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SoFi Student Loans: 2025 Review

SoFi Student Loans: 2025 Review

CNBC26-07-2025
If you're looking to take out a student loan you probably just have the basics in mind — good rates, manageable terms and a clear path to repayment. While many lenders check those boxes, some go a step further. SoFi, one of the biggest names in the private student loan space, offers more than just funding. From career coaching to financial planning tools and member perks, SoFi is designed to support borrowers well beyond the classroom. Let's break it down.
3.23% to 15.99% APR with 0.25% autopay discount (Undergraduate New Loan). Other rates and loan types are available. Visit SoFi's website for full details.
Undergraduate, graduate, parent loans, law school, MBA and health professions loans
$5,000 (or state-mandated minimum) up to the cost of attendance
5, 7, 10, 15 years; refinancing loans up to 20 years
No
Yes - click here for details
Yes - click here for details
Terms apply.Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.Undergraduate and graduate students, parents, health professionals$5,000 minimum (or up to state); maximum up to cost of attendance5, 7, 10, 15, years; up to 20 years for refinancing loans
Terms applyUndergraduate and graduate students, parents, international students with U.S. co-signer$1,000 up to the cost of attendance ($180,000 lifelong maximum)5, 8, 10, 15 years for undergraduate loans, up to 20 years for graduate loans
Terms apply
SoFi offers private student loans for undergraduate, graduate, law, MBA and parent borrowers. These loans are designed to help cover educational expenses not met by scholarships, grants or federal student aid. SoFi also offers student loan refinancing for those looking to consolidate and potentially lower their existing loan payments.
To qualify for a SoFi student loan, you must meet several eligibility criteria related to your enrollment status, credit history and U.S. residency. You'll also need to apply with the necessary documentation, such as proof of income, ID and school certification.
SoFi required you to be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible Title IV school. SoFi loans are not available for non-degree or certificate programs.
You also need to have good to excellent credit, typically a minimum FICO score of 650 to 680, though having a co-signer can improve approval odds and interest rates. SoFi performs a soft credit check for prequalification, so checking rates won't affect your score.
SoFi offers competitive rates with no hidden fees. Their loans are often best suited for borrowers with strong credit or access to a creditworthy co-signer.
SoFi offers fixed rates starting at around 3.23% to 15.99% APR, and variable rates starting at around 4.39% to 15.99% APR. Exact rates vary by creditworthiness, loan term and whether you sign up for autopay.
SoFi offers both fixed and variable rate student loans with terms ranging from five to 20 years.
SoFi charges no origination fees, prepayment penalties or late fees.
Borrowers can take out up to the full cost of attendance, as certified by the school, minus any other financial aid received.
SoFi offers several repayment plans:
SoFi goes beyond traditional student lending and offers a range of perks, such as:
Like any private lender, SoFi has its strengths and trade-offs
SoFi offers a 7-day-a-week customer support via phone, email or live chat. It also has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), highlighting its intuitive online platform.
To apply for a SoFi loan, you'll first have to get prequalified with a soft credit check. From there, you'll:
While SoFi offers flexible terms and valuable perks, many of the same benefits can also be found with Earnest, which provides a wide range of loan terms and amounts — from $1,000 up to the full cost of attendance, or $5,000 to $550,000 for student loan refinancing. Earnest also offers a nine-month grace period, which is three more months than what most lenders offer before repayment begins.
Undergraduate and graduate students, parents, half-time students, international and DACA students
Undergraduate, graduate loans, parent loans, MBA, medical school, law school, international and DACA student loans
$1,000 up to the cost of attendance for new loans, $5,000 to $550,000 for refinance loans
5, 7, 10, 12, 15 years
Nine-month grace period available
No
Yes - click here for details
Terms apply.If you're looking to apply without a co-signer, Ascent is another strong option. It offers loans to borrowers without established credit or a co-signer by evaluating alternative factors such as your school, program, expected graduation date, major, GPA, cost of attendance and Satisfactory Academic Progress.
3.09% to 15.61% APR with autopay discount (undergraduate new loan). Other rates and loan types are available. Visit Ascent's website for full details.
Undergraduate and graduate loans, MBA, medical school, dental school, law school, doctorate and Master's, health professional loans.
$2,001 up to $200,000 for undergraduate loans and $400,000 for graduate loans
5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 years
Deferment and forbearance options available
For DACA recipients and non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents
No
Terms apply.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every student loan review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of student loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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