SoFi Blog

You may have seen recent headlines about the hottest new employee benefit since the 401(k): student loan assistance. Whether it’s helping employees pay student loans or subsidizing an interest rate discount on student loan refinancing, a growing number of employers are offering some kind of student debt assistance as a tool to recruit and retain talent in today’s competitive job market.

It’s hard to feel “merry and bright” when you’ve got student loans hanging over your head. This season, instead of letting loans dampen your spirits, why not use some of that holiday downtime to make a dent in your debt? Grab a drink (or six) and use our Holiday Student Loan Game to help you get organized, save money and set your loans up for success in the New Year.

Cheers to dominating your student loan debt in 2016 – and happy holidays from SoFi!

Employers competing for talent in a hot job market have a new tool in their arsenal: student loan repayment support.

To the delight of many job hunters, a growing number of companies now offer some form of assistance with student loan debt alongside more traditional HR benefits like 401(k) plans and health insurance. And it makes sense – with the average debt for recent undergrads and graduates estimated at about $35,000 and $58,000, respectively, who has money left over to fund a 401(k)?

Whether you’ve recently graduated from college or completed a master’s or professional degree, chances are good that you have student loans to repay.

If there’s anything clear about student loans, it’s that the terminology associated with student loans is often far from clear.  Take the words “consolidate” and “refinance,” for example.  Both of these fall into the category of “things you can potentially do with your student loans” and as a result they’re often used interchangeably.  But the terms can have different implications based on the context in which they’re being used.

So here’s the scoop: