Opportunity for All
Merit America exists to support learners to transition out of low-wage jobs into careers they love. We believe that cost should not be a barrier to your career transition. We offer learner-friendly options to cover your cost, including upfront sponsorship, Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan, and direct payment. If none of these options are available to you, Merit America has set aside a limited number of spaces for our Opportunity for All program. If you apply for an Ascent Zero Percent Loan and are denied due to debt or collections, are not sponsored by your employer, and cannot pay in full upfront, you can apply for the program, which will cover 100% of the cost for Merit America.
Who qualifies for the Opportunity for All program?
The Opportunity for All program is for Merit America learners who were denied the Zero Percent Loan from Ascent due to debt or collections and are unable to cover their costs through the currently available payment options, such as employer sponsorship or upfront payment.
How many spots are there to qualify for the Opportunity for All program?
Merit America has set aside up to 10% of our spots for the Opportunity for All program.
If I don’t qualify for Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan based on citizenship or visa requirements, can the program cover my cost?
No. The Opportunity for All program is for Merit America learners who were denied the Zero Percent Loan from Ascent due to debt or collections and are unable to cover their costs through the currently available payment options, such as employer sponsorship or upfront payment. If you were denied the Zero Percent Loan from Ascent due to visa requirements or citizenship, you can defer to a future cohort once you meet the eligibility requirements for the Zero Percent Loan outlined here. If you’d like to continue in your program, you can cover your costs via one full upfront payment before the start of Foundations.
Will I automatically be covered by the Opportunity for All program if I do not qualify for the loan?
No, you have to apply to be covered by the program. Since the Zero Percent Loan is a product of another company, Merit America is not involved in eligibility decisions, and does not have access to the information of who qualifies for the loan and who doesn’t. If you apply for the loan, and are denied, please fill out a form to be covered by the Opportunity for All program.
I don’t think I will qualify for Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan. Can I just skip the loan process entirely and just apply for the Opportunity for All program?
No. Since spots are limited, the program is only available to learners who have been denied a loan product. Also, more people are eligible for the loan than you might think. According to Ascent Funding, “there is no minimum credit history or credit score required for loan approval for the Ascent Zero Percent loan.”