SoFi Review: Student Loan Refinance Worth It?

Is student loan refinancing a good idea? Is SoFi legit? Is NOW a good time to refinance? Read on. The answers may surprise you.

	Refinance Student Loans Find Your Rate
	Overall Score	4.5
	Customer Service	4.5
	Loan Term	4.5
	Ease of Use	5.0
	Interest Rates	4.5
	Payment Flexibility	4.0

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

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Pros and Cons

• Keep federal grace period
• Refinance Parent Plus loans

• Must have great credit score

Terms Apply
Compare | See Rates & Fees

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Bottom Line

Good option if you have a great credit score

If you feel like you're chipping away at your student loan balance with a broken chisel, you're not alone.

A better interest rate might help you make a bigger dent. One of the best way to get one is by refinancing.

How Does Refinancing Work?

The word "refinancing" sounds complicated, but it's not that bad.

Basically, you get a new loan at a new, lower interest rate to replace your existing loan.

Why would somebody give you a new loan at a lower interest rate?

Hopefully between the time you applied for your student loan and today, you've graduated college, built your credit history and landed yourself a good job.

Not everyone is that lucky. But if you are, then to the eyes of lenders, you are a lower risk than you were as a college freshman.

So You Want to Save Some Money

© CreditDonkey

If you find a lender that matches your needs and who likes your credit history, you could save a ton of money. And you could lower your monthly payments.

There are a handful of lenders that specialize in refinancing student loans. SoFi is one of the largest.

Dive into our in-depth look at the pros and cons of refinancing your student loan through SoFi. Find out whether it's worth it for you.

Refinance Student Loans

Click Here to Find Your Rate

Why Use SoFi to Refinance Your Student Loan

Chances are you don't refinance every day, so you may not be up to date on the reasons to go this route. Here are the benefits of refinancing through SoFi.

1. You can potentially save thousands on interest. The point of refinancing is to cut down on the money you're paying in interest. SoFi can help deliver big savings because of that.
   Did you know: SoFi has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
   

2. You might get a lower interest rate. SoFi offers both fixed rate and variable rate refinance loans. This means you've got options when it comes to how much interest you end up paying.
   Fixed rate loans: The interest rate stays the same throughout the life of your loan.

   Variable rate loans: The interest rate on your loan may change. This can be great for you if the index rate is low, but not so great if the rate starts to increase.
   

3. You won't lose your grace period. Most student lenders give you a grace period before your monthly payments kick in. It's normally six months starting after graduation. This gives you time to get prepared to pay off your loans. SoFi still gives you that grace period when you refinance with them.

4. You don't have to pay an origination fee. Normally, lenders charge a fee for processing a new loan. It's called the "origination fee".

   With SoFi, you won't pay an origination fee to refinance.

5. There's no penalty for dumping the debt early. Sometimes lenders charge a fee if you pay off debt early. SoFi won't hit you with this prepayment penalty for dumping your loans ahead of schedule.

6. You'll be rewarded for referring your friends. You can also score some extra perks when you join the SoFi referral program. Any time someone you refer refinances their loans, you'll get a $100 bonus.

7. You might be able to get additional rate discounts. Automatic payments ensure that you're never late on your loans. SoFi also likes that they're guaranteed to receive their money on time. Therefore they give you a 0.25% reduction on your interest rate when you put your payments on autopilot.

8. You can choose your loan term. The standard repayment term for most student loans is ten years. SoFi lets you switch that up with 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20-year loan terms. This lets you pick the plan and monthly payment that fits your budget.

9. Federal and private loans are accepted. Looking for student loan consolidation? Some private lenders will only refinance private loans. SoFi will let you consolidate/refinance your debt even with federal direct loans.

10. You're protected if you lose your job. Trying to keep up with your loan payments when you're out of work can be a nightmare, but SoFi cuts borrowers a break.

    If you become unemployed, your payments are suspended for up to 12 months until you get back to work. One exception to this is if you have a co-signer who can make the payments for you. Your interest will still accrue during this time, however. SoFi also offers complimentary career coaching if you need help finding your next gig.

11. As a medical resident you can avoid compounding interest. SoFi introduced its Medical Residency Student Loan Refinancing to help out med students during their residency. This allows you to refinance and only pay $100 minimum per month for up to 54 months (the length of a standard residency program). On top of the lower interest rate, your interest doesn't compound during your residency. That leaves you a lot of savings in the long run...

12. You can refinance Parent PLUS Loans. If your parents helped you pay for college with a Parent PLUS loan, you can return the favor. SoFi can add that loan into your refinance. This takes the payments off of your parents' shoulders. Mom and Dad will thank you.

Is Now a Good Time to Refinance Your Student Loan?

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Interest rates are still low and that could change in the near future. So, there is some pressure to do it now.

But that doesn't mean refinancing now is the right move for everyone.

Watch Out

Though there are many reasons to like SoFi, nobody's perfect. Here are three things to keep in mind before you pull the trigger:

• You may lose federal loan protections.Your federal loans come with quite a few safeguards. If you decide to refinance or consolidate those loans through SoFi, you'll say goodbye to those benefits . These include income-dependent repayment plans or public service loan forgiveness.

