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Ascent gives DACA students 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.

forbes advisor best private student loans 2024

Editors Choice Award Ascent Badcredit.org

Undergraduate Loans
Graduate Loans

See My Rates

Check your rates without impacting your credit score.

Cosigned

Credit-Based Loans

For students with a creditworthy cosigner
(For U.S. citizens, DACA & international students)

Variable* APR:
6.01% – 15.47%

Fixed* APR:
3.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

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)

Variable* APR:
13.48% – 15.42%

Fixed* APR:
12.86% – 14.85%

View Details

**NOTE: No score means insufficient credit history to produce a score. If you have a score it must meet a minimum score required.

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

10 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

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)

Variable* APR:
9.17% – 15.07%

Fixed* APR:
8.49% – 14.31%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

MBA

Student Loans

For graduate students persuing their MBA with or without a cosigner.

Variable* APR:
7.86% – 15.47%

Fixed* APR:
4.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

7, 10, 12 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

Grace Period:

Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation

Extended In-School Period:

Maximum in-school period is 36 months

Medical School

Student Loans

For graduate students persuing their MD, DO, DVM, VMD, or DPM with or without a cosigner.

Variable* APR:
7.86% – 15.72%

Fixed* APR:
4.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 36 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

Grace Period:

Postpone payments up to 36 months after graduation

Extended In-School Period:

Maximum in-school period is 48 months

Dental School

Student Loans

For graduate students persuing their DMD or DDS with or without a cosigner.

Variable* APR:
7.86% – 15.72%

Fixed* APR:
4.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 12 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

Grace Period:

Postpone payments up to 12 months after graduation

Extended In-School Period:

Maximum in-school period is 48 months

Law School

Student Loans

For graduate students persuing their JD or LLM with or without a cosigner.

Variable* APR:
7.86% – 15.47%

Fixed* APR:
4.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

7, 10, 12 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

Grace Period:

Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation

Extended In-School Period:

Maximum in-school period is 36 months

General Graduate

Student Loans

For graduate students persuing their MA, MS, PhD, or other graduate school programs with or without a cosigner.

Variable* APR:
7.86% – 15.47%

Fixed* APR:
4.69% – 14.71%

View Details

Eligibility*:

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

Rewards:

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
Scholarship giveaways on social media
Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer

Terms*:

7, 10, 12 or 15-Years

Repayment Options*:

Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
In School Interest-Only Repayment
$25 Minimum Payment

Grace Period:

Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation

Extended In-School Period:

Maximum in-school period is 36 months

*Rates displayed above are effective as of 09/03/2024 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.

A woman wearing wired headphones, smiling and typing on a laptop

Are DACA students eligible?

DACA students are eligible to apply with or without a cosigner. Individuals may apply as a borrower or cosigner based on their citizenship status as follows:

U.S. Permanent Residents – as a solo borrower, as a cosigner or as a borrower with a qualified cosigner.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status – as a solo borrower or as a borrower with a qualified cosigner.
U.S. Temporary Residents – as a borrower with a qualified cosigner only.

For DACA status: To verify your individual resident status, DACA students will need to provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that indicates DACA status that does not expire within 6-months of the end of the enrollment period for which the loan is being requested.

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 »

Helpful Tips

Read More »

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.

Check Out More FAQs »

Two woman staring at each other and a woman and a man in the background

Ascent gives DACA students more opportunities to pay for college with or without a cosigner.

Find your best option in 4 simple steps – NO application fees.

We’re proud to provide award-winning loans for lifelong learners.

Cosigned

Credit-Based Loans

Non-Cosigned

Outcomes-Based Loan

Non-Cosigned

Credit-Based Loan

MBA

Student Loans

Medical School

Student Loans

Dental School

Student Loans

Law School

Student Loans

General Graduate

Student Loans

Are DACA students eligible?

Tips & tools for financial success

Helpful Tips

Have questions about private student loans? We’ve got answers.

How we help students

What type of loan are you looking for?

College Loan

Bootcamp Loan

Have questions about private student loans?
We’ve got answers.