College Ave vs. Ascent Student Loan Comparison

	5 View Rates	4.4 View Rates
Rates (APR)	4.44% – 15.99%	4.48% – 15.63%
Rates (APR)	Rates (APR)
4.44% – 15.99%	4.48% – 15.63%
Loan amounts	$1,000 – 100% of certified costs	$2,001 – $200,000
Loan amounts	Loan amounts
$1,000 – 100% of certified costs	$2,001 – $200,000
Repayment terms	5, 8, 10, or 15 years	5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years
Repayment terms	Repayment terms
5, 8, 10, or 15 years	5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years
	See the best student loans.

Our Recommendation

We recommend College Ave if you can secure a cosigner. It offers lower rates and higher loan amounts. Most borrowers will also find it easier to receive loans for future semesters because of College Ave’s Multi-Year Peace of Mind™ policy.

However, if you are a DACA recipient or don’t have a cosigner, we believe Ascent will have the best offer for your situation.

About Ascent

Ascent offers three types of loans: cosigned credit-based student loans, non-cosigned credit-based student loans, and non-cosigned outcome-based student loans. Interest rates for cosigned loans are lower than both types of non-cosigned loans.  

About College Ave

College Ave offers undergraduate student loans and almost always requires a cosigner. Both Ascent and College Ave offer a wide range of repayment terms. They also both offer fixed and variable-rate loans.  

Customer reviews and ratings

When taking out a student loan, most people compare lenders by looking at their interest rates, repayment terms, and other features. But many fail to consider the customer service experience.

Platform	College Ave	Ascent
TrustPilot	4.5/5 (1,606 reviews)	None
Better Business Bureau	3.58/5 (52 reviews)	1/5 (3 reviews)
Google	3.1/5 (158 reviews)	4.7/5 (226 reviews)

Accessibility

When you apply for a student loan, there are several criteria you must meet to be approved. The two most important factors are income and credit score. Your income shows your ability to repay the loan, and your credit score shows whether or not you have a history of paying back loans on time and in full.

Since most eligibility requirements are too difficult for a student to qualify for on their own, most need to add a cosigner to their loan. However, Ascent is one of a few companies that does not require students to have a cosigner.

Eligibility	College Ave	Ascent
Credit score	Mid 600s	540
Income	Not disclosed	At least $24,000
Attendance	No minimum enrollment	At least part-time

Is College Ave or Ascent better for you?

Choosing a private student lender can be a complicated decision, with so many factors to consider beyond interest rates and repayment terms. Read below to see specific situations where one lender is better than the other.

If you …	Consider …
Need to fund 100% of your school-certified costs	College Ave
Are a DACA student	Ascent
View your lender’s reputation as very important	College Ave
Need a longer grace period	Ascent
Have a creditworthy cosigner available	College Ave
Don’t have a cosigner	Ascent
Want low interest rates	College Ave
Need to take out more than one year of student loans	College Ave

Need to fund 100% of your school-certified costs

When it comes to covering 100% of your school-certified costs, College Ave takes the lead over Ascent. Both lenders offer comprehensive funding options, but College Ave’s flexibility and commitment to covering all school-certified expenses make it a stronger contender. College Ave ensures that your financial needs, from tuition and fees to room and board, are fully met, whereas Ascent may not always cover the complete cost of attendance.

Ascent also offers robust funding options, but it may require additional financial planning if your school-certified costs exceed the typical loan limits. For students who want to minimize financial gaps and avoid juggling multiple funding sources, College Ave’s ability to cover the full cost of attendance without compromises gives it a clear advantage.

Winner

College Ave

If you’re a DACA student

DACA students find it much harder to qualify for both federal and private student loans, but Ascent offers private loans for DACA recipients. If the DACA recipient has a good credit score, they may qualify for a student loan on their own.

If they don’t have a good credit score, they will need to add a cosigner to the loan. Ascent does not offer cosigner release to DACA students, which means DACA recipients will have to refinance the loan to remove the cosigner. This is similar to other lenders that approve DACA recipients for student loans. 

