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.
Start an Application115,000+ people have used Ascent to pay for school**
Fixed Rates
Variable Rates
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.
Start an ApplicationYou may pre-qualify for a student loan without a cosigner and build credit in your own name.
Choose from affordable fixed or variable rates, customize your repayment terms, and pay off your loan without any penalty.
Cover up to 100% of your attendance costs. Plus, you can get 1% cash back¹ and a discount if you set up automatic payments.
You’ve already put a lot of work into preparing for college.
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.
Once you're pre-qualified, you can view your rate and monthly payment options, and choose the repayment plan that works best for you.
Ascent confirms your eligibility with a hard credit check, you provide any additional information needed, and your school confirms your enrollment.
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.
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.
For Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Credit-Based student loan, students can choose from our Interest-Only, $25 Minimum, Deferred Repayment or Immediate Repayment* options.
For Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based student loan, students can choose our Deferred Repayment option and start payments up to 9-months after graduation or leaving the program.
*The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. (See Terms & Conditions.)
0.5% Automatic Payment Discount applied when eligible borrowers are making automatic payments on their Ascent Non-Cosigned Credit-Based student loan via auto-debit from their personal checking account*.
1.00% Automatic Payment Discount applied when eligible borrowers are making automatic payments on their Ascent Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based student loan via auto debit from their personal checking account.
1% Cash Back Graduation Reward upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.
Minimum: $2,0014
Maximum: $200,000 for Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan; $20,000 for Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan ($200,000 aggregate total)
NOTE: Because the Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan is available to students without any reliance on cosigners, processing times may be longer and loan amounts may be lower than the loan amount requested.
4The minimum loan amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.
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.
of credit-based college loan borrowers increased their credit score2
minutes of financial wellness education accessed
scholarships awarded by Ascent since 2020
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.
Check your rates without impacting your credit score.
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:
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:
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:
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.
Our lowest college loan rates of the year—starting at 3.09% APR*—are only here for a short time.
Lock in your best rate before they’re gone!
Even better? You can check your college loan rate in 3 minutes with no impact on your credit score.