ascent offers private student loans without a cosigner

Ascent offers private student loans without a cosigner

If you don’t pre-qualify for our credit-based non-cosigned loan, eligible juniors and seniors may apply for our outcomes-based student loan, without a cosigner.

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115,000+ people have used Ascent to pay for school**

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9,359 NPS reviews

Private Student Loan Rates

noun fixed interest rate

Fixed Rates

3.09% - 15.61% APR*

noun refresh

Variable Rates

4.31% - 15.22% APR*

Ascent puts you and your family first

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.

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no cosigner student loan options

No cosigner student loan options

You may pre-qualify for a student loan without a cosigner and build credit in your own name.

flexible payment options

Flexible payment options

Choose from affordable fixed or variable rates, customize your repayment terms, and pay off your loan without any penalty.

benefits that put you first

Benefits that put you first

Cover up to 100% of your attendance costs. Plus, you can get 1% cash back¹ and a discount if you set up automatic payments.

How to get your no cosigner student loan

You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for college.

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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More ways to customize your private student loan without a cosigner

  • Flexible Repayment Terms

    Flexible 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-year repayment terms for non-cosigned credit-based loan option and 10 or 15-year repayment terms for non-cosigned outcomes-based loan option.

    There’s no penalty for early repayment. Ascent repayment examples.

    NOTE: For certain loans with low balances, the minimum monthly payment amount may cause the loan amortization schedule to be less than the selected term.

flexible repayment termsmultiple repayment optionsdiscountsloan amounts

Am I eligible for Ascent’s outcomes-based student loan without a cosigner?

Student borrowers without established credit3 and those who meet the minimum credit requirements but don’t meet the income or repayment requirements, may qualify for a loan without a cosigner based on several alternative factors, which may include:

  • School
  • Program
  • Graduation date
  • Major
  • GPA
  • Cost of attendance
  • SAP (Satisfactory Academic Performance)
  • Other factors
  • School
  • Program
  • Graduation date
  • Major
  • GPA
  • Cost of attendance
  • SAP (Satisfactory Academic Performance)
  • Other factors

Additionally, students seeking a loan without a cosigner must:

  • Be a college junior or senior enrolled full-time at an eligible institution or be enrolled half-time and within 9-months of graduation in a degree program at an eligible institution
  • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or have a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status with a valid social security number
  • Meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP) with a 3.0+ GPA or greater.
  • Be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence
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3NOTE: Ascent applicants without a cosigner AND less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history are not tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, they are evaluated based on the factors listed above and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.

115,000+ people have trusted Ascent to provide more than just a loan**

  • 82%

    of credit-based college loan borrowers increased their credit score2

  • 1.2 million+

    minutes of financial wellness education accessed

  • $355,000+

    scholarships awarded by Ascent since 2020

Hear from real borrowers

Resources for college students and families

Resources for college students and families

Ready to fund your higher education journey?

Check your rates without impacting your credit score.

Have questions about Ascent’s undergraduate loans?

We have answers.

Creditworthiness refers to your eligibility to receive credit from a lender. Lenders use your credit history to assess the level of risk involved with issuing a loan or another form of credit to borrowers. There are many factors that contribute to creditworthiness including your credit score and repayment history.

Since many students have not yet established credit, Ascent determines creditworthiness for loans without a cosigner in the following ways:

  • Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan
    • Student borrowers must have more than two (2) years of credit history with a minimum credit score
  • Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan
    • Eligible student borrowers with no credit score, or eligible students that meet a minimum credit score with or without two (2) years of credit history

There is no minimum income requirement for Ascent's Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan.* For Ascent's Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan, the minimum income requirement is $30,000 per year.

*NOTE: If you are applying for a loan without a cosigner AND have less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history, you will not be tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, evaluation is based on the school of attendance, program, major, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.

If you are a student borrower with or without a cosigner AND have less than 2 years of credit history:

  • Instead, students are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.

If you are a student borrower without a cosigner and have at least 2 years of credit and make a gross annual income of $30,000:

  • You will be tested against the following criteria to determine your eligibility for the most favorable rates and terms available:
    • Must meet a monthly debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
    • Must submit satisfactory proof of income

NOTE – Ascent applicants without a cosigner AND less than two (2) years of non-student loan credit history are not tested against any minimum current annual income criteria. Instead, they are evaluated based on their school of attendance, program, major, GPA, and other criteria that do not consider current annual income.

Yes. Students who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution may qualify for Ascent’s Cosigned Credit-Based Loan option. Students who are enrolled half-time within 9-months of graduation in a degree-seeking program at an eligible institution may qualify for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan option. Certain limitations may apply for applicants who apply without a cosigner.

*Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 07/01/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% on credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 06/01/2025, a 0.5% discount on 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. 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 115,000 borrowers took out an Ascent loan for college or career training tuition or expenses between January 2018 and November 2024.

1Ascent’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.

2See Ascent's 2023 Impact Report for details. Impact 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.

New lower rates on college loans, starting at 3.09% APR*

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*See rates and repayment examples