Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on your program, you might have the option to borrow funds for living expenses, which you can use to help cover your living costs while attending your program.

In most cases, you’ll apply for your tuition and living expenses at the same time with just one application. When you apply, you’ll find two fields for loan amounts in the application: one for tuition and one for living expenses. Enter the amount you would like to borrow for each. You need to apply for at least $2,000 in tuition financing to add living expenses financing.

Some eligible programs offer a separate Living Expense Loan, which allows you to borrow $1,500/month during your program. To apply for a Living Expense Loan for an eligible program, you must have a Deferred Tuition Loan application in progress or have been approved for a Deferred Tuition Loan, and you must submit your application before your cohort begins. Simply submit your Deferred Tuition Loan application to gain access to the Living Expense Loan application.

To see if funds for living expenses are available for your school and program, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page.

• You will be charged a one-time origination fee of 5.0% of your loan amount for an Ascent bootcamp loan. This will be added to the amount you borrow and is included in the total loan principal amount you finance. It helps cover the administrative fees associated with originating the loan. It is the only fee charged for taking out this loan, and it is factored into your loan’s Annual Percentage Rate (APR).
• For Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan for Merit America, you will not be charged an origination fee.

The timeline for certification is dependent on your college. For now, all you need to do is sit back and relax while your college reviews the certification request. You can contact your school to ask about the status of your certification if you need more information.

Once the certification is returned, you’ll need to accept your final loan terms. Be sure to keep an eye on your dashboard and email for any notifications.

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the big picture on your loan. It outlines the annual cost of your loan and includes the origination fee, financing charges, capitalized interest, and the interest rate to reflect the total annualized cost of the loan. Like a stand-alone interest rate, it’s shown as a percentage. APRs are a great way to gauge the total cost of your loan. At Ascent, we commit to including APR anywhere we communicate interest rates so you can make an informed decision.

The APR for Ascent bootcamp loans includes the origination fee and interest rate.

1. Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
2. Must have at least 2-years of credit history with non-student loan trades and meet minimum credit score requirements. The minimum score is subject to change and may depend on the score of the student borrower.
3. Must meet a minimum gross annual income requirement of $24,000 for at least the 12-months prior to the loan application.
4. Be able to submit proof of income satisfactory under applicable program guidelines and procedures.

We work with our bootcamp partner schools to ensure students have access to competitive financing. To see the fixed interest rates and APRs currently available for your school and program, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page.

To see if you pre-qualify for an Ascent loan, submit an application. In the pre-qualification process, we’ll conduct a soft credit check with no impact to your credit score. In addition to learning more about your eligibility, you can also see the rates and terms you pre-qualify for.

You can apply for an Ascent bootcamp loan at the same time as applying for scholarships – in fact, we recommend it! Scholarships are a great way to supplement your funding. You can also apply for a loan if you already have a scholarship, or even if you plan to apply for scholarships in the future.

If you receive a scholarship after you apply for a loan, we can easily lower your loan amount before we send your tuition funds to your school. To request a loan decrease, log in to your Ascent dashboard or email [email protected] with the amount of your scholarship. If you need to lower your loan amount after your funds have been sent, you can simply apply your funds to your loan balance at any time without prepayment penalty.

Although we can decrease your loan amount, we can’t increase your loan amount. If you apply for less than the maximum tuition and then realize you do need more funds, please log in to your Ascent dashboard and submit a new application.

For bootcamp tuition, you can apply for as little as $2,000 up to the maximum tuition for your school, program, and location. Depending on your program, you might have the option to borrow living expense funds, which you can use to help cover your living costs. You need to apply for at least $2,000 in tuition to add living expenses.

To see the options for your program before you apply, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page. If you need to lower your loan amount or cancel after you apply, we can help!

Yes, you can add a cosigner to your loan. There are two ways to qualify for an Ascent bootcamp loan: on your own, or with a cosigner. Depending upon your credit health, a cosigner might be required. Cosigners may strengthen your application’s overall credit health. In some scenarios, adding a cosigner may reduce your interest rate and lower your payments. If you’re concerned about your eligibility for an Ascent loan, consider adding a cosigner with strong credit health.

You can choose to add a cosigner before you submit your loan application, or may be given the option to add a cosigner after you apply.

If you’d like to add a cosigner when you apply, you can select this option in the application. If your cosigner is with you, they can start their portion of the application right away. If not, we’ll send them an email asking them to complete their part. Your cosigner’s portion of the application will look very similar to yours.