Winner

Ascent

Reputation is very important to you

Both College Ave and Ascent have earned positive reputations in the student loan industry, but College Ave edges out Ascent when it comes to reliability and customer satisfaction. College Ave has built a strong reputation based on its customer-centric approach, offering flexible repayment options, competitive interest rates, and a streamlined application process.

Ascent also has a good reputation, particularly for its innovative loan options and commitment to serving underserved student populations like DACA recipients. However, College Ave’s broader recognition and more established track record make it a safer bet if a lender’s reputation is a key factor in your decision. For borrowers who prioritize working with a lender known for consistent service and customer satisfaction, College Ave has the edge.

Winner

College Ave

If you need a longer grace period

When it comes to grace periods, Ascent offers a longer window than College Ave, making it the better choice for borrowers who need extra time before starting repayment.

Ascent provides a 9-month grace period after graduation, which is 3 months longer than the 6-month grace period offered by College Ave. This extended grace period can be crucial for graduates who need more time to secure a job or stabilize their income before beginning their loan payments.

If you anticipate needing more time post-graduation to get on your feet financially, Ascent’s longer grace period gives it the edge over College Ave.

Winner

Ascent

You have a creditworthy cosigner

For borrowers with a creditworthy cosigner, College Ave outshines Ascent by offering more competitive interest rates and better loan terms. College Ave is known for rewarding borrowers who can secure a cosigner with lower interest rates, which can significantly reduce the cost of the loan over time.

Ascent, while also offering loans with cosigners, typically does not provide rates as low as College Ave. Additionally, College Ave offers a cosigner release option after half of the scheduled payments have been made, which adds flexibility for borrowers and their cosigners.

Although Ascent has its strengths, College Ave’s focus on providing advantageous terms for cosigned loans gives it the edge for those who can secure a creditworthy cosigner.

Winner

College Ave

If you don’t have a cosigner

Borrowers who don’t have a cosigner will only be eligible for a loan through Ascent. Students who already have a solid credit history may be eligible for Ascent’s credit-based non-cosigned loans. If you don’t have a credit score, you may only qualify for the outcome-based non-cosigned loan, which has a higher interest rate than the credit-based non-cosigned loan.

To determine eligibility for the outcomes-based student loan, Ascent will look at a borrower’s major, the cost of attendance, graduation date, and other factors. Students must also be enrolled full-time and have a 2.9 GPA or higher to qualify without a cosigner.

Only juniors and seniors will qualify for a non co-signed loan from Ascent. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you’ll have to find other funding options.

Winner

Ascent

If you want low interest rates

College Ave offers much lower interest rates than Ascent, even if you do have a cosigner on your student loans. Fixed interest rates for College Ave start at 2.99% APR, and variable interest rates start at 0.94% APR. 

Fixed interest rates for Ascent start at 3.97% APR, and variable interest rates start at 1.47% APR. That interest rate difference can really add up over time.

For example, let’s say you have a $50,000 student loan from College Ave with a 3% interest rate and a 10-year term. You’ll pay $7,936 in total interest over the life of the loan.

But if you had a $50,000 loan from Ascent with a 4% interest rate and a 10-year term, you would end up paying $10,748 in total interest over the life of the loan. That’s a difference of $2,812. If your main goal is to save money, then choose a loan with College Ave.

Winner

College Ave

You will need to take out more than one year of student loans

For students who anticipate needing loans for multiple years of study, College Ave offers a more seamless and predictable experience compared to Ascent. College Ave’s Multi-Year Peace of Mind™ policy allows makes it easier to secure funding for all years of your education.

While Ascent provides flexibility and strong loan options, the need to reapply each year can introduce variability in terms and interest rates. College Ave’s ability to offer consistent terms and simplify the process for multi-year borrowers gives it a clear advantage for those looking to secure stable funding throughout their entire academic journey.

Winner

College Ave

How we rated College Ave and Ascent

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best student loans. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared College Ave and Ascent to several student loan lenders, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take on each company is represented in our ratings and best-for designations, recapped below.

Product	Best for	Our rating
College Ave student loans	Best overall	5/5
Ascent student loans	Best for deferred repayment	4.4/5