We’ve lowered our college loan rates
Don't miss out! Take advantage of new lower rates on college loans, starting at 3.39% Annual Percentage Rate (APR)*
Apply NowYou may pre-qualify for a student loan without a cosigner and build credit in your own name.
Choose from affordable fixed or variable rates, customize your repayment terms, and pay off your loan without any penalty.
Cover up to 100% of your attendance costs. Plus, you can get 1% cash back and a discount if you set up automatic payments.
You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for college.
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.
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.
After you choose your loan terms, complete any loan application tasks in your Ascent portal.
When your portal tasks are complete, we send your loan for school certification. Once certified, we’ll disburse your loan directly to the school.
See your rates today without impacting your credit score.
Apply NowStudent 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:
Additionally, students seeking a loan without a cosigner must:
**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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
There’s no penalty for early repayment. Ascent repayment examples.
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.
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.
Financial Wellness TipsFrom 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:
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:
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.
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.