How high does your credit score have to be to get a personal loan?

Asked by: Charlene Wehner  |  Last update: March 9, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (51 votes)

To qualify for a personal loan, you generally need a minimum credit score of at least 580 — though certain lenders have even lower requirements than that. However, your chances of getting a low interest personal loan rate are much higher if you have good to excellent credit, typically a score of 740 and above.

What is the minimum credit score to get a personal loan?

You generally need a credit score of 580 or higher to qualify for a personal loan. And you'll typically need a score in the 700s to qualify for favorable terms. That said, there's no universal minimum credit score required to get approved for a personal loan.

What credit score do I need for a $5000 loan?

Requirements for a $5,000 Personal Loan

Requirements for a $5,000 loan vary by lender. But in general, you should have at least Fair credit, which is a score of 580 or above. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.

What credit score is needed for a $3,000 loan?

Qualification for a $3,000 personal loan often requires a decent credit score, with many lenders preferring scores of 660 or higher for better terms. Monthly payments on personal loans are fixed, making budgeting easier, but borrowers should be cautious of potential origination fees and penalties.

What credit score is needed for a $10,000 loan?

Different minimums may apply across the various institutions that offer personal loans in the $10,000 range. Those with a 640 or higher credit score are likely to find a number of options for a