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Ascent Reviews

8.4

bestfor-icon Wide Range of Flexible Options

lauren
Written by Lauren Le-Hair

About Ascent | Read More

8.1

LS Score

8.0

Credibility

8.2

Support

9.2

Accessibility

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Opening Hours Opening Hours drop-down-btn
Mon-Thu 7am-5pm EST
Fri 7am-4pm EST
Sat-Sun Closed
Contact Information Contact Information drop-down-btn
  • help@ascentfunding.com
  • (877) 216-0876
  • Headquarters: Ascent Funding, LLC. 501 W. Broadway FI 20, San Diego, CA 92101
Social Media Social Media drop-down-btn
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Ascent Student Loans Review

Ascent offers a wide range of flexible, accessible student loans, with three types of student loan funding available. As with its competitors, the company offers a co-signed student loan. However, Ascent separates itself from the market with its other two student loan types. The company has two non-co-signed student loans, one based on credit rating and one based on outcomes.

Therefore, Ascent is one of the few options in the market that offers a student loan with no credit rating and no co-signer. These products come with a higher APR, but it provides many students, especially those in underserved communities and DACA students, the chance to obtain a student loan. Another nice touch is that Ascent offers a 1% cashback reward when you graduate.

Ascent Student Loans Highlight

500

Min Credit Score

3.69-15.28%

APR. Fixed Rate

5.50-15.04%

APR. Variable Rate

$2K-$400K

Loan Amount

5, 7, 10, 12, 15, or 20-year

Repayment terms

Yes

Soft Credit Pull

Marketplace

Lender Type

N/A

Other Fees

None

Origination Fee

None

Prepayment Fee

10 days

Funding Time

Pros & Cons

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  • con-icon It offers 1% cashback to those students who graduate
  • con-icon Gives 0.25% automatic payment discount for credit-based loans, and 1% for undergraduate non-consigned outcomes-based loans
  • con-icon No credit score, only two years of credit history
  • con-icon No application, origination, or disbursement fees
  • con-icon High-interest rate
  • con-icon Only available for students
  • con-icon Not eligible to an international student who doesn’t have a US-based cosigner

Student Loan Type

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  • Private student loans
  • Student loan refinance
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Ascent Student Loans Terms & Requirements

Ascent student loans are more accessible than most, but there are still specific requirements that prospective borrowers must meet to qualify for a loan. The following criteria apply to all student loan applications:

  • Must be at least 18 years old, except for 19 years of age in Alabama and Nebraska and 21 years of age in Mississippi or Puerto Rico.
  • Must be a permanent resident in the U.S, a U.S. citizen, or have approved DACA status
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must have a co-signer that is
  • Must be in an approved institution for at least half-time

If you apply for a student loan with a co-signer, the following criteria apply:

  • Co-signer must have a minimum annual income of $24,000
  • Co-signer requires over two years of credit history

If you apply for a loan without a co-signer:

  • If you are applying for a credit history, you will be subject to a credit check
  • If you have no credit history, you must be in a junior or senior class and maintain a GPA of at least 2.9

Ascent offers student loans of between $2,000 and $400,000, and the company has agreements in place with over 2,500 schools around the country. The APR rates on Ascent non-co-signed loans are pretty high as they reflect the extra risk in providing loans to those without co-signers or credit history.

Ascent’s loan terms are readily available for review. The APRs offered are on the high side, but the loans are offered to those who otherwise may struggle to get financing. Key figures are:

  • Fixed APR – 3.69% to 15.04%
  • Variable APR – 5.66% to 15.16%
  • Minimum loan amount – $2,001
  • Maximum loan amount – $400,000

Five repayment terms, ranging from five to twenty years, are available for Ascent student loans. Ascent is one of the market leaders in terms of grace periods, offering nine months post-graduation before borrowers must make payments.

How to Apply

We found the application process for an Ascent loan straightforward. The website is easy to use, and the sign-up process was quick. 

The first step was for us to choose whether the loan was for college or if we wanted a bootcamp loan. Bootcamp loans are specifically for coding bootcamp schools for people who wish to qualify for a degree in a technological field. 

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Type of loan

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Personal info

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Co-signer

We were after a college loan, and so we selected this option. We then had to choose if we were the student or co-signer, at which point we had to enter our personal information. This included details of the college and degree type, followed by our name, address, and phone number. At this point, we were asked to register an account for future use.

After registering for an account, we had to complete details on employment, income, and expenses, such as housing expenses. Finally, we had to state how much we wanted to borrow and which school term it related to. After entering our details, we had to include details of our co-signer before hitting the ‘view summary’ button and activating the soft credit check to see if we’d be eligible for an Ascent student loan.