We’ll keep you and your cosigner updated on the status of your application throughout the process. You’ll receive an email or a notification in the application if you or your cosigner have any required steps to take.

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 who are a U.S. citizen or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply without a cosigner.  Students who 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. (See FAQ, “Can students that are Non-U.S. citizens apply for an Ascent college loan?”)

Yes, Non-US Citizens that meet certain eligibility criteria can apply for an Ascent College or Bootcamp Loan. Please see the required documentation and cosigner requirements below.

Permanent Resident

Required Documents:

• Unexpired Permanent Resident Card (If expired, provide extension letter)
• Social Security Card

Cosigner Requirements: You can apply as a solo applicant, or with a U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner

Temporary Resident:

Required Documents:

• Unexpired VISA with an acceptable category as follows:F-1, F-3, G-1, H-1B, H-1C, H-2B, H-3, J-1, L-1, M-1, M-3, T-1, TN
• Social Security Card

The following documents may also be submitted in lieu of a VISA and Social Security Card

• I-20 Form (pages 1 & 2 signed) (if applicable)
• Unexpired Passport from country of origin


• *Temporary Protected Status:
• See here for eligible countries: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status
• Required Documents:
• Form I-797, Notice of Action
• Unexpired Passport from country of origin
• Social Security Card (if applicable

Cosigner Requirements: A U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner will be required with your application.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

Required Documents:

• Unexpired Employment Authorization Card with your name and a C33 category code
• If expired or in process we need a Form I-797, Notice of Action or written notice of DACA and employment authorization
• Social Security Card

Cosigner Requirements: You can apply as a solo applicant, or with a U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner

NOTE: The option to apply to release the cosigner after making twelve (12) consecutive full principal and interest payments on-time or an equivalent prepayment amount while also meeting the other eligibility criteria to qualify is only available to student borrowers that are U.S. citizens or have U.S. permanent resident status or DACA status. (See FAQ, “Can I eventually remove the cosigner from my loan?”)

Our goal at Ascent is to help students from all walks of life and with a broad range of backgrounds get access to the programs that interest them. We offer two possible ways to qualify for an Ascent loan: on your own or with a cosigner.

To see if you pre-qualify for an Ascent bootcamp loan, submit an application. In the pre-qualification process, we’ll conduct a soft credit check with no impact to your credit score. In addition to learning more about your eligibility, you can also see the rates and terms you pre-qualify for.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients with established credit history & no outstanding education loan defaults. U.S. temporary residents may apply with a creditworthy cosigner that is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

Adding a cosigner can help strengthen your application’s overall credit health, and may even help lower your loan’s interest rate, APR, or monthly payments.

While our application process asks for income and employment details, we won’t use income, employment, or your requested loan amount to evaluate your application.

• Minimum: $2,001
• Maximum (aggregate): $200,000 for Undergraduate Loans; $400,000 for Graduate Loans
• Maximum for academic year:
  • $200,000 for Undergraduate and Graduate Credit-Based Loans
  • $20,000 for Undergraduate Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loans

Ascent's loan servicer, Launch Servicing, who services all Ascent loans, is here to help simplify the servicing process and make repayment easy. There are several ways you can contact Launch Servicing:

• Phone: 877-209-5297 toll-free Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CST).
• Email: [email protected]
• Online Portal: Log into the repayment portal at AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com.
• Mobile App: Manage your account from anywhere! Download the AscentConnect mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and login using the same credentials as your Ascent account.

• If you are an undergraduate student borrower with or without a cosigner AND have less than two (2) years of credit history, OR a graduate student borrower with a cosigner:
  • There is no minimum income requirement. See NOTE below.
• If you are a student borrower without a cosigner and have at least two (2) years of credit history.
  • You will be tested against the following criteria to determine your eligibility for the most favorable rates and terms available:
  • Minimum gross annual income of $24,000 for the current and previous year; and
  • Must meet a monthly debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
• If you are a cosigner:
  • Minimum gross annual income of $24,000 for the current and previous year; and
  • Must submit satisfactory proof-of-income.

• Cosigned Credit-Based Loan for undergraduate and graduate students
  • Student borrowers must have a minimum credit score. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner.
  • Cosigners must have a minimum credit score. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your borrower.
• Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan for undergraduate and graduate students
  • Student borrowers must have more than two (2) years of credit history with a minimum credit score.
• Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan for undergraduate (juniors and seniors ONLY)

To start the online loan application, click “Apply Now” in the top right corner of this website. Or, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page to see more details about the loan options for your program before applying.

