SoFi Student Loan Refinance Review 2026

SoFi offers soft-pull pre-qualification, meaning you can check your estimated rate and loan terms without impacting your credit score. The hard credit inquiry occurs only when you formally accept a loan offer and complete the full application. This makes SoFi a good starting point when shopping multiple refinance offers, since you can compare rates from several lenders within a 14-day window with limited credit-score impact.

SoFi's Unemployment Protection program allows qualifying members who lose their job (through no fault of their own) to pause monthly loan payments in three-month increments for up to 12 months over the life of the loan. During the pause, interest continues to accrue. SoFi also offers job placement career coaching during the protected period. Eligibility requirements apply — confirm current terms and conditions at sofi.com.

A bachelor's degree or higher is the standard SoFi eligibility requirement for student loan refinancing. SoFi does not refinance loans for borrowers who did not complete their degree. Some graduate-school-specific exceptions may exist — confirm current eligibility requirements at sofi.com before applying if your educational situation is non-standard.

Both are top-rated student loan refinance lenders. SoFi is the largest U.S. student-loan refi lender by volume and offers Unemployment Protection and career coaching member benefits. Earnest offers 'precision pricing' — you set your exact monthly payment target and Earnest builds the term around it — plus a skip-a-payment feature once per year. For borrowers who want maximum cash-flow control, Earnest's customizable structure is differentiated; for borrowers who value ecosystem benefits and largest-lender depth, SoFi typically wins.