What is Ascent's Zero Percent Loan? | Merit America Help Center

Loans are a strategic investment in your financial future, enabling you to gain the skills needed to advance your career without the burden of high-interest payments.

The Zero Percent Loan is offered by Ascent Funding and is funded by the $100M Google Career Certificates Fund. You can expect from the Zero Percent Loan:

No upfront cost: Learners won’t pay anything until at least three months after they complete or exit their program.
0% interest: Learners won’t be charged any interest, late fees, or origination fees on the loan.
Fixed monthly payments: Once learners begin repayment, they make low, predictable monthly payments for 60 months.

Let’s break the Zero Percent Loan down further:

You’ll pay, at most, $5,700 over 60 months with the option to defer for up to 60 months if you’re not earning at least $40,000 per year. After 60 months, any remaining payment obligation is waived, even if you haven’t paid anything.

If you choose Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan, here’s a look at what you can expect:

Ascent Funding Zero Percent Loan
Down payment	$0
Monthly in-program payments	$0
Income threshold After completing the program, you won’t pay unless your income is above this level.	The equivalent of at least $40,000 per year
Monthly post-program payments This is the amount you’ll pay each month once you enter repayment.	Up to $95
Number of payments This is the maximum number of payments you’ll make if your income stays above the threshold for the entire contract length.	Up to 60
Payment cap This is the maximum you’d pay if your income stays above the threshold for the entire contract length.	$5,700
Contract length Your payment obligation is waived after this time has passed – even if you’ve paid nothing.	60 months

What happens if I sign the Zero Percent Loan and withdraw?

How to find your Ascent Zero Percent Loan link