You can apply for an Ascent bootcamp loan to see if you pre-qualify without any impact to your credit score. After you pre-qualify, you’ll preview your monthly payments and repayment plan options. Once you choose a plan, we’ll run a hard credit check to confirm your eligibility so you can finalize your loan.

A borrower may request deferment through Launch Servicing, Ascent’s loan servicer, in writing, or by completing and signing a deferment form and providing the appropriate documentation requested on the form. All deferments after the In-School period are provided solely at the lender’s discretion. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized deferment. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the deferment period ends. Ascent’s college loans include the following deferment and forbearance options:

• Active Duty Military Deferment
• In-School Deferment
• Residency / Internship Deferment
• Temporary Hardship Forbearance
• Administrative Forbearance
• Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Active Duty Military Deferment

A borrower is eligible for an Active Duty Military Deferment upon submitting an application for such and eligible documentation to the repayment Servicer showing that he or she is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency or performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency.

• Active Duty Military Deferment is available up to a cumulative limit of 36-months.
• This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

In-School Deferment

Student borrowers that have exited an in-school status, either by separating from school (or dropping to less than half-time enrollment) and subsequently entering a repayment status prior to re-establishing at least half-time enrollment at an eligible institution, or by using the maximum allowable months of in-school status, may be eligible for an In-School Deferment. Student borrowers must apply for an In-School Deferment, and eligibility is based on verification of at least half-time enrollment at an eligible institution.

• This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship Deferment

Student borrowers may be eligible for a Residency / Clerkship / Internship /Fellowship Deferment if the student:

• Has been accepted into a Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship program which must be a supervised program; and
• Require that the student hold at least a bachelor’s degree before acceptance into the program; and
• Must either:
• Lead to a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education, a hospital, or a health facility that offers postgraduate training, or
• Be required before the student may be certified for professional practice or service, which must be verified by the relevant state licensing agency.
• This deferment DOES extend the repayment term.

Borrowers are limited to a total of 48 months of eligibility in increments of up to 12-months at a time for In-School & Residency / Clerkship / Internship / Fellowship Deferment described above.

Temporary Hardship Forbearance

Borrowers experiencing periods of financial difficulty may be granted forbearance. The forbearance period duration may be from a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 3 months. A borrower may apply for up to 4 consecutive periods of Temporary Hardship Forbearance. A maximum of 24 total months of Temporary Hardship Forbearance may be granted during the life of the loan. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

• This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

Administrative Forbearance

An administrative forbearance may be used for temporary suspension of collection activity while researching borrower disputes, awaiting bankruptcy and death documents, or for other circumstances as approved by the loan holder. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

• This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance

Student borrowers that are adversely affected by a natural disaster, a local or national emergency (declared by the appropriate government agency), or a military mobilization, may be granted Natural Disaster / Declared Emergency Forbearance for a period not to exceed 3 months. Interest shall continue to accrue on loans during periods of authorized forbearance. Unpaid interest is capitalized when the forbearance period ends.

• This forbearance DOES extend the repayment term.

(1) If the 20th day of the preceding calendar month is not a business day where the banks of both New York and London are open for the transaction of business, then the previous business day will be used to determine the current index. If the annual capitalization date is a non-business day for the Lender or Servicer, then the interest will capitalize on the next business day.

(2) The maximum loan amount may not exceed the amount requested on the application. Additionally, subject to applicable law, the Lender reserves the right to approve a final loan amount that could be less than the amount requested on the application or as certified by the school. Because the Ascent Undergraduate Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan option is available to student borrowers with no credit history or limited history students without any reliance on cosigners, several factors may come into consideration for the maximum loan amount, including: creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, cost of attendance and other factors. Processing times may be longer and loan amounts may be significantly lower than the loan amount requested.

(3) Depending on loan terms, either a 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) or 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans) Automatic Payment interest rate reduction 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. Borrowers lose this benefit after two (2) Non-sufficient Funds payments, until they re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic payments. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of in-school, deferment, grace or forbearance. (See Ascent Student Loans Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions.)

• Visit AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com or call 877-209-5297 if you applied for your loan on or after June 10, 2019.
• Visit Aspire online or call 1-800-243-7552 if you applied for your loan on or before June 9, 2019.

Students enrolled full-time or at least half-time at an eligible institution may qualify. Certain limitations may apply for such applicants that apply without a cosigner.

