No fees4
No application, disbursement, prepayment or late fees
New lower rates on student loans, starting at
2.19%
APR*
Check My Rates
rates starting at
2.19% APR*
5.0/5.0
5.0/5.0
4.5/5.0
220,000+
people funded**
Cover up to 100% of school costs in under 3 minutes - with or without a co-signer
College is hard work, but applying for an Ascent student loan is fast and easy. Ascent offers college student loans for cosigned and non-cosigned undergraduate students, graduate students, and parents.
Check My RatesLow rates
Low fixed rates starting at 2.19% APR* and low variable rates starting at 3.64% APR*
Student-friendly benefits
Up to 40 flexible repayment options3 – no other student loan offers more.
Job & internship support
Access to paid, remote internship opportunities and resources to help you reach long-term goals1
How to get your college student loan
1.
Apply
You provide details like your name, school, and date of birth to see if you pre-qualify without impacting your credit score. If you have a cosigner, they’ll also enter their information.
2.
Preview your options
Once you're pre-qualified, you can view your rate and monthly payment options, and choose the repayment plan that works best for you.
3.
Ascent confirms your eligibility
Ascent confirms your eligibility with a hard credit check, you provide any additional information needed, and your school confirms your enrollment.
4.
We send your tuition
Ascent sends your tuition to your school so you can focus on your education and bright future. When it's time to repay, we help you stay on track.
A loan that fits your needs
We offer multiple repayment plans, so you can choose what works best for you! Pre-qualify in minutes to compare your options and preview your payments.
Check My Rates
No Surprises
You can preview your rate and repayment options without affecting your credit. We keep things simple with clear terms and no hidden fees4.
Extra Support
Get your questions answered and meet your goals with access to friendly, expert help on academic, career, and finance essentials. We’re invested in your journey to success!
Community Benefits
Celebrate graduation with a cash reward2, get a discount when you sign up for autopay, earn money when you refer friends, and enter for a chance to win monthly scholarship giveaways.
Ascent cares about your long-term success
Our priority is the success of our borrowers. That’s why Ascent offers innovative support like financial wellness training, college and career coaching, and access to internship opportunities.
In addition to providing financial access to education, we are dedicated to giving learners the real-world resources and confidence they need to excel in college and beyond.
Apply Now| See how Ascent compares 1 2 3 4 |  |
Industry standard |
| Grace Period | 9 months | 6 months |
| Automatic Payment Discounts | ||
| College & Career Coaching | ||
| No Fees on College Loans! | ||
| 12-Month Cosigner Release | ||
| Access to Paid Internship Opportunities | ||
| Ease of Discharge in Bankruptcy |
Comparison based on information obtained on lender websites as of October 2025
220,000+ people have trusted Ascent to provide more than just a loan**
-
82%
of credit-based college loan borrowers increased their credit score5
-
1.2 million+
minutes of financial wellness education accessed
-
$355,000+
scholarships awarded by Ascent since 2020
Hear from real borrowers
Possibly the easiest process I have ever gone through in order to secure a loan.
Everyone was so helpful and nice to work with! Being a first generational College student picking a loan was scary and nerve wracking! but they made it so easy!
I've had such a struggle finding a loan and Ascent made it so simple. Not only was the process a weight lifted off my shoulders, but also ensured that I understood more about loans in general.
Resources for college students and families
- Ultimate Guide to Paying for College: Free course on college finances
- Monthly scholarship opportunities for students and parents
- Ascent Blog: Insights and advice for student life and finance
- Webinar Library: On-demand webinars on FAFSA®, scholarships, and student loans
Have questions about loans?
We have answers.
A private student loan from a lender like Ascent is funding that helps cover the cost of school when federal aid, scholarships, or savings don’t cover everything. It can be used for tuition, housing, books, and other school-related expenses.
With an Ascent loan, you get more than just funding. You can cover up to 100% of your certified school costs with low fees and flexible repayment options. You also get access to support, a graduation cash reward, Autopay discounts, the option to release your cosigner after responsible payments, and chances to earn rewards or scholarships. For more information, including eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions, please visit www.ascentfunding.com/ascentbenefitsterms.
It's designed to help you stay focused on your education and future goals while giving you support along the way.
FAFSA is the first step in making sure you get all the federal aid you qualify for, like grants, work-study, and low-interest loans. Applying first means you can take full advantage of these benefits before looking at private loans.
It also gives you a clear picture of what you still need to cover, so private funding like an Ascent loan can step in exactly where you need it, helping you focus on school without worrying about missing anything.
Federal student loans are borrowed directly from the Department of Education via FAFSA (studentaid.gov).
Private student loans (like Ascent's) help fill the gap between college expenses and what FAFSA or scholarships cover — including books, supplies, rent, groceries, parking, and more. Ascent offers flexible options to help manage monthly payments as you enter repayment.
Start by figuring out your total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, books, and other school expenses. Then subtract any scholarships, grants, and federal aid you receive. The amount left is generally what you might consider borrowing with a private loan.
With Ascent, you can borrow exactly what you need to cover this gap, and flexible repayment options help you manage your monthly payments. Borrowing thoughtfully now can help you stay on track with school and avoid taking on more debt than necessary.
Private student loans from Ascent can help you pay for up to 100% of your school‑certified costs, not just tuition. That means you can use them for things like tuition and fees, housing and meals, textbooks and supplies, technology like a laptop, and other school‑related expenses that your school includes in your cost of attendance. With flexible options and support along the way, Ascent loans are designed to help you cover what you need so you can stay focused on your education and future goals.
Not always! With Ascent, you may be able to qualify on your own if you meet certain credit, income, or academic requirements. A cosigner can help strengthen your application and may give you access to better rates or higher loan amounts. Later, you may even be able to release your cosigner after making a series of on-time payments.
With Ascent college student loans, there are no application fees, no disbursement fees, no prepayment fees, and no late fees. You can check your rate and repayment options without affecting your credit, and you won’t be charged if you pay off your loan early.
Some career or training program loans may have a one-time origination fee as part of the loan terms.
Ascent keeps fees simple and transparent so you can focus on school and your future.
Ready to fund your higher education journey?
Check your rates without impacting your credit score.
Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. See Terms and Conditions at AscentFunding.com/Rates and AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Loan features and information advertised are intended for Ascent college student loans and are subject to change at any time.
*Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 08/15/2026 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.5% on credit-based college student loans, and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based college student loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans 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 (Immediate) 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 examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
**Over 220,000 borrowers took out an Ascent loan for college or career training tuition or expenses between January 2018 and March 2026.
1Ascent applicants and borrowers that agree to the AscentUP Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, as well as students associated with an Ascent parent loan application, have access to the AscentUP platform.
2Ascent’s 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward is for eligible college students only and subject to terms and conditions. Eligible students must request the graduation reward from Ascent. Learn more at AscentFunding.com/CashBack. 1% Cash Back Reward amount dependent upon total loan amount for Ascent college loan borrowers; approximately $365 average reward amount based upon eligible borrowers who received Cash Back Rewards in 2023. Aggregate cash back limit of $500.
3The final ACH discount approved depends on the borrower's credit history, verifiable cost of attendance, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Automatic Payment Discount consists of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 06/01/2025, 0.5% for credit-based college student loans submitted on or after 06/01/2025, and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based college student loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.
4Only Ascent college loans are eligible for no fees. Ascent career training loans are subject to a one-time origination fee of 5.0% of the loan amount. All Ascent loans are eligible for no application, disbursement, late, NSF or early payment fees.
5Impact to score may vary. For some, scores may not improve. Results will depend on many factors, including on-time payment history, the status of non-Ascent accounts, and other financial history.
