College Loans
Ascent gives you more opportunities to pay for college with or without a cosigner.
Find your best option in 4 simple steps – NO application fees.
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Check your rate without impacting your credit score.
We’re proud to provide award-winning loans for lifelong learners.
Cosigned
Credit-Based Loans
For students with a creditworthy cosigner
(For U.S. citizens, DACA & international students)
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
Non-Cosigned
Outcomes-Based Loan
For juniors & seniors with a 2.9+ GPA & no credit score**
(Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or DACA recipient)
**NOTE: No score means insufficient credit history to produce a score. If you have a score it must meet a minimum score required.
- Enrolled full-time OR graduating within the next 9 months
- Maintain GPA of 2.9+ AND meet your school’s satisfactory academic performance (SAP)
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 10 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school.
Non-Cosigned
Credit-Based Loan
For students that qualify based on income & credit
(Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or DACA recipient)
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status
- Must have at least 2 years of credit history and meet credit and income requirements
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with or without a with a creditworthy 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 36 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 36 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
- 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 12 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 12 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
- 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
- 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
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
*Rates displayed above are effective as of 06/01/2023 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based loans and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.
Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.
Ascent stands out for its range of payment reduction and postponement options, rare among private lenders. Borrowers can choose a graduated repayment plan, which provides a lower monthly payment to start that increases over time.” Read more
- Forbes Advisor
Best Private Student Loan 2021
We are recognizing Ascent with our Editor’s Choice™ Award as Top Private Student Loan Provider thanks to the company’s student-focused efforts and innovative loan options. ” Read more
- BadCredit.org
Editor’s Choice™ Award 2021
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.
Grace G.
Simmons College
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. Financial Wellness Tips »
Have questions about private student loans?
We’ve got answers.
Who is Ascent?
Ascent Funding is an award-winning lender, committed to revolutionizing how you 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 with resources such as our Bright Futures Engine, Bootcamp Selector, and financial wellness tips. To set students up for success, we offer scholarships (over $80,000 this year) and exclusive benefits for students.
What types of private student loans does Ascent offer?
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.)
Why should I choose an Ascent loan?
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.
Do I need a cosigner?
Not necessarily. Ascent considers several factors including: creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, GPA, cost of attendance, and other factors that allow for undergraduate students to potentially obtain a Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based 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.
What type of loan are you looking for?
Checking your rate will not impact your credit score.
College Loan
For students seeking their undergraduate or graduate degree from a university or college.
Bootcamp Loan
For students attending a coding bootcamp school pursuing a degree in technology, professional training, or licensure training.