For applicants approved for our Cosigned Loan or Credit-Based Non-Cosigned Loan, you may qualify as half-time. For applicants approved by our Outcomes-Based Loan, you must be enrolled full-time*.

*Applicants graduating within 9 months may be half-time under Ascent’s Outcomes-Based Loan.

• For private student loans, interest paid may be tax deductible. For consumer loans for bootcamps, interest is not tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor to determine if this applies to you.
• Consumer loans for bootcamps may be treated differently in the event of a borrower bankruptcy.
• Private student loans may typically only be used for qualified education expenses as defined by the IRS.

Due to changes in global markets as well as concerns about the accuracy and reliability of LIBOR in today’s global economy, regulators are retiring LIBOR and requiring that financial institutions transition to a different index.

For more about SOFR and LIBOR, click here.

Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option helps make payments more affordable for students who are making payments on an Ascent college loan upon graduation or are no longer enrolled at least half-time. If you submitted an Ascent college loan on or after 05/17/2019, you may be eligible for Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option allowing you to reduce your current monthly payment that would gradually increase over time so that the loan would be fully paid off within the original loan term. To calculate your adjusted monthly payment amounts under the Progressive Repayment Option, please contact Ascent's loan servicer, Launch Servicing, directly after your loan has been disbursed:

Ascent Funding, LLC

c/o Launch Servicing, LLC

P.O. Box 91910 | Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Phone: 877-209-5297

Email: [email protected]

Website: AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com

As of 2020, Ascent bootcamp borrowers have the option to enroll in Autopay. There are many benefits to making automatic payments on your loan with Autopay:

• Save on interest: If you’re using Autopay, you receive a 0.25% reduction in the interest rate on your loan!
• Avoid stress and late fees. With Autopay, your monthly loan payments are automatic, so you’ll never have to worry about missing a loan payment or paying late fees.
• Protect your credit: Making monthly, on-time payments on a loan is one of the best ways to help maintain your credit health. Autopay protects your credit by making sure you pay your loan on time every month.

For more on Autopay, see the Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions. Interest rate reduction of 0.25% applies only when the borrower and/or cosigner sign up for automatic payments and the payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account each month. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of in-school, deferment, grace or forbearance, unless a regular payment amount has been arranged with the servicer. If you have two (2) consecutive returned payments for Nonsufficient Funds, we may cancel your automatic debit enrollment and you will lose the interest rate reduction. You will then need to re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic debit payments to receive the interest rate reduction.

The timeline for certification is dependent on your training provider. For now, all you need to do is sit back and relax while your training provider looks at your loan terms. You can contact your training provider to ask about the status of your certification if you need more information.

Once the certification is returned, you’ll need to accept your final loan terms. Be sure to keep an eye on your dashboard and email for any notifications.

Yes, Non-US Citizens that meet certain eligibility criteria can apply for an Ascent College or Bootcamp Loan. Please see the required documentation and cosigner requirements below.

Permanent Resident

Required Documents:

• Unexpired Permanent Resident Card (If expired, provide extension letter)
• Social Security Card

Cosigner Requirements: You can apply as a solo applicant, or with a U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner

Temporary Resident:

Required Documents:

• Unexpired VISA with an acceptable category as follows:F-1, F-3, G-1, H-1B, H-1C, H-2B, H-3, J-1, L-1, M-1, M-3, T-1, TN
• Social Security Card

The following documents may also be submitted in lieu of a VISA and Social Security Card

• I-20 Form (pages 1 & 2 signed) (if applicable)
• Unexpired Passport from country of origin


• *Temporary Protected Status:
• See here for eligible countries: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status
• Required Documents:
• Form I-797, Notice of Action
• Unexpired Passport from country of origin
• Social Security Card (if applicable

Cosigner Requirements: A U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner will be required with your application.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

Required Documents:

• Unexpired Employment Authorization Card with your name and a C33 category code
• If expired or in process we need a Form I-797, Notice of Action or written notice of DACA and employment authorization
• Social Security Card

Cosigner Requirements: You can apply as a solo applicant, or with a U.S Citizen or U.S Permanent Resident Cosigner

NOTE: The option to apply to release the cosigner after making twelve (12) consecutive full principal and interest payments on-time or an equivalent prepayment amount while also meeting the other eligibility criteria to qualify is only available to student borrowers that are U.S. citizens or have U.S. permanent resident status or DACA status. (See FAQ, “Can I eventually remove the cosigner from my loan?”)

