Embark partnered with Ascent to give you more opportunities to pay for college with or without a cosigner.
Find your best option in 4 simple steps – NO application fees.
(Check your rate without impacting your credit score.)
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Enrolled full-time OR graduating within the next 6 months
- Maintain GPA of 2.9+ AND meet your school’s satisfactory academic performance (SAP)
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 10 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school.
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 36 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 36 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 12 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 12 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 48 months
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Must be a U.S. citizen with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- International students and students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward**
- Scholarship giveaways on social media
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $525 for each friend you refer
- 7, 10, 12 or 15-Years
- Deferred Repayment: Start payments up to 9 months after leaving school
- In School Interest-Only Repayment
- $25 Minimum Payment
- Postpone payments up to 9 months after graduation
- Maximum in-school period is 36 months
*Rates displayed above are effective as of 11/01/2020 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% on the lowest offered rate and a 2.00% discount on the highest offered rate when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.
** 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions, click here for details.
The best thing about Ascent is the fact that they make the process easy. I was able to do everything online and the money was sent directly to my school.
Anjellica C.
Northern Arizona University
They talked to me and helped me out in the most possible way. They made sure I got the most that I possibly could.
Rnajee M.
Mississippi State University
Ascent was great because they were able to answer all of my questions. They made getting to college a lot easier for me.
Grace G.
Simmons College
Tips & tools for financial success
Don't lose your financial freedom before you have the chance to earn it! To help you borrow responsibly, we incorporate financial wellness into our application process and give you exclusive access to tools and content to help you get set for greater financial success. Financial Wellness Tips »
Have questions about private student loans?
We’ve got answers.
What is Ascent?
Ascent is an innovative private student loan program that provides access to higher education funding for an expanded population of undergraduate and graduate students, while encouraging the financial wellness of students and their families. We advocate awareness of the potential financial outcomes of your higher education choices (school, major, years in school, financing your education), helping you visualize where your career could go and what it could be – encouraging better decisions today to open up greater future opportunities.
What types of private student loans does Ascent offer?
Ascent offers loan products to help undergraduate and graduate students pay for higher education.
- Undergraduate students have the option to apply for a Cosigned Credit-Based Loan, Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan or Non-Cosigned Future Income-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.)
Why should I choose an Ascent loan?
The Ascent Student Loan program provides more opportunities to qualify for a loan with a cosigner or without a cosigner. . Ascent also offers credit-based loans for graduate students. Ascent loans are competitively priced. You can choose from affordable fixed or variable rates, customize your repayment terms, and pay off your loan early without any penalty. In addition, Ascent offers benefits that can help save money with a 1% Cash Back Reward upon graduation and an Automatic Payment Discount of at least 0.25% for Credit-Based Loans and in some cases up to 2.00% for Undergraduate Non-Cosigned Future Income-Based Loans. 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.
Do I need a cosigner?
Not necessarily. Ascent considers several factors, including: creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, cost of attendance, and other factors that allow for students to potentially obtain a loan in their own name without a cosigner. Nevertheless, applying with a cosigner may result in a lower interest rate.
Students that have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status or 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.