Ascent Review: Private Student Loans

Full Review

Ascent is an online lender that offers options to student loan borrowers with and without a co-signer.

The co-signed loan is a good fit for borrowers who want to pay off loans fast and have a creditworthy co-signer. Your interest rate could also be lower by using a co-signer, so consider that option first.

If you don't have access to a qualified co-signer, Ascent offers two non-co-signed options: credit-based and outcomes-based. In this case, consider the credit-based non-co-signed loan before the outcomes-based loan for the best interest rate.

The Outcomes-based loan — available only to juniors and seniors with a 3.0 GPA and above — is one of only a few available to borrowers with no credit, income or co-signer.

For its non-co-signed credit-based loan, student borrowers must have more than two years of credit history and meet a minimum monthly debt-to-income ratio and income requirements.

Ascent borrowers can allocate overpayments to multiple accounts or a single account, and they also can make biweekly payments via autopay. These features help borrowers pay off debt faster.

Ascent at a glance

• Generous forbearance options.

• Offers co-signed and non-co-signed credit-based loan borrowers multiple in-school repayment options including interest-only, flat-fee and deferred.

• Borrowers who don’t have a co-signer or credit history can qualify.

• DACA students can qualify with or without a co-signer.

How Ascent could improve

Ascent could improve by offering:

• Advertised interest rates below 9% for non-co-signed loans.

Ascent private student loan details

• Interest rates, fees and terms

  • Soft credit check to qualify and see what rate you’ll get: Yes.

  • Interest rates: 4.09% - 15.71% (with co-signer); 12.94% - 14.93% (without co-signer). This includes the autopay discount.

  • Loan terms: Five, 7, 10, 12, 15 or 20-year repayment terms available

  • Loan amounts: $2,001 minimum to $200,000 over the lifetime of a borrower for undergraduate loans, or up to $400,000 for graduate loans. The amount for each loan period cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

  • Application or origination fee: No.

  • Prepayment penalty: No.

  • Late fees: No.

  Compare Ascent's range of interest rates with private student loan lenders. Your actual rate will depend on factors including your co-signer's credit history and financial situation. To see what rate Ascent will offer you, apply on its website.

• Requirements

  Financial

  • Minimum credit score: Students and cosigners must meet a minimum credit score, except that student borrowers that apply with a qualified cosigner and certain outcomes-based solo students may be eligible with no credit score. For the non-co-signed credit-based loan, the student must meet minimum income and DTI requirements and at least two years of credit history.

  • Minimum income: $30,000 for the current and previous year.

  • Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Did not disclose.

  • Typical income of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.

  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: Did not disclose.

  • Can qualify if you’ve filed for bankruptcy: Did not disclose.

  Other

  • Citizenship: Borrowers can be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, international or DACA students. International students must have an eligible U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. The same requirements apply to co-signers.

  • DACA borrowers: Eligible.

  • Location: Available to borrowers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Also available in American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Must be enrolled half-time or more: Yes. Non-co-signed outcomes-based borrowers must also meet satisfactory academic performance requirements with a 3.0 GPA or higher.

  • Loans can be used for past due tuition: Yes.

  • Types of schools served: An eligible school, typically traditional two-year or four-year degree-granting institutions.

  • Percentage of borrowers who have a co-signer: 77%.

• Repayment options

  In-school repayment options for co-signed loan borrowers:

  • Deferred repayment: No payments while you’re in school and until your grace period ends nine months after leaving school or dropping below half-time. Since there are no prepayment penalties, you may opt to make payments sooner. Interest will continue to accrue while you’re in school whether you pay or not. The interest that accrues will capitalize, or be added to your principal balance, at the end of your grace period.

  • Flat-fee repayment: Pay $25 every month while enrolled in school and during the grace period. This option will save you more than deferred repayment, but slightly less than interest-only repayment. You can pay a set monthly payment while enrolled in school at least half-time.

  • In-school interest-only repayment: Pay interest every month you’re enrolled at least half-time in school and during the grace period. This option will likely save you the most money.

  • Immediate repayment: Borrowers can make full payments — including interest and principal — while enrolled in school. Payments start 30 to 60 days after the loan is paid out. This option, with the exception of Outcomes-based loans, are only available to loans obtained on or after June 3, 2024.

  Post-school and non-co-signed loan repayment options

  • Grace period: 9 months.

  • Income based repayment option: No.

  • In-school deferment: Yes, students enrolled at least half-time are eligible for up to 48 months of deferment.

  • Internship deferment: Yes.

  • Residency deferment: Yes.

  • Administrative deferment: Yes.

  • Fellowship deferment: Yes.

  • Graduated repayment: Yes, borrowers who have graduated or are enrolled less than half-time may be eligible for Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option if they took out an Ascent Loan on or after May 17, 2019. This option requires monthly payment amounts that start with an amount that is less than a fully-amortizing payment amount that step-up over time so the loan will be fully paid within the original loan term.