The timeline for certification is dependent on your training provider. For now, all you need to do is sit back and relax while your training provider looks at your loan terms. You can contact your training provider to ask about the status of your certification if you need more information.

Once the certification is returned, you’ll need to accept your final loan terms. Be sure to keep an eye on your dashboard and email for any notifications.

“SOFR” stands for the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. SOFR is a benchmark rate that is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY), which is based on the overnight borrowing costs of banks. The rate is determined based on the previous night’s activity on the U.S. Treasury repurchase (repo) market.

New variable rate Ascent loans applied for on or after January 1, 2022, will use the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as the benchmark index, which will be reflected in your loan documents.

You have several monthly payment options, including automated payments! After you are approved for a loan, we’ll help you set up your repayment account with our loan servicer. Launch and Aspire are the loan servicers for Ascent’s bootcamp loans. Our servicers send your statements, process payments, and help you with any payment questions.

To pay your loan or ask questions about an existing loan visit AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com or call 877-209-5297. If you applied for your loan on or before June 9, 2019, visit Aspire online or call 1-800-243-7552.

As of 2020, Ascent bootcamp borrowers have the option to enroll in Autopay. There are many benefits to making automatic payments on your loan with Autopay:

• Save on interest: If you’re using Autopay, you receive a 0.25% reduction in the interest rate on your loan!
• Avoid stress and late fees. With Autopay, your monthly loan payments are automatic, so you’ll never have to worry about missing a loan payment or paying late fees.
• Protect your credit: Making monthly, on-time payments on a loan is one of the best ways to help maintain your credit health. Autopay protects your credit by making sure you pay your loan on time every month.

For more on Autopay, see the Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions. Interest rate reduction of 0.25% applies only when the borrower and/or cosigner sign up for automatic payments and the payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account each month. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of in-school, deferment, grace or forbearance, unless a regular payment amount has been arranged with the servicer. If you have two (2) consecutive returned payments for Nonsufficient Funds, we may cancel your automatic debit enrollment and you will lose the interest rate reduction. You will then need to re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic debit payments to receive the interest rate reduction.

“LIBOR” stands for London Interbank Offered Rate. LIBOR is a benchmark rate that some of the world’s leading banks charge each other for short-term loans and is among the most common interest rate indices used to make adjustments to variable rate consumer loans.

LIBOR is being phased out and will eventually be unavailable for use with any consumer loan products. As a result, we’re working diligently to implement a replacement index.

New variable rate Ascent loans applied for on or after January 1, 2022, will use the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as the benchmark index, which will be reflected in your loan documents.

Existing variable rate Ascent loans that use LIBOR as the benchmark index will continue to use LIBOR until we convert these loans to a replacement index, likely SOFR, at some point in 2022.  We will keep you updated with important information about this conversion.

The quicker you move through your tasks, the quicker the process will be. As soon as you’re finished with your tasks, we can send your loan application to your school for certification. Then, your school will review your application and set your disbursement dates.

Your school may certify your college loan for a lower amount and/or change your graduation dates or disbursement dates, which will require you to accept the new terms. If your school fails to certify your loan, it will be denied.

If you are looking for information regarding your Ascent college loan application in process or pending disbursement(s):

• Visit College.AscentFunding.com to log into the borrower portal
• Call Ascent Customer Service directly at 877-216-0876

If you have questions about an existing loan, such as payment, deferment or forbearance information, please contact Launch Servicing, who services loans on behalf of Ascent, at 877-209-5297 toll-free or log into the repayment portal at AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com.

You can get either a 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) or 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans) interest rate reduction (depending on loan terms) if payments on your Ascent loan are made by automatic payment. The Automatic Payment Discount is available if you are enrolled in automatic payments from your personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. (See Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions.)

No, you can reduce your total cost by making early payments! This is a benefit we hope our borrowers take advantage of. When you apply for a loan, we show you as many details as we can upfront. One of those details is the total cost of the loan, which is the total amount you’ll pay over the scheduled lifetime of the loan. Our calculation of the total cost assumes that you will pay off your loan by making monthly on-time minimum payments for your entire loan term, which is either 36 or 60 months. The total cost includes (1) the origination fee of 5% of your loan amount, (2) the loan amount, and (3) the interest accrued over the lifetime of the loan.

