Ascent Funding, LLC

Ascent Funding is a private student loan lender offering both cosigned and non-cosigned loan options for undergraduate and graduate students. The non-cosigned pathway, sometimes called an outcomes-based loan, is designed for students who may not have a creditworthy co-signer available.

Before applying to any private student loan lender, it is important to first complete the FAFSA and review your federal student loan eligibility. Federal loans from the US Department of Education come with income-driven repayment plans, deferment, forbearance, and forgiveness options that private loans do not offer. Private loans should generally be considered only after federal options are exhausted.

For the cosigned loan product, a creditworthy co-signer, typically a parent or other adult, applies alongside the student and is equally responsible for repayment. This structure can help students who have limited credit history qualify and access lower rates. Ascent commonly offers a co-signer release option after the borrower meets qualifying criteria.

The non-cosigned loan is available to certain upperclassmen and graduate students who meet Ascent's credit and academic requirements without a co-signer. Rates on non-cosigned products tend to be higher than cosigned products, reflecting the additional risk to the lender.

Ascent offers both fixed and variable rate options. Fixed rates provide predictability over the repayment period. Variable rates may be lower initially but can rise if market indexes increase.

Repayment can be deferred until after graduation, or borrowers can make interest-only or flat monthly payments while in school. Starting repayment early generally reduces total interest costs.

When comparing Ascent against other private student loan lenders, look at the annual percentage rate for the full loan term, total cost of borrowing, any fees, and the flexibility of repayment options before making a final decision.