Ascent vs Sallie Mae: Private student loans compared

If you are deciding between Ascent and Sallie Mae, the choice often comes down to your specific borrower profile and credit situation. The quick verdict: Ascent is frequently the better choice for undergraduate students who do not have a cosigner, thanks to their unique outcomes-based loan options and cash-back rewards. Sallie Mae, as an industry veteran, is often better suited for graduate students needing specialized loans (such as for medical or dental school) and borrowers seeking the widest range of repayment terms.

This guide compares rates, eligibility requirements, fees, repayment flexibility, and borrower benefits for both lenders. While both are reputable institutions that can help bridge the gap when savings and financial aid aren’t enough, understanding their distinct advantages will help you choose the right financial partner for your education. You will learn exactly how their interest rates compare, which fees to watch out for, and which lender offers the best path to financial independence.

Context: When private loans make sense

Before applying for any private student loan, it is critical to maximize all federal financial aid options first. Federal loans offer protections that private lenders generally cannot match, such as income-driven repayment plans and potential loan forgiveness programs. Families should always complete the FAFSA to access federal grants, work-study, and Direct Loans before considering private financing.

However, federal loan limits often do not cover the total cost of attendance, leaving a funding gap for many families. This is where private student loans from lenders like Ascent or Sallie Mae become necessary tools. As Betsy Mayotte, President of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, advises, “In general, federal loans should be your first stop, but private loans can be appropriate when you’ve maxed out your federal eligibility.”

When used responsibly, private loans fill the gap between federal aid and the actual cost of tuition, room, and board. Ascent and Sallie Mae represent two different approaches to this market: Sallie Mae is the long-established market leader with a massive array of products, while Ascent is a fintech-forward lender known for innovation in accessibility for students without established credit. Comparing these two ensures you secure the most favorable terms for your specific financial situation.

Quick comparison: Ascent vs Sallie Mae at a glance

To help you make an informed decision quickly, the table below outlines the core features of both lenders. While both offer competitive rates and cover up to the full cost of attendance, their approach to repayment terms and borrower benefits differs.

Source: Ascent and Sallie Mae official rate and term pages (accessed October 2024)

Key Takeaways: Ascent stands out for its flexibility regarding cosigners. If a student cannot secure a creditworthy cosigner, Ascent’s “Outcomes-Based” loan utilizes GPA and major to determine eligibility, a feature Sallie Mae does not offer. Conversely, Sallie Mae offers slightly broader coverage for high-cost graduate programs where the total cost might exceed Ascent’s aggregate limits.

Interest rates comparison

Interest rates are the most significant factor in the total cost of a loan. Both Ascent and Sallie Mae offer fixed and variable interest rates, but the specific offer you receive will depend heavily on your (or your cosigner’s) credit profile.

According to Ascent’s official rate disclosures as of October 2024, fixed rates are 2.89% - 15.31% and variable rates are 3.99% - 15.40%. Sallie Mae’s rates are highly competitive, with fixed rates of 2.89% - 17.49%^{1 and variable rates of 3.87% - 16.50%¹. It is important to note that the lowest advertised rates are typically reserved for borrowers with excellent credit scores and shorter repayment terms.}

Fixed vs variable rates:

• Fixed Rates: The interest rate remains the same for the life of the loan, providing predictable monthly payments. This is often the safer choice for budgeting.
• Variable Rates: These rates may start lower than fixed options but can fluctuate quarterly based on market conditions (typically tied to the SOFR index). If market rates rise, your monthly payment will increase.

Both lenders provide a 0.25% interest rate reduction if you enroll in automatic payments. This discount is standard across the industry but essential for reducing the long-term cost of borrowing. When comparing, remember that a difference of even 0.5% can save hundreds or thousands of dollars over a 10-year repayment term.

Eligibility requirements

Qualifying for a private student loan typically requires a strong credit history and steady income, which is why most undergraduate students need a cosigner. According to Mark Kantrowitz, a leading financial aid expert, “Most students will need a cosigner to qualify for a private student loan.” This reality makes eligibility requirements a primary decision factor for families.

Sallie Mae Eligibility: Sallie Mae operates as a traditional private lender. To qualify, borrowers (or their cosigners) generally need a credit score in the mid-to-high 600s, a steady income, and a history of responsible credit usage. They accept U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International students can also apply if they have a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner.

Ascent Eligibility: Ascent differentiates itself with two distinct loan types:

• Cosigned Loans: Similar to Sallie Mae, these require a creditworthy borrower or cosigner. According to Ascent, the minimum credit score is typically around 660, along with income verification.
• Outcomes-Based Loans (Non-Cosigned): This is Ascent’s unique advantage. Juniors and seniors who do not have a cosigner may qualify based on their GPA (typically 2.9+), major, and expected graduation date. This option considers the student’s future earning potential rather than just current credit history.