With our loans, you can make early payments or fully pay off your loan at any time with no prepayment fees. Many of our borrowers graduate from their programs, land jobs, and pay off their loans early! This is a financially smart move, because if you make early payments, you’ll accrue less interest over the lifetime of your loan. In summary – we don’t hold you to the total cost you see in your loan offers. If you make early payments, you can reduce the interest you accrue, which reduces your loan’s total cost!

You have several monthly payment options, including automated payments! After you are approved for a loan, we’ll help you set up your repayment account with our loan servicer. Launch and Aspire are the loan servicers for Ascent’s bootcamp loans. Our servicers send your statements, process payments, and help you with any payment questions.

To make payments on or ask questions about an existing loan, visit AscentFunding.LaunchServicing.com or call 877-209-5297. If you applied for your loan on or before June 9, 2019, visit Aspire online or call 1-800-243-7552.

For full details about Ascent’s Refer A Friend Program for college students, visit AscentFunding.com/Refer.

Here is how you can start referring your friends in college:

• Sign in or create an Ascent account.
• Using the Ascent Referral Page, get your unique referral code.
• Share your unique referral code via social media, text or email.

• You can earn $25 if someone you refer to Ascent submits an application using your referral code and is conditionally approved for a college loan. This requires that the applicant be new to Ascent and that the applicant completes and submits the application as required.
• You can earn an additional $500 if your friend’s college loan application is approved and is funded.
• Your referred friend can earn $100 if the loan application is approved and the loan is funded.
• VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Open only to individuals who have created an account with the Ascent college loan program at AscentFunding.com, are legal residents of the U.S. or District of Columbia (excluding Vermont and Michigan) and are at least 18 years of age.

Ascent's college loans use a variable interest rate that is adjusted using the 30-day SOFR Average. (See FAQ, “What is SOFR?” for more info.)

Note: For all applications submitted for variable rate loans from Ascent on or after January 1, 2022, the benchmark or index used to determine the interest rates for those loans will be based on SOFR. Learn more.

Monthly payments are based on the loan amount, repayment term, interest rate and the selected repayment plan. Please see Ascent’s college loans’ repayment examples.

• Consolidate: Making one payment to multiple loans. If you have multiple Ascent private students loans or multiple consumer loans for bootcamps, you will be making one payment to your servicer (Launch Servicing) that will be distributed between the originated Ascent private student loans or consumer loans. For Launch Servicing contact and repayment portal information, see FAQ “How do I contact Launch Servicing?
• Refinance: Revise the interest, payment schedule, and terms of a previous credit agreement. No, Ascent Funding does not refinance either originated loans nor other private/federal loans for our college loans or bootcamp loans.

Yes, borrowers are eligible to receive the following incentives with Ascent’s college loans:

• Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers can get either a 0.25% (for Credit-Based Loans) or 1.00% (for Undergraduate Outcomes-Based Loans) interest rate reduction if payments are made by automatic payment. 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.  (See Automatic Payment Discount Terms & Conditions.)
• 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward: Borrowers are eligible to receive a 1% cash reward after graduation and upon meeting certain qualifying criteria. Learn More »
• Refer A Friend in College: Earn up to $525 for each friend in college you refer – There’s no limit to what you can earn! See below for additional details or Learn More »

• Variable Rate: A variable interest rate may fluctuate over the duration of the loan.
• Fixed Rate: Remains unchanged for the duration of the loan.

• The interest rate is based on a number of factors and may be lower for a Cosigned Credit-Based Loan compared to a Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan.
• You will know your exact interest rate percentage after applying and selecting a repayment option.
• Applicants must select an interest rate option prior to accepting the loan offer.

• If you choose the Deferred Repayment plan, you will not be required to make payments until your grace period ends. The first payment due is typically thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days thereafter.  Repayment begins once the grace period ends, after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution (either by graduation or otherwise). The grace period varies depending on the Ascent college loan product:
  • 9-month grace period for Ascent Undergraduate, MBA, Law, and Graduate and Health Professionals Loans.
  • 12-month grace period for Ascent Dental Loans.
  • Up to 36-month grace period for Ascent Medical Loans.
• If you choose the “Interest Only” or “$25 Minimum” repayment plans, the first payment due is typically thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days after the first disbursement on the loan. (See FAQ, “What are my Repayment Options and Terms?”)

Ascent’s customer service team is 100% U.S.-based and is here to help you every step of the way.

For Ascent’s College Loans

• Call us at (877) 216-0876  (toll free) Monday - Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Email us at [email protected].
• You can also login to your account at any time to check your status at college.ascentfunding.com. 