  • Military deferment: Yes, active-duty service members can defer payments for a cumulative 36 months.

  • Reduced payments for medical and dental residents: Bachelor’s degree holders can defer payments if accepted into a residency or internship program for up to 48 months.

  • Forbearance: Up to 12 consecutive months and 24 months in aggregate. Forbearance will extend the loan’s repayment term, and interest will continue to accrue on the loan.

  • Co-signer release available: Yes, for the co-signed loan option, after 12 months.

  • Death or disability discharge: Yes, the loan is forgiven if the student dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled.

  • Loan discharge if co-signer dies or becomes disabled: No.

  Repayment preferences

  • Allows greater-than-minimum payments via autopay: Yes.

  • Allows biweekly payments via autopay: Yes.

• Customer service

  • Loan servicer: Launch Servicing.

  • In-house customer service team: Yes.

  • Process for escalating concerns: Yes.

  • Borrowers get assigned a dedicated banker, advisor or representative: No.

  • Average time from application to approval: Immediately for complete applications for which all credit and income information is available.

• Extras

  • Cash-back reward: Borrowers are eligible for a 1% cash-back graduation reward applied to your loan principal, upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.

  • Online financial literacy course: If you’re approved for a loan, you’ll need to take a brief course before receiving funding.

  • Refer a Friend Program: Borrowers and those they refer to Ascent can earn a $250 Amazon Gift Card. Both will receive the card once the loan is accepted, certified and disbursed to the referral’s school.

  • Scholarship Giveaways: Ascent gives away over $80,000 in scholarships annually for students in college or bootcamps. Learn more through Ascent's Instagram.

Before applying for an Ascent student loan

Before taking out an Ascent student loan or any other private student loan, exhaust your federal student loan options first. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, to apply.

» MORE: NerdWallet’s FAFSA Guide

Compare your private student loan options to make sure you’re getting the best rate you qualify for. In addition to interest rates, look at lenders’ repayment alternatives and the flexibility they offer to borrowers who struggle to make payments.

If you aren't eligible for an Ascent student loan

If Ascent denies your student loan application, the lender will let you know why. Depending on the reason, you may want to consider other lenders or, if you haven’t already, try applying with a co-signer.

Ascent also offers two non-cosigned loans: the Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan and the Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan. The Credit-based loan requires students to have more than two years of credit history and meet other requirements, including credit score and income conditions.

The Outcomes-based loan doesn’t require applicants to have a specific credit score or meet a credit history requirement. However, students will need to have a 3.0 GPA or higher. If someone does not meet the credit and income requirements for the Credit-based loan, they are automatically considered for the Outcomes-based loan.

Both loan products require applicants to be enrolled half-time or full-time, be a college junior or senior and be within nine months of graduation at an eligible institution as defined by Ascent.

Ascent's non-cosigned student loans at a glance

• Offers two non-cosigned loan options: credit-based and outcomes-based.

• Generous grace period and deferment options.

• DACA students can qualify.

• International students are not eligible.

How Ascent's non-cosigned student loans could improve

Ascent's non-cosigned loans could improve by:

• Offering eligibility to international students.

• Provide access to borrowers in school less than half-time, including freshmen and sophomore students.

Ascent non-cosigned student loan details

• Interest rates, fees and terms

  • Soft credit check to qualify and see what rate you’ll get: Yes.

  • Interest rates: Outcomes-based: 13.20% - 15.13%. This includes an auto pay discount of 1.00%. Credit-based: 9.16% - 15.11%. This includes an autopay discount of 0.25%.

  • Loan terms: Outcomes-based: 10 and 15-year. Credit-based: 5,7,10,12 or 15-year.

  • Loan amounts: Outcomes-based: $2,001 up to the school certified cost-of-attendance. Borrowers are also subject to a $20,000 annual and $200,000 aggregate limit. Credit-based loan: $2,001 to $200,000

  • Application or origination fee: No.

  • Prepayment penalty: No.

  • Late fees: No.

  Compare Ascent's range of interest rates with private student loan lenders. Your actual rate will depend on factors including your co-signer's credit history and financial situation. To see what rate Ascent will offer you, apply on its website.

• Requirements

  Financial

  • Minimum credit score: 650 for the Credit-Based loan.

  • Minimum income: There is no minimum income requirement for those applying for the Outcomes-Based loan. Individuals applying for the Non-Cosigned Credit-Based Loan have a $30,000 minimum income requirement. Students who don’t meet the minimum income, credit history or debt-to-income ratio limits will automatically be considered for the Outcomes-based loan.

  • Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not disclosed.

  • Typical income of approved borrowers: Not disclosed.

  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 100%.

  • Can qualify if you’ve filed for bankruptcy: Borrowers can apply to qualify five years after a bankruptcy.

  Other

  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or DACA applicant with a valid social security number.

