Ascent provides student loans that cover up to 100% of school-certified costs, including tuition and living expenses, with no fees and flexible repayment options. The platform enables students to access financial support without a cosigner, while also offering career coaching and internship opportunities to enhance their educational experience.
Funding
$11.8M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Many students struggle to afford the full cost of higher education, including tuition and living expenses, leading to reliance on high-interest loans or incomplete funding. Traditional student loans often come with various fees that further increase the overall cost of borrowing.
Solution
Ascent provides private student loans designed to cover up to 100% of school-certified costs, helping students bridge the gap between available financial aid and the total cost of attendance. Ascent offers both cosigned and non-cosigned loan options, including credit-based and outcomes-based loans, to cater to a wide range of student profiles. The company distinguishes itself by offering flexible repayment plans, including options to defer payments while in school and during the grace period, as well as fixed or interest-only payment options. Ascent also provides access to AscentUP, a platform that offers resources for financial wellness, career training, and internship opportunities.
Target Audience
Ascent primarily targets undergraduate and graduate students, including DACA and international students, who need additional funding to cover the full cost of their education and are seeking flexible repayment options and career support resources.
Features
- Loan amounts from $2,001 up to $200,000 for undergraduate programs and up to $400,000 for graduate programs
- Cosigned and non-cosigned loan options available, including credit-based and outcomes-based loans
- Outcomes-based loans consider factors such as GPA, earning potential, and academic progress
- Flexible repayment options, including deferred, fixed, and interest-only payments during school
- No application, origination, disbursement, late, or NSF fees
- Automatic payment discount of 0.25% for credit-based loans and 1.00% for outcomes-based loans
- Access to AscentUP platform for financial wellness and career support
- Cosigner release option available after 12 months of on-time payments