• Call us at (877) 216-0876 (toll free) Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Email us at [email protected]. 
• You can also login to your account at any time to check your status at bootcamp.ascentfunding.com.

While it is our hope that every student graduates and finds an awesome job in their chosen field, we understand that other circumstances may intervene.

If you are owed a refund by your school, Ascent will follow your school’s refund policies. Please refer to your school’s policies and agreements.

Regarding your tuition: You are responsible for the full amount you borrow, plus accrued interest and fees. If you are owed a refund by your partner school, the refund transaction will be made to Ascent in the amount of the refund due (but in no event greater than what that we paid to the school on your behalf). If there is a balance on your loan after any applied refund, you will be required to immediately start making monthly payments for the balance.

For Deferred Repayment, Interest-Only Repayment, or Immediate Repayment Loans, you will immediately begin making full (interest + principal) payments when you withdraw from your program. For Outcomes Loans or Deferred Tuition Loans, you will have a 3 month grace period after withdrawing from your program before you begin making payments.

Regarding any borrowed living expense funds: Because you’ve received the funds, you’re responsible for repaying them to Ascent. If there is a balance on your loan after any applied refund, you will be required to immediately start making monthly payments for the balance.

• Cosigned Loans: When applying with a cosigner, we consider both the student’s credit score and the credit score of your cosigner. Both credit scores, as well as your chosen repayment plan and loan term, are used to determine your interest rate, and your cosigner must meet minimum income requirements to be eligible.
• Non-Cosigned Credit Based Loans: For this loan option, only the student’s credit score is considered, along with their chosen repayment plan and loan term. The student must have a two-year credit history and a minimum credit score as well as meet minimum income and debt-to-income requirements to be eligible.
• Non-Cosigned Outcomes Based Loan (eligible juniors and seniors only): If a student has no credit score, their rates are created based on their chosen repayment plan. If a student meets the minimum credit score, with or without two years of credit history, their score may be used to calculate your interest rate.

• You may be eligible for the following repayment options if you:
  • Apply with a cosigner; (or)
  • Apply without a cosigner and have more than two (2) years credit history, meet the minimum credit score, are prequalified, and have a minimum gross annual income of $24,000 for the current and previous year

• Interest Only Repayment: The Interest-Only Repayment option requires that while the student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution, the borrower will pay at least the interest that accrues on the loan each month. Upon graduation or if no longer enrolled at least half-time, the borrower will make full principal and interest payments for the remaining term of the loan.
• $25 Minimum Repayment: The $25 Minimum Repayment option requires that while the student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution, the borrower will pay a monthly payment of at least $25. Upon graduation or if no longer enrolled at least half-time, the borrower will make full principal and interest payments for the remaining term of the loan. Any unpaid interest will accrue and capitalize upon entering full principal and interest repayment.
• Deferred Repayment: The Deferred Repayment option allows for the borrower to postpone principal and interest payments on the loan while the student is at least half-time enrolled at an eligible institution. Interest accrues during this in-school period and is capitalized upon entering repayment. Repayment begins once the grace period ends, after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution (either by graduation or otherwise). The in-school and grace period varies depending on the Ascent loan type as indicated below:

• Terms: Flexible 5-year, 7-year, 10-year, 12-year, 15-year or 20-year repayment terms may be available depending on the loan options you select. There’s no penalty for early repayment. Ascent borrowers who choose a loan term of 20 years WILL ONLY receive a variable interest rate. For certain loans with low balances, the minimum monthly payment amount may cause the loan amortization schedule to be less than the selected term.
• You may be eligible for the following repayment options if you:

• Apply without a cosigner and DO NOT meet the current income or credit requirements
• Deferred Repayment: The Deferred Repayment option allows for the borrower to postpone principal and interest payments on the loan while the student is at least half-time enrolled at an eligible institution. Interest accrues during this in-school period and is capitalized upon entering repayment. Repayment begins once the grace period ends, after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution (either by graduation or otherwise). The in-school and grace period varies depending on the Ascent college loan type as indicated below: 

• Upon graduation or no longer being enrolled at least half-time from school, you may be eligible to customize your repayment plan with the Progressive Repayment option. Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option helps make payments more affordable for students who are making payments on their Ascent loan upon graduation or are no longer enrolled at least half-time. If you submitted an Ascent college loan on or after 05/17/2019, you may be eligible for Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option allowing you to reduce your current monthly payment that would gradually increase over time so that the loan would be fully paid off within the original loan term.