  • DACA and international borrowers: DACA students are eligible to apply alone. International students are not.

  • Location: Available to borrowers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Also available in American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Must be enrolled half-time or more: Yes.

  • Loans can be used for past due tuition: Yes, within one academic year. Students must also meet additional requirements.

  • Types of schools served: Four-year institutions that are part of the federal Title IV program.

• Repayment options

  In-school repayment options for non-co-signed loan borrowers:

  Outcomes

  • Deferred repayment: No payments while you’re in school and until your grace period ends nine months after leaving school or dropping below half-time. Since there are no prepayment penalties, you may opt to make payments sooner. Interest will continue to accrue while you’re in school whether you pay or not. The interest that accrues will capitalize, or be added to your principal balance, at the end of your grace period.

  • Immediate repayment: Borrowers can make full payments — including interest and principal — while enrolled in school. Payments start 30 to 60 days after the loan is paid out.

  Credit

  • Deferred repayment: No payments while you’re in school and until your grace period ends nine months after leaving school or dropping below half-time.

  • Flat-fee repayment: Pay $25 every month while enrolled in school and during the grace period. This option will save you more than deferred repayment, but slightly less than interest-only repayment. You can pay a set monthly payment while enrolled in school at least half-time.

  • In-school interest-only repayment: Pay interest every month you’re enrolled at least half-time in school and during the grace period. This option will likely save you the most money.

  • Immediate repayment: Borrowers can make full payments — including interest and principal — while enrolled in school. Payments start 30 to 60 days after the loan is paid out. This option, with the exception of Outcomes-based loans, are only available to loans obtained on or after June 3, 2024.

  Post-school and non-co-signed loan repayment options

  • Grace period: 9 months.

  • Income based repayment option: No.

  • In-school deferment: Yes.

  • Internship deferment: Yes, up to 48 months in 12-month increments.

  • Residency deferment: Yes, up to 48 months in 12-month increments.

  • Administrative deferment: Yes.

  • Fellowship deferment: Yes, up to 48 months in 12-month increments.

  • Graduated repayment: Yes, borrowers who have graduated or are enrolled less than half-time may be eligible for Ascent’s Progressive Repayment option if they took out an Ascent Loan on or after May 17, 2019. This option requires monthly payment amounts that start with an amount that is less than a fully-amortizing payment amount that step-up over time so the loan will be fully paid within the original loan term.

  • Military deferment: Yes, active-duty service members can defer payments for a cumulative 36 months.

  • Natural disaster forbearance: Yes, for up to three months.

  • Forbearance: Up to 12 consecutive months and 24 months in aggregate. Forbearance will extend the loan’s repayment term, and interest will continue to accrue on the loan.

  • Co-signer release available: Yes, for the co-signed loan option, after 12 months.

  • Death or disability discharge: Yes, the loan is forgiven if the student dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled.

  Repayment preferences

  • Allows greater-than-minimum payments via autopay: Yes.

  • Allows biweekly payments via autopay: Yes.

• Customer service

  • Loan servicer: Launch Servicing.

  • In-house customer service team: Yes.

  • Process for escalating concerns: Yes.

  • Borrowers get assigned a dedicated banker, advisor or representative: No.

  • Average time from application to approval: Immediately for complete applications for which all credit and income information is available.

• Extras

  • Cash-back reward: Borrowers are eligible for a 1% cash-back graduation reward applied to their loan principal for up to $50,000 upon meeting certain terms and conditions.

  • Online financial literacy course: Upon loan approval, you’ll need to take a brief course before receiving funding.

  • Refer a Friend Program: Borrowers and those they refer to Ascent can earn a $400 Amazon Gift Card. Both will receive the card once the loan is accepted, certified and disbursed to the referral’s school. Borrowers can receive up to $10,000 in Amazon Gift Cards each calendar year.

  • Scholarship Giveaways: Annually, Ascent gives away over $80,000 in scholarships for students in college or bootcamps.

  • Earn rewards that go toward lowering debt: The Ascent Rewards program allows students to receive cash-back from qualifying purchases at over 10,000 merchants, which they can use to lower their loan balance.

Before applying for an Ascent student loan

Before taking out an Ascent student loan or any other private student loan, exhaust your federal student loan options first. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, to apply.

» MORE: NerdWallet’s FAFSA Guide

Compare your private student loan options to make sure you’re getting the best rate you qualify for. In addition to interest rates, look at lenders’ repayment alternatives and the flexibility they offer to borrowers who struggle to make payments.

If you aren't eligible for an Ascent student loan

If Ascent denies your student loan application, the lender will let you know why. Depending on the reason, you may want to consider other lenders or, if you haven’t already, try applying for a loan that allows co-signers.

STUDENT LOAN RATINGS METHODOLOGY

Our survey of more than 29 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing includes the top 10 lenders by market share and top 10 lenders by online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets.

We consider 40 features and data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.

The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.