For parents concerned about their credit, acting as a cosigner is a significant commitment. However, Ascent’s non-cosigned option provides a rare alternative for students to borrow independently, provided they meet the academic criteria.

Loan amounts and limits

Understanding how much you can borrow is essential to ensuring the tuition bill is fully covered. Both lenders adhere to the standard rule that you cannot borrow more than the school-certified Cost of Attendance (COA) minus other financial aid received.

Ascent Limits: According to Ascent’s official loan terms, they typically have a minimum loan amount of $2,001 (though this can be higher in certain states due to regulations). They enforce an aggregate (lifetime) loan limit, which is generally capped at $200,000 for undergraduate and graduate loans combined. While this is sufficient for most degrees, students in extremely high-cost medical or professional programs might hit this ceiling.

Sallie Mae Limits: As reported by Sallie Mae, they offer a lower minimum loan amount of $1,000 in most states. Crucially, they do not have a strict aggregate loan limit for many of their loan products. Instead, they allow borrowing up to the full cost of attendance annually, provided the borrower remains creditworthy. This makes Sallie Mae a strong contender for students attending expensive private universities or pursuing costly graduate degrees where total debt might exceed $200,000 over several years.

Always check your school’s financial aid offer letter to determine your exact funding gap before applying, to ensure you do not borrow more than necessary.

Repayment terms and in-school payment options

The flexibility of repayment terms determines your monthly budget after graduation. Both lenders offer a variety of timelines, allowing borrowers to choose between paying off debt faster (saving on interest) or lowering monthly payments (improving cash flow).

Repayment Terms:

• Ascent: Offers terms of 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, or 20 years for variable rate loans and similar options for fixed rate loans. The availability of 7-year and 12-year terms offers unique middle-ground options that many other lenders lack.
• Sallie Mae: Generally offers terms of 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. While slightly less granular than Ascent, these standard intervals cover the needs of most borrowers.

In-School Payment Options: Both lenders allow you to choose how you handle payments while enrolled in school and during the grace period:

1. Deferred Repayment: Make no payments while in school. Interest accrues and is added to the principal (capitalized) later.
2. Fixed Repayment: Pay a flat fee (e.g., $25) every month while in school to keep interest in check.
3. Interest-Only Repayment: Pay the accrued interest monthly. This prevents the balance from growing while you study.
4. Immediate Repayment: Start making full principal and interest payments immediately (rarely chosen by full-time students but offers the lowest total cost).

Choosing to make at least small payments while in school significantly reduces the total cost of the loan. Both lenders provide these flexible structures to help students manage debt responsibly.

Fees comparison

Hidden fees can increase the cost of borrowing, so transparency is key. Fortunately, both Ascent and Sallie Mae are competitive in this area and avoid the most burdensome fees found in other lending products.

Origination Fees: Neither Ascent nor Sallie Mae charges an origination fee, application fee, or disbursement fee. This means 100% of the money you borrow goes directly to your school to pay for tuition and expenses.

Prepayment Penalties: Both lenders allow you to pay off your loan early without penalty. This is a critical feature, as it allows borrowers to refinance or make extra payments to save on interest without being punished.

Late and Returned Payment Fees:

• Late Fees: According to both lenders’ fee disclosures, they charge a fee for late payments, typically 5% of the past due amount or up to $25, depending on the loan terms and state regulations.
• Returned Payment Fees: If a payment bounces due to insufficient funds, a fee (often around $20–$25) applies.

Since the fee structures are nearly identical, the decision usually rests on rates and eligibility rather than administrative costs.

Cosigner release options

For many families, the goal is for the student to eventually take full responsibility for the loan. Cosigner release allows the primary borrower to remove the cosigner from the loan obligation after meeting specific requirements, protecting the parent’s credit and debt-to-income ratio.

Sallie Mae: According to Sallie Mae’s cosigner release policy, borrowers can apply to release their cosigner after making 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments. The borrower must also meet credit and income requirements at the time of the request.

Ascent: As reported by Ascent, the timeline depends on the specific loan product. For most cosigned loans, Ascent allows borrowers to apply for release after 12 consecutive on-time payments, matching Sallie Mae. However, some past or specific loan types may require 24 months. Ascent emphasizes this feature as part of their mission to empower student financial independence.

In both cases, “consecutive” and “on-time” are the keywords. A single missed or late payment can reset the clock. Additionally, the student must demonstrate sufficient income and creditworthiness independently at the time of application; release is not automatic.

Special loan products and features

Beyond standard rates and terms, each lender offers unique perks that might tip the scale depending on your goals.