Yes! Ascent offers two deferred options for bootcamp loans to help you focus on your education and job search. To see if these options are available for your school and program, visit your school’s Ascent partnership page.

• Deferred Repayment: You’ll make no payments while you’re in school and for three months after. Then you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal). This option is available at most of our bootcamp partner schools.
• Outcomes Loans or Deferred Tuition Loans (only available at Thinkful, Kenzie, Springboard, and Bloomtech): You’ll make no payments for up to a year after you complete your program, or when you receive a qualifying job offer as determined by the Thinkful Tuition Refund Guarantee, Springboard Job Guarantee, Kenzie Guarantee, or Bloomtech Tuition Refund Guarantee. Then you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal). This option is only available for programs at Thinkful, Springboard, Kenzie Academy, and Bloomtech (additional terms apply).
• Zero Percent Loan: You’ll make no payments for at least three months after you exit your program. Then you’ll start making full monthly payments. If you do not find a qualifying job as determined by the Merit America Tuition Refund Guarantee, you can request to defer repayment. This is only available for programs at Merit America (additional terms apply).

At Ascent, we partner with schools we believe in and help students pay their tuition and living expenses. We’ve now helped thousands of bootcamp students afford career training programs and raised the bar for quality and outcomes in education!

In partnership with leading schools, we’ve created a financing platform that is both transparent and student-first. We’re proud of the work we do!

• Cosigned Loans: When applying with a cosigner, we consider both the student’s credit score and the credit score of your cosigner. Both credit scores, as well as your chosen repayment plan and loan term, are used to determine your interest rate, and your cosigner must meet minimum income requirements to be eligible.
• Non-Cosigned Credit Based Loans: For this loan option, only the student’s credit score is considered, along with their chosen repayment plan and loan term. The student must have a two-year credit history and a minimum credit score as well as meet minimum income and debt-to-income requirements to be eligible.
• Non-Cosigned Outcomes Based Loan (eligible juniors and seniors only): If a student has no credit score, their rates are created based on their chosen repayment plan. If a student meets the minimum credit score, with or without two years of credit history, their score may be used to calculate your interest rate.

Ascent offers private student loans to help undergraduate and graduate students pay for college.

• 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.)

Depending on your school and program, you’ll have the choice between several repayment plans. Your repayment plan will determine how and when you’ll repay your loan.

• Deferred Repayment: You’ll make no payments while you’re in school and for three months after. Then you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal).
• Interest-only Repayment: you’ll start making smaller interest-only payments roughly one month after your program begins. Three months after your program ends, you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal).
• Immediate Repayment: You’ll start making full payments (interest + principal) roughly one month after your program starts.
• Outcomes Loans or Deferred Tuition Loans: You’ll make no payments for up to a year after you complete your program, or when you receive a qualifying job offer as determined by the Thinkful Tuition Refund Guarantee, Springboard Job Guarantee, or Bloomtech Tuition Refund Guarantee. Then you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal). Only available for programs at Thinkful, Springboard, and Bloomtech (additional terms apply). You’ll make no payments for up to a year after you complete your program, or when you receive a qualifying job offer as determined by the Thinkful Tuition Refund Guarantee, Springboard Job Guarantee, and Bloomtech Tuition Refund Guarantee. Then you’ll start making full payments (interest + principal).
Zero Percent Loan: You’ll make no payments for at least three months after you exit your program. Then you’ll start making full monthly payments. If you do not find a qualifying job as determined by the Merit America Tuition Refund Guarantee, you can request to defer repayment. Only available for programs at Merit America (additional terms apply).

Before you apply, you can preview the loan options available for your school and program.

• Ascent’s bootcamp loans are consumer loans tailored for those seeking to transform their career at a bootcamp or an accelerated learning program. Private student loans are typically only available for qualified education expenses as defined by the IRS.
• Private student loan interest payments may be tax deductible, but bootcamp interest payments are not. You may want to consult your tax advisor to determine how this will affect you.
• Bootcamp loans may be treated differently in the event of a borrower's or cosigner’s bankruptcy.
• Ascent’s private college loans may be eligible for cosigner removal, while the bootcamp loans are not.

The quicker you move through your tasks, the quicker the process will be. As soon as you’re finished with your tasks, we can send your loan application to your school for certification. Then, your school will review your application and set your disbursement dates.

Your school may certify your college loan for a lower amount and/or change your graduation dates or disbursement dates, which will require you to accept the new terms. If your school fails to certify your loan, it will be denied.