By Rochel Maday. February 04, 2026 · 10 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. Student loans can be confusing, especially when it comes to how and when the money is actually released. Many borrowers expect funds to arrive all at once or directly in their bank account, only to discover the process works differently than anticipated.