Ascent’s Unique Features:

• Outcomes-Based Loans: As mentioned, this is a game-changer for juniors and seniors without cosigners, basing approval on academic performance.
• Cash Back Reward: According to Ascent, they offer a 1% cash back reward on the principal amount of the loan upon graduation. To qualify, the student must graduate and set up automatic payments.
• Financial Literacy: Ascent provides a robust library of educational resources and sometimes integrates financial literacy course completion as part of the application process for certain products.

Sallie Mae’s Unique Features:

• Specialized Graduate Loans: Sallie Mae offers specific loans tailored for medical school, dental school, health professions, MBA programs, and Bar Exam study. These often come with extended deferment periods specifically designed for residency and internships.
• Multi-Year Advantage: According to Sallie Mae, this feature allows returning undergraduate students to request funds for the next academic year with a streamlined process, claiming a 95% approval rate for returning customers.
• Chegg Study: Historically, Sallie Mae has partnered with Chegg to offer free months of study help, though promotional offers vary by year.

Application process and borrower experience

The speed and ease of accessing funds matter, especially when tuition deadlines are approaching. Both lenders operate highly digital, streamlined platforms.

Prequalification: Both Ascent and Sallie Mae offer a prequalification tool. This allows you to check your estimated interest rates and eligibility with a “soft credit pull,” which does not impact your credit score. This step is crucial for comparing offers risk-free.

Application Timeline: Once you formally apply (which triggers a hard credit check), approval can happen in minutes if the automated underwriting system can verify your data immediately. If manual verification of documents (like tax returns or proof of enrollment) is needed, it may take 3-5 business days. Once approved and certified by the school, funds are typically disbursed directly to the institution near the start of the semester.

Customer Experience: Sallie Mae offers a robust mobile app and extensive customer service hours, reflecting its size and resources. Ascent, while smaller, is frequently praised for its user-friendly dashboard and personalized support, particularly for students navigating the non-cosigned process.

Pros and cons of each lender

To summarize the comparison, here are the distinct advantages and trade-offs for each lender.

Which lender is best for you?

Choosing between Ascent and Sallie Mae ultimately depends on the student’s academic stage and the family’s credit situation.

• Best for Students Without a Cosigner: Ascent is the clear winner here. If you are an upperclassman with good grades but no credit history, their outcomes-based loan is one of the few viable private options in the market.
• Best for Medical, Dental, or Law Students: Sallie Mae is likely the better choice. Their specialized loan products offer deferment periods tailored to residencies and bar study, and their lack of an aggregate loan limit accommodates the high cost of these degrees.
• Best for Borrowers Prioritizing Cosigner Release: Both are excellent, offering release after just 12 months. Compare the specific interest rates offered to break the tie.
• Best for Undergraduates with a Strong Cosigner: It is a toss-up. Since both lenders offer strong terms for creditworthy applicants, you should prequalify with both to see which one offers the lower interest rate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a private student loan without a cosigner?
Yes, but it is difficult. Ascent is one of the few lenders offering an “Outcomes-Based” loan for college juniors and seniors that bases eligibility on GPA and major rather than credit history. Sallie Mae typically requires a creditworthy cosigner for students with limited credit.

Which lender has lower interest rates—Ascent or Sallie Mae?
It varies by borrower. Both lenders offer competitive fixed and variable rates. The only way to know for sure is to use the prequalification tool on both websites to view personalized rate estimates without affecting your credit score.

How long does it take to get approved?
Both lenders can provide conditional approval in minutes online. Full processing, including school certification, typically takes 2–4 weeks, so it is wise to apply at least a month before tuition is due.

Is Ascent or Sallie Mae better for graduate students?
Sallie Mae generally has the edge for graduate students due to their specific loan products for MBA, medical, dental, and health profession students, which include residency and internship deferment options.

While taking on student debt is a major decision, choosing the right lender can save you thousands of dollars and provide peace of mind during repayment. Remember to always exhaust federal student loans first, as they offer benefits that private lenders cannot replace.

If you have determined that a private loan is necessary to cover your funding gap, here is the final breakdown:

• Choose Ascent if: You need a non-cosigned option, want to earn cash back upon graduation, or prefer a lender with innovative qualification criteria.
• Choose Sallie Mae if: You are entering a high-cost graduate program, need specialized deferment options for residency, or prefer borrowing from a long-established industry leader.

The smartest move is to check your rates with multiple lenders. Since prequalification does not hurt your credit score, there is no downside to seeing what both Ascent and Sallie Mae can offer you today.

Compare rates from 8+ lenders and find your best loan option

References and resources

To further research your options, you can visit the official lender pages and government resources below:

• Ascent Student Loans Official Site
• Sallie Mae Student Loans Official Site
• Federal Student Aid (StudentAid.gov) – For FAFSA and federal loan information.
• College Finance: Guide to Private Student Loans
• College Finance: How Cosigner Release Works