Graduate Loan Solutions for a Post-PLUS Era

$13 Billion in graduate funding vanishes in 2026. Is your school ready?

With the elimination of Grad PLUS, 1 in 5 master’s students will lose access to their primary source of funding, which currently provides an average of $32,000 per student annually¹. Yet fewer than 4 in 10 will qualify for private loans, putting institutions at risk of unfilled seats and financial instability.

To meet your 2026–2027 enrollment goals, a new financing strategy must be in place by March 2026 to launch to students by June 1. Now is the time to evaluate revenue targets, finalize enrollment plans, and build the infrastructure your institution—and your students—will depend on.

440,000+
graduate students took out Grad PLUS loans last year¹.
35%
of college students are considering canceling their plans to further their education².
47%
of Grad PLUS borrowers' total loans come from the Grad PLUS loan program³.

The Ascent solution

Graduate Loans for Individual Students

Ascent offers private graduate student loans that support individual students across a wide range of programs. These existing solutions provide flexible funding with both cosigned and non-cosigned options.

Loan options include:
- MBA
- Medical
- Dental
- Law
- PhD & Master’s
- Health Professions
- Computer Science & Engineering product
Custom Lending Programs Built for You

Ascent is uniquely positioned to help. We’ve developed customized, flexible, school-specific lending solutions for over 100 school partners, designed to:
- Boost enrollment
- Maximize upfront funding
- Reduce your risk
- Align with you institutional goals
A Strategic Financing Partnership

Our risk share model allows your school to expand access and reduce student borrowing costs. The result is a sustainable and transparent financing solution with clear, capped terms.

With Ascent your school can:
- Fund up to 100% of students currently covered by federal PLUS programs
- Support students traditionally denied access to credit-based private loans
- Protect enrollment and yield in high-impact programs

Let Ascent be your trusted ally with unmatched experience

We’ve built this before. We’re ready to do it again. Ascent’s team brings decades of experience helping institutions close funding gaps.

A woman with curly hair, wearing a headset and a blue shirt, smiles while sitting at a desk in an office. She is working in front of a computer, behind a pane of glass. The office building windows reveal a cityscape.

We’re experts in handling:

Loan origination and disbursement
Capital markets and financing structure
Full back-end servicing and compliance
Syndication of admissions, aid, and finance

Most other market leaders address narrow segments of demand but lack the institutionally aligned, comprehensive financing infrastructure essential for enrollment stability.

Proven results

We’ve successfully implemented this partnership model across the career training space, showing what’s possible when schools and lenders collaborate.

2,200+
universities trust our lending solutions
100+
career training schools partner with us
$1.5 Billion+
disbursed in education loans

rates starting at 2.08% APR^*

5.0/5.0

Recognized by

5.0/5.0

4.6/5.0

220,000+ people funded^*

Your school needs to act now

Your peer institutions are already moving. Now is the time to assess revenue, finalize enrollment plans, and build a reliable system.

We’re ready to partner with you to help close funding gaps for admitted students.

A smiling man wearing glasses stands in front of a light blue background with sparkles. He is holding a green folder in one hand and a black backpack over his shoulder. He is dressed in a striped shirt and an olive green jacket.

How Ascent outshines the competition:

Unlike other lenders, our priority is the success of our borrowers. That’s why Ascent offers more flexible repayment options, competitive interest rates, and personalized help so you can navigate your education and career path along the way.

See how Ascent compares ^{1 2 3 4}		Industry standard
Grace Period	9 months	6 months
Automatic Payment Discounts	0.50%	0.25%
No Fees on College Loans!
College & Career Coaching
Access to Paid Internship Opportunities
Up to 40 Repayment Options
Cash Back at Graduation
DACA & International Eligibility
Student & Parent Scholarship Giveaways
12-Month Cosigner Release
Path to Discharge in Bankruptcy

Comparison based on information obtained on lender websites as of May 2026

What people are saying about Ascent

This innovative program, the most student-friendly financing of this scale, eliminates the financial risks for learners pursuing new career paths. As the manager for the investment program, Social Finance’s role is to ensure that learners build skills to match the needs of today’s economy—and realize life-changing wage gains.

Tracy P., CEO and co-founder of Social Finance

My experience has been absolutely phenomenal. Ascent approved me for a loan when other lenders consistently denied me, even with a great credit score. With the help of Ascent, I am well on my way to achieving my childhood dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. I appreciate you immensely, Ascent. Thank you for making my dream possible!

Justin R., Ascent borrower

I have challenged credit, and everybody (I think) in my cohort had some type of issue, whether it be credit or just upfront capital, and none of it would have been possible without your guys’ help... I wanted to give you guys some really positive feedback on how you’re making it possible for people to accomplish their goals.

David W., SV Academy