Earn up to $525 for each college student you refer!

The more friends you refer to Ascent, the more you can earn1.
Start Earning

If your friend uses Ascent to pay for college, you both earn money1.

two astronautis holding a bag of money

Get started in just 3 easy steps.

  • Sign in or create an Ascent account.
  • Get your custom referral link.
  • Share your referral link with your college friends.
Image of the word repeat with 25 dollars on the left side and 500 dollars on the right of the word.

How you earn a referral reward:

  • You earn $25 when a college friend you referred is approved for an Ascent loan using your referral link.
  • You earn an additional $500 when your friend’s loan is funded and disbursed.
  • Your friend will earn $100 when their loan is funded and disbursed.

What should I tell my college friends about Ascent?

Ascent provides more opportunities for you and your friends to apply for student loans with a cosigner or student loans without a cosigner, as well as these additional benefits:

hands with speech bubbles

What should I tell my college friends about Ascent?

Ascent provides more opportunities for you and your friends to apply for student loans with a cosigner or student loans without a cosigner, as well as these additional benefits:

hands with speech bubbles

Affordable

Choose between fixed or variable rates.

More repayment terms

New 7 and 12-year repayment terms in addition to 5, 10, 15, and 20-year terms (depending on the loan you choose) See repayment examples

Most flexible options

Start payments up to 9 months after graduation and if you need to make lower payments after graduation, consider our Progressive Repayment option.

Build credit in your own name

Apply for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loans (for eligible juniors and seniors) or apply to release your cosigner after 24 consecutive on-time payments and meeting other criteria.

Bigger discounts

1.00% automatic debit discount for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan (all credit-based loans are eligible for a 0.25% discount). Discount Terms & Conditions

24/7 access with AscentConnect

Stay up to date with your student loan and make payments using our AscentConnect mobile app. Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

No fees

No application, origination, or disbursement fees AND there’s no penalty if you pay off your loan early.

Cash back

1% Cash Back Reward upon graduation.

Tips & resources

Ascent offers tips and resources that go beyond student loans to help you thrive in school and after graduation.

Student Success

Ascent’s undergraduate borrowers get access to expert coaching and easy-to-use resources to help you complete your degree and launch a rewarding career. Info icon

Affordable
Choose between fixed or variable rates.
More repayment terms
New 7 and 12-year repayment terms in addition to 5, 10, 15, and 20-year terms (depending on the loan you choose) See repayment examples
Most flexible options
Start payments up to 9 months after graduation and if you need to make lower payments after graduation, consider our Progressive Repayment option.
Build credit in your own name
Apply for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loans (for eligible juniors and seniors) or apply to release your cosigner after 24 consecutive on-time payments and meeting other criteria.
Bigger discounts
1.00% automatic debit discount for Ascent’s Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan (all credit-based loans are eligible for a 0.25% discount). Discount Terms & Conditions
24/7 access with AscentConnect
Stay up to date with your student loan and make payments using our AscentConnect mobile app. Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
No fees
No application, origination, or disbursement fees AND there’s no penalty if you pay off your loan early.
Tips & resources
Ascent offers tips and resources that go beyond student loans to help you thrive in school and after graduation.
Student Success
Ascent’s undergraduate borrowers get access to expert coaching and easy-to-use resources to help you complete your degree and launch a rewarding career. Info icon

Refer a Friend FAQs

What’s the reward for referring my friends in college?

Here’s the breakdown:

  • You can earn $25 if a college student you refer to Ascent submits an application using your referral code and is conditionally approved for a loan. The applicant must be new to Ascent Funding.
  • You can earn $500 if the loan application is approved and the loan is funded.
  • Your referred friend can earn $100 if the loan application is approved and the loan is funded.

When and how do I get paid?

Payments are issued via direct deposit to your checking account.  Payments are made on the first Friday of every month. There may be a delay of up to 60 days from the date you qualify for a payment and the date the payment is made.

Who’s eligible to refer friends?

To participate in Ascent’s Refer A Friend Program you must:

  • Refer a friend who is currently in college.
  • Be Age 18 or older.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, legal resident [permanent or temporary] of one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Vermont and Michigan), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
  • Not be an Ascent employee.
  • Create an account with Ascent Funding.

How do I refer my friends?

Here’s how you can start referring your friends:
  1. Be age 18 or older.
  2. Sign in or create an Ascent account.
  3. Using the Ascent Refer a Friend page, get your unique referral link.
  4. Share your unique referral link with your college friends via social media, email, or text message.

Who can I refer?

To earn a reward for referring your college friends, the friend must be:

  • An active college student at an Ascent eligible school.
  • New to Ascent Funding, meaning they do not have an existing account or loan with Ascent. You cannot refer yourself.
  • Age 18 or older.
  • A U.S. citizen, legal resident [permanent or temporary] of one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Vermont and Michigan), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.

You can receive a reward if the referred friend applies for an Ascent loan using your unique link and the friend is approved for an Ascent loan and successfully takes out an Ascent loan.

How can I contact the Ascent Refer A Friend Team?
If you have any questions about our Refer A Friend Program, please email [email protected].
How much can I earn?

If you are new to Ascent Funding, you can earn a $100 reward when you apply for an Ascent Student Loan and your loan is funded (meaning you are approved for and accept the loan; your school certifies the loan; and the loan proceeds are disbursed to your school).  To earn more money, you can refer your college friends.  Earn up to $525 for each college friend you refer who applies for and gets an Ascent loan.  There’s no limit to how much you can earn when you refer your friends.  (See “If You Refer Friends FAQs” tab for more details).

How do I earn a reward for being referred?

You must use your friend’s unique link to apply for an Ascent loan.  Your Ascent loan application must be approved; you must accept the loan; your school must certify the loan; and the loan proceeds must be disbursed to your school.

When and how do I get paid?

Payments are issued via direct deposit to your checking or savings account. Payments are made on the first Friday of every month. There may be a delay of up to 60 days from the date you qualify for a payment and the date the payment is made.

What are the requirements to earn the $100 reward for being referred?

If you were referred to Ascent Funding by a college friend, to be eligible for the $100 reward you must:

  • Be an active college student at an eligible Ascent school.
  • Be new to Ascent Funding and not have an existing account or have applied for a loan with Ascent. You cannot refer yourself.
  • Be age 18 or older.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, legal resident [permanent or temporary] of one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Vermont and Michigan), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
  • Apply for an Ascent loan using your friend’s unique referral link.
  • Be approved for an Ascent loan and have your loan be conditionally approved and funded (meaning you accept the loan; your school certifies the loan, and the money is sent to your school).

How will the friend who referred me receive their referral reward?

If you apply using your friend’s custom referral link, that friend will be able to view your first name and application approval status.  The friend who referred you will not be able to see that you have applied for an Ascent loan or that your application has been denied.  Only the information necessary to alert the friend regarding award eligibility is shared.