SoFi Blog

Tips and news—
for your financial moves.

Student Loan Lifeline

Student Loan Lifeline: A SoFi Guide 🛟

Getting your student loan application right can mean improving your credit score or taking a different approach. For instance, students with cosigners are 4 to 5 times more likely to be approved.

Let SoFi lead you through the process step by step. We’ll review the different types of student loans, their requirements, and tips that will give your application the best chance possible.


Student Loans: A Refresher Course

There are different types of student loans, either federal or private. Each has its own requirements. Brushing up on the differences can help you choose the right loan for you.







Student Loan Payment Calculator




Cosigners: How and When to Use One

Approximately 90% of student loan applicants have a cosigner. That’s someone with income and a strong credit history (often a parent) who signs the loan agreement with you and is equally responsible for making sure the loan gets paid back. You are more likely to get approved if you apply with a cosigner. And you can typically release your cosigner after 24 consecutive payments.*





Apply with a Cosigner




Credit Scores and How to Build Them

Good credit helps you qualify for the best interest rate on student loans. And it may also allow you to get better deals on everything from auto insurance to credit cards. If your credit history is holding you back, there are steps you can start taking today to turn it around — and build your credit over time.






Sign up for Credit Score Monitoring




FAFSA: What You Need to Know

To apply for financial aid, the first thing you’ll need to do is fill out the FAFSA®, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is how you apply for federal student loans. Colleges and universities may also require you to fill out the FAFSA to qualify for scholarships, grants, and other financial aid. The new FAFSA form for the 2026-2027 school year is available now.





2026-2027 FAFSA form




Scholarships: A Complete Guide

Scholarships are awarded to students for many reasons, including academic achievement, community service, financial need, athletic promise, and more. Applying takes time and effort, but it’s worth it: This is free money that doesn’t need to be paid back. We’ll walk you through the process of finding scholarships that match your qualifications.




Scholarship Search Tool




Paying for College: Tips and Strategies

Between tuition and fees, room and board, and books and supplies, college is an expensive endeavor. Every student has their own strategy for covering costs, including savings, scholarships and grants, and student loans, among others. Learn how families like yours make it work.



Putting your student through college is a big life moment.

Besides SoFi college loans for parents, there are many federal loans, grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and other options to consider. Please borrow responsibly.




Hey Parents! We’ve Got Answers to All the Things You’ve Been Wondering About





Learn more about Parent Student Loans


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IRA Match Relay

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SoFi Invest®

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Get a 1% IRA match.
If you have a Roth or Traditional IRA with SoFi, you can get a 1% match on rollovers and contributions, with no minimum required. Terms apply.*

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*Terms and conditions apply. For 401(k) rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401(k) rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% match terms and conditions.

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Schedule a deposit

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STANDARD HIGH APY WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT/PLUS

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SoFi Plus

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SoFi Plus members get a 1% match on recurring SoFi Invest® deposits, paid in cash.*

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*Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you’re earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

$10 subscription fee: Subscribers are billed every 30 calendar days based on the initial date of subscription.

SoFi Plus: SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best APY, discounts, rewards, and more when they set up Eligible Direct Deposit, receive $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits, or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.

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1% Match on Recurring Deposits

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SoFi Plus

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SoFi Plus members get a 1% match on recurring SoFi Invest® deposits, paid in cash.*

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SoFi Plus: SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best rewards, benefits, and more when they pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Between 12/9/25–3/30/26, members with Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits will receive complimentary access to SoFi Plus. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:

•  1) Robo Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.

•  2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.

Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.

Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

For a full listing of the fees associated with SoFi Invest please view our fee schedule

1% match on recurring invest deposits: Must be an active SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Invest account to qualify. The match is calculated on each settled recurring deposit made via ACH and paid out in cash within five (5) business days. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. For complete eligibility and terms, please see the SoFi Plus terms

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ECR ITA


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EXCLUSIVE INVITATION TO APPLY

Earn up to 3% cash
back rewards
—with no
annual fee.

  • Earn 3% on dining, including
    takeout and delivery apps.

  • Earn 2% at grocery stores
    and online grocery delivery.

  • Earn 1% on all other

    eligible purchases.

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Make your everyday
spending count for more.

Although we don’t have any prequalified offers for you at this time, since you’re a valued SoFi member, we’d like to extend an exclusive invitation to apply for the SoFi Everyday Cash Rewards Credit Card. Enjoy unlimited 3% cash back rewards on dining, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other eligible purchases1*—all with no annual fee. Offer ends 2/28/26.


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