months after graduation or leaving the program.
*The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. (See Terms & Conditions.)
0.25% Automatic Payment Discount applied when eligible borrowers are making automatic payments on their Ascent Non-Cosigned Credit-Based student loan via auto-debit from their personal checking account.
1.00% Automatic Payment Discount applied when eligible borrowers are making automatic payments on their Ascent Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based student loan via auto debit from their personal checking account.
1% Cash Back Graduation Reward upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.
Minimum: $2,001*
Maximum: $200,000 for Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan; $20,000 for Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan ($200,000 aggregate total)
NOTE: Because the Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan is available to students without any reliance on cosigners, processing times may be longer and loan amounts may be lower than the loan amount requested.
*The minimum loan amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.
Tips & tools for financial success
Don't lose your financial freedom before you have the chance to earn it! To help you borrow responsibly, we incorporate financial wellness into our application process and give you exclusive access to tools and content to help you get set for greater financial success.
Have questions about private student loans without a cosigner?
We’ve got answers.
From your first application for a private student loan without a cosigner to your final payment, we’re committed to helping you every step of the way. Our 100% U.S.-based Customer Service Team is here for you.
If you are a student borrower with or without a cosigner AND have less than 2 years of credit history:
THERE IS NO MINIMUM INCOME REQUIREMENT. Instead, students are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
If you are a student borrower without a cosigner and have at least 2 years of credit and make a gross annual income of $30,000:
You will be tested against the following criteria to determine your eligibility for the most favorable rates and terms available:
Must meet a monthly debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
Must submit satisfactory proof of income.
NOTE – Ascent applicants without a cosigner AND less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history are not tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, they are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.
Students enrolled full-time or at least half-time at an eligible institution may qualify. Certain limitations may apply for applicants who apply without a cosigner.
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.