Our application passed, and we could view the range of loans available to us at this point. This included selecting the term we wanted and confirming the amount we wanted to borrow. We could then apply for the loan, at which point we had to upload the documents required by Ascent. This included uploading proof of ID, proof of address, bank details, and college and degree details.

The application process took less than 15 minutes. After we uploaded our documents, they were reviewed and approved by Ascent within two days. We then agreed to the terms and signed the Loan Agreement and Terms and Conditions. At this point, Ascent sent these details to the college for verification. We’d heard this could take up to 2-4 weeks, but we had the process completed in just over one week. The college certified the loan, and we were informed when the funds would be in the account.

We found the entire process stress free and was completed from start to finish in less than two weeks.

Required Information

To be considered for an Ascent student loan, you must provide the following information. This is standard procedure and is required for you to go through the verification and credit check process. You can submit this data to Ascent by uploading it through the company’s online portal.

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security Number
  • College
  • Degree
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • Income details

State Availability

- Available in all states

lauren
Written by Lauren Le-Hair linkedin-icon

As an experienced content writer, Lauren's passion for the finance sector is only exceeded by her love of writing. With years of experience writing for financial websites, she has honed her expertise and developed a deep understanding of the industry. Lauren specializes in delivering top-quality, specialized content with an expert tone of voice and a unique flair, leveraging her extensive knowledge and expertise. In addition, she holds a First Class Bachelor's degree from Staffordshire University.

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FAQ’s

What types of student loans are available?

Ascent offers three types of private student loans to undergraduates and graduates. These are co-signed loans, student loans based on credit rating, and outcome-based student loans.

Does Ascent offer student loan refinancing?

No, Ascent does not offer a student loan refinancing option.

What credit rating do you need for an Ascent student loan?

Ascent does not disclose a required credit rating. It is possible to get an Ascent student loan without a credit rating and even without a co-signer.

Customer Support

We found the Ascent customer service team very professional and efficient in solving our problems. They were knowledgeable and able to answer our questions quickly. We called the customer support number, but there were multiple options available to speak to a customer service advisor. This list includes contact via social media channels, as well as through a chat facility and an online form with a call-back facility. We have highlighted the full details of how to contact Ascent’s customer service team below.

Privacy & Security

Ascent’s portal is safe and secure to use. Its funding is licensed under the Bank of Lake Mills, a Member of FDIC. In addition, Ascent skill funding products are made via Richland State Bank, also a Member of FDIC.

Aspire Serving Center is the body that services ISL’s loans, and it has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. This customer service team is permanently based out of Iowa and has the option for you to contact them via email or phone. Customer support lines will be open Monday to Friday.

There is a process in place if you need to escalate an issue up the chain. However, you will not get a dedicated representative for your account. Finally, plenty of useful resources and information on the ISL website can guide you through any issues or questions you might have.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, Ascent offers one of the most flexible and accessible student loan products available. Ascent is one of very few student loan providers that will issue a loan without a co-signer or credit history, and it takes great pride in serving underrepresented communities. While interest rates can be slightly high due to this, we would recommend that you consider an Ascent student loan due to the lack of restrictions in obtaining a loan compared to other student loan providers.

Brand Disclaimer

Ascent loans are funded by the Bank of Lake Mills, Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in some jurisdictions. Particular restrictions, limitations, and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent’s T&Cs, visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs

*Rates displayed above are effective for Ascent college student loans as of 10/01/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-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.

¹Eligibility for the AscentUP platform requires that an applicant be enrolled in an Ascent approved institution who has been conditionally approved for an Ascent loan, either as the borrower or through a parent, grandparent, guardian, or sponsor. Ascent’s graduate student loan applicants and consumer loan applicants qualify for access to the AscentUP platform if their approved school has granted access. All Ascent borrowers have access to free AscentUP resources through the AscentConnect mobile app and are eligible to apply for the AscentUP Internship Program. Eligible students must agree to the AscentUP terms of service and privacy policy before accessing the AscentUP platform. Please note that eligibility criteria and program terms are subject to change.

²Ascent’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.

³Only Ascent college loans are eligible for no fees. Ascent bootcamp loans are subject to late fees, NSF fees, and a one-time origination fee of 5.0% of the loan amount. All Ascent loans are eligible for no application, disbursement, or early payment fees.

⁴The final ACH discount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% is for credit-based loans and a 1.00% discount is for outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions.