Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Student Loans Student Loan Repayment Earnest vs. SoFi Student Loan Refinancing 2025: Flexible Terms vs. a Streamlined Experience Updated May 29, 2025 8-min read Written by Amanda Hankel Written by Amanda Hankel Expertise: Writing, editing, digital publishing Amanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing. Learn more about Amanda Hankel 4.6 View Rates 4.9 View Rates Fixed APR 4.99% – 9.74% 5.24% – 9.99% w/ autopay Fixed APR Fixed APR 4.99% – 9.74% 5.24% – 9.99% w/ autopay Variable APR 5.89% – 9.74% 6.24% – 9.99% w/ autopay Variable APR Variable APR 5.89% – 9.74% 6.24% – 9.99% w/ autopay Loan amounts $5,000 – $500,000 $5,000 – total loan balance Loan amounts Loan amounts $5,000 – $500,000 $5,000 – total loan balance Repayment terms 5 – 20 years 5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years Repayment terms Repayment terms 5 – 20 years 5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years See top companies When comparing Earnest and SoFi for student loan refinancing, the right choice depends on whether you prefer flexibility or a more streamlined experience. Earnest stands out for its customizable repayment terms and unique skip-a-payment feature, giving borrowers more control. SoFi, on the other hand, offers a polished, all-in-one platform that simplifies the refinancing process. Both are excellent lenders—it’s just a matter of what kind of borrower you are. Choose SoFi if …Choose Earnest if …You need to transfer Parent PLUS loansYou want customized loan termsYou want your finances in one placeYou want repayment flexibilityYou’re in NevadaYou didn’t graduate Here’s a closer look at the key differences and scenarios in which each is best. Table of Contents Earnest vs. SoFi: Rates, terms, and eligibility SoFi vs. Earnest: When each is best Alternatives to Earnest and SoFi FAQ Earnest vs. SoFi: Rates, terms, and eligibility When comparing Earnest and SoFi for student loan refinancing, the choice comes down to what suits your individual needs. Both lenders rate well in our system. Here’s a detailed rundown on rates, terms, and eligibility for Earnest vs. SoFi: Term lengths Earnest offers terms from 5 to 20 years. SoFi offers terms of 5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years. Loan amounts Earnest allows loans from $5,000 to $500,000, with state-specific minimums in California and New Mexico. SoFi allows loans starting at $5,000 up to the total outstanding balance. Cosigner options Earnest accepts cosigners but does not offer a cosigner release option. SoFi accepts cosigners but also does not provide a cosigner release option. Graduation requirement Earnest requires a completed degree or specific criteria if the degree is incomplete. SoFi requires borrowers to have earned a degree to be eligible. Credit score and income SoFi requires a minimum credit score of 650. Earnest requires a minimum credit score 665 from borrowers and 650 from consigners. Earnest does not specify a minimum income, but applicants must have a job and a steady income. SoFi requires that borrowers have free cash flow after expenses. State availability Earnest is available in all states except Nevada. It’s also available in Washington, D.C. SoFi is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Unique features Earnest offers biweekly payment options, a rate-match guarantee, the option to skip one payment per year, and adjustable loan terms. SoFi offers several member benefits, including networking events and an exclusive online community. You can read more about Earnest’s student loans in our ultimate guide to Earnest student loans. Learn more about SoFi’s student loan products in our comprehensive review. Want to see more options? See our top picks for student loan refinancing. SoFi vs. Earnest: When each is best You need to transfer Parent PLUS loans Transferring Parent PLUS loans can be a significant advantage for some families. SoFi allows you to transfer parent loans to a child’s name, assuming the child qualifies and applies for a student loan refinance. This can offer financial flexibility and potential interest savings, aligning the loan terms with the child’s needs and circumstances. In contrast, Earnest only allows the primary borrower (the parent on a Parent PLUS loan) to refinance, limiting these options. Winner SoFi You want customized loan terms Choosing the right loan term can make a significant difference in your overall repayment experience. While SoFi provides set repayment terms of five, seven, 10, 15, or 20 years, Earnest takes customization to the next level. It allows you to tailor your repayment term down to the very day within a time frame of five to 20 years. With Earnest, you can align your loan repayment with your precise financial goals and circumstances. Whether you aim to pay off the loan faster to save on interest or need a longer term to make monthly payments more manageable, Earnest provides the flexibility to create a plan that fits you. Winner Earnest You want your finances in one place A lender that offers multiple financial products can simplify your financial life. SoFi stands out in this aspect, providing not only student loan refinancing but personal loans, mortgages, auto loan refinancing, and banking. This one-stop-shop approach allows you to consolidate your lending and banking needs with a single provider, saving time and streamlining your financial management. Earnest, in contrast, focuses primarily on student loans and student loan refinancing. It partners with LoanSnap for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) specifically for college tuition. While strong in its specialization, Earnest offers fewer comprehensive lending solutions. Winner SoFi You want repayment flexibility Repayment flexibility is important for many borrowers, especially if they’ve faced difficulties with student loan payments. Earnest allows you to skip one payment per year. This feature sets it apart as the only lender we rated that offers this benefit, giving you a unique cushion should unexpected financial challenges arise. Earnest and SoFi provide deferment and forbearance for eligible borrowers experiencing financial hardship, ensuring some degree of flexibility. But Earnest’s option to skip a payment adds an extra layer of convenience and peace of mind. Winner Earnest You’re in Nevada If you’re in the Silver State, Earnest isn’t an option—it’s the only state the lender excludes. SoFi is available in all 50 states. Winner SoFi You didn’t graduate Not having a degree doesn’t need to be a barrier to refinancing your student loans. While many lenders, including SoFi, require a degree for refinancing, Earnest offers a more flexible approach. You can refinance without a degree with Earnest if you last attended school more than six years ago, have a credit score of 700 or above, and the school you attended was not a for-profit institution. This option opens up refinancing opportunities to those who may have started their educational journey but didn’t complete a degree, providing financial flexibility where it might not otherwise be available. Winner Earnest Alternatives to Earnest and SoFi You may also find that Earnest and SoFi are not the refinancing lenders for you, and you need to explore alternatives. In that case, here’s a collection of resources to guide you: How to refinance student loans with bad credit: Earnest and SoFi require a decent credit score to qualify. If you’re looking for specialized options for lower credit, this resource can provide alternatives. Refinancing for dental school: SoFi and Earnest can refinance dental school loans, but you may want to explore other tailored solutions and providers. Refinancing of medical school student loans: Earnest and SoFi can refinance medical school loans. Refinancing for Parent Plus loans: SoFi offers Parent PLUS loan refinancing, but this resource covers additional lenders and approaches. Refinancing without a degree: While Earnest offers refinancing without a degree under specific conditions, for broader options and criteria, this resource may help. By exploring these resources, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the student loan refinancing landscape beyond Earnest and SoFi. Whether you’re a seasoned borrower or just beginning your research, these tools and guides will equip you with the knowledge you need to make confident decisions about refinancing your student loans. FAQ How do SoFi refinance student loan rates compare to Earnest? Earnest’s refinance rates are slightly more competitive than SoFi’s, particularly at the high end of the range. While both lenders offer similar starting APRs, Earnest tends to cap its rates lower, which can benefit borrowers with less-than-perfect credit. SoFi still stands out for its borrower perks—like career coaching and unemployment protection—but if you’re focused on getting the lowest possible rate, Earnest may have the edge. Is Earnest a good student loan company? Earnest is a solid choice for student loan refinancing. It offers competitive rates and allows borrowers to customize their repayment terms to better fit their budget—something not all lenders offer. There are no fees for origination, prepayment, or late payments. While it lacks flashy perks, Earnest delivers where it counts: low rates, flexibility, and a smooth refinancing process. How we rated SoFi and Earnest We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best student loan refinancing. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms. We compared SoFi and Earnest to several student loan lenders, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take on each company is represented in our ratings and best-for designations, recapped below. ProductBest forOur ratingSoFi student loan refinancingBest online lender4.9Earnest student loan refinancingBest skip-a-payment benefit4.6