  If you don't think you need these protections, or you only have a private student loan, keep reading and see how Sofi may help you save money.

  Tip: If you have a mix of federal and private loans, the smart move might be to only refinance your private loans. Then continue making separate payments on your federal loans.
  

• You could end up paying more in interest. Switching from a fixed rate loan to one with a variable rate can save you money as long as rates stay low. It can also backfire big time if that rate goes up.

  Know that you're taking a gamble if you refinance with a variable rate loan.

  Luckily, SoFi offers both fixed rate and variable rate loans.

• The application process can be bumpy. While it takes just a few minutes to apply for a refinance loan through SoFi, getting approved can take a lot more time. We poked around for any negative reviews of SoFi, and only found a couple. One of the biggest complaints was that it sometimes took three or four months to finalize a loan.

  The other major complaints came from people who weren't approved for refinancing. SoFi can be strict with its approvals, so make sure that your financial ducks are in a row before applying.

How Does SoFi Work?

SoFi isn't like a traditional bank, so you need to be aware of a few nuances.

For starters, the money that's used to fund refinance loans comes from alumni, individuals, and institutions that have invested in the company. SoFi's approach to lending is also different since it looks beyond numbers (like your credit score). SoFi considers personal factors, such as monthly cash flow and your current job or job offer. If those parts of your life are solid, they see you as a good candidate for a loan.

If you have horrible credit, no credit, or don't have a job, stop reading this article. Focus on finding a job and improving your credit history instead. Get some income in the door. Establish a record of being able to pay your bills. Then you can look into bringing the interest rates down on your loans.

Sounds a bit weird if you are struggling with debt, but it's a reality.

What is the process like?

It's simple to get started with SoFi. You fill out the online form with some basic information about your debt, including the total amount you owe and where you went to school. From there, SoFi gives you an estimated interest rate. SoFi will perform a "soft credit pull" at this point, which doesn't affect your credit score.

If the rate looks good to you, you can apply directly through their website. You'll need to give SoFi all the details on your loans, upload copies of your most recent loan statements, and authorize the company to check your credit history.

If you're approved and you sign off on the new loan, SoFi will pay off your old loans for you. You'll send payments to SoFi going forward.

Refinance Student Loans

Click Here to Find Your Rate

Is it worth it?

Refinancing means you need to compare lenders, gather your paperwork, and fill out applications. You have to decide if it's worth the effort.

When you're nearing the end of your payments, it may not be the right time to refinance. You may instead want to see if makes sense to just pay off the debt earlier.

If that's not you, it is worth checking it out to see what interest rates you could get. Then you can decide to stay with what you have or refinance.

Consider this other reason to go the refinancing route: You could change the timeline for your repayment.

• You can shrink the amount of time you'll be paying. A lower interest rate could mean you'll pay less over time. Keep in mind that the monthly payments could be higher in this situation.

• Or you could go the other direction and shrink your monthly payments. This might cost you more over time but it's better to make smaller payments than to not pay at all.

Depending on your circumstances, refinancing can help you make a bigger dent in your debt. To find out, visit SoFi's secure website to get your rate.

Am I obligated once I apply?

There's no obligation to accept any of the refinance offers through SoFi. Don't worry about being pressured into a decision.

In fact, it's a good idea to compare the rates and loan terms from different companies to see where you will get the best deal.

Can anyone refinance through SoFi?

Even though SoFi isn't a traditional lender, it does have some tough eligibility requirements. Certain borrowers won't qualify.

Here are the main things SoFi considers when you apply:

• Minimum loan balance. You'll need at least $5,000 in outstanding loans to qualify for a refinance. The amount could be higher depending on the state you live in. For instance, the minimum loan amounts for residents of the state of California is $10,000.

• Employment status. SoFi wants to make sure you can pay your loans if you refinance. You'll have to be employed or have a verified offer to start work in the next 90 days.

• Cash flow. You'll also have to show that you're making enough money to cover all your bills, including your loan payments.

• Credit reputation. When you consolidate federal loans, your credit score doesn't come into play. That's not what happens when refinancing private loans. You'll have to go through a credit check when you apply. If you don't meet SoFi's minimum standards, you may have to bring a co-signer on board to seal the deal.

• Residency. SoFi offers refinancing in 49 states and the District of Columbia.If you live in Nevada, you're out of luck. You also have to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

• School. Refinanced loans are only given to graduates of Title IV accredited universities and graduate programs. This means your school had to accept federal financial aid.

Will I get approved?

Getting denied hurts, but SoFi is strict. If you've got any missed payments on your credit report, called "delinquencies", they'll turn you away. Same for if you don't have a job.

Asking someone to co-sign can up your odds of being approved. This means that SoFi will expect them to pay if you can't.However, it's not a sure thing. The co-signer will still have to pass the same credit and employment checks.

To sum it up, refinancing eligibility depends on your financial history, your employment status, and your income and expenses.

How It Compares

We've got the lowdown on three other lenders that are also worth a look. All three of them offer fixed and variable rate loans with terms ranging from 5 to 20 years.

Laurel Road / Darien Rowayton Bank

Refinancing with Laurel Road is an option if you've got federal or private loan debt. This lender focuses on borrowers who took out loans for undergraduate and graduate degrees. These borrowers include professionals who financed an MBA, law, or medical degree.

	SoFi Student Loans	Laurel Road Student Loans
	Benefits and Features
Variable APR	5.74% - 9.99% APR (with AutoPay)	2.99%-6.42%
Fixed APR	4.99% - 9.99% APR (with AutoPay)	3.5%-6.99%
Minimum Amount	$5,000 (may be higher depending on state)	$5,000
Maximum Amount	No maximum	No maximum
Loan Term	5 to 20 years	5 to 20 years
State Residency	All states eligible	All states eligible
Degree Requirements	Associates or higher	Bachelor's or higher
Income Requirements	None	None
Employment Requirements	Must be employed or have an offer to start within 90 days	Must be employed or have an offer
Interest Only Payments	No	No
Origination Fees	None	None
Prepayment Penalty	None	None
Can Use a Cosigner	Yes	Yes
Can Release a Cosigner	No	Varies case by case
Auto-Pay Interest Rate Reduction	Yes	Yes
Soft Credit Check	Yes	Yes
Unemployment Protection	Yes	Yes
Customer Service
Loan Term
Ease of Use
Interest Rates
Payment Flexibility
	Learn More
	Terms Apply. SoFi Disclaimers
SoFi: Pricing information from published website as of 5/9/2023 Laurel Road: Pricing information from published website as of 03/18/2018

Why we like SoFi more
SoFi gives a little more help to borrowers who find themselves out of work. Laurel Road does offer a three-month forbearance period, but it doesn't actively help you find a new job. If you get laid off you may decide it's time to start your dream business. With SoFi's entrepreneur program you can score a six-month deferment on your loans.

Earnest Review

Earnest takes a merit-based approach to lending. They're looking at more than your credit score to get approved for a refinance. An established work history, a steady income stream, and a healthy bank account also factor into the equation. This means your credit score isn't as big of a deal with Earnest.

Like all the other lenders we've profiled, there are no origination or application fees.

	Learn More	Learn More
	SoFi Student Loans	Earnest Student Loans
	Benefits and Features
Variable APR	5.74% - 9.99% APR (with AutoPay)	5.72% - 9.74% APR (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Fixed APR	4.99% - 9.99% APR (with AutoPay)	5.19% - 9.74% APR (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Minimum Amount	$5,000 (may be higher depending on state)	$5,000
Maximum Amount	No maximum	$500,000
Loan Term	5 to 20 years	Custom term from 5 to 20 years (180 term options)
State Residency	All states eligible	Most states with the exception of: DE, KY, and NV and no variable rate loans to residents of: AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN and TX
Degree Requirements	Associates or higher	Associates or higher
Income Requirements	None	None
Employment Requirements	Must be employed or have an offer to start within 90 days	Must be employed or have an offer for a position to start within 6 months
Interest Only Payments	No	No
Origination Fees	None	None
Prepayment Penalty	None	None
Can Use a Cosigner	Yes	No
Can Release a Cosigner	No	Only on existing loans
Auto-Pay Interest Rate Reduction	Yes	Yes
Soft Credit Check	Yes	Yes
Unemployment Protection	Yes	Yes
Customer Service
Loan Term
Ease of Use
Interest Rates
Payment Flexibility
	Learn More	Learn More
	Terms Apply. SoFi Disclaimers
SoFi: Pricing information from published website as of 5/9/2023 Earnest: Pricing information from published website as of 11/28/2023

Why we like Earnest more
In general, Earnest isn't quite as tough as SoFi when it comes to the financial profile you need to qualify. The company will consider applicants who have delinquencies or collection accounts on their credit. They just need to give a reasonable explanation as to how the black mark got there. Your assets and income also weigh heavily into their decision, which could work in your favor. Some borrowers may find it easier to get approved through Earnest compared to SoFi.

Why we like SoFi more
Two factors cause Earnest to lose points in our book:

• The other issue is that you're required to give Earnest your online banking user ID and password when you apply. If you're worried about keeping your bank info safe or violating your account terms, you're better off with SoFi.

Bottom Line: Is SoFi Too Good to Be True?

Refinance Student Loans

Click Here to Find Your Rate

freedom ... ! © kalyan02 (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Compared to other student lenders, SoFi offers some of the lowest rates around. They'll most likely be able to tempt you into at least applying. Whether you get approved without a co-signer is another story. Borrowers who don't have excellent credit may feel burned by the rejection stamp (those who are fresh out of school without time to build up their scores will be in that camp).

On the other hand, if your credit is strong and you've got stable employment, refinancing with SoFi could put thousands of dollars back in your pocket over time.