Why does my co-signer have to sign the agreement without seeing the rates?

In short, they consent to your loan before you see your rates so that we can factor in your co-signer when we show your rates.

SoFi provides you the option of adding a co-signer as an opportunity to help you qualify for a loan. Once you request a co-signer, we will instruct your co-signer to complete the application and consent to co-signing your loan. Since adding a co-signer to your application introduces additional effort for our review team, we want to ensure your co-signer is committed to helping you reduce your student debt and ask for their consent to co-sign at the beginning of the process. We will notify you if you are pre-qualified with a co-signer; from that point, you will be able to see your rates and select a loan.

Once you have been presented with your offer, SoFi recommends that you discuss the rates and loan terms with your co-signer before proceeding with your application. Your co-signer is not obligated, in any way, if you do not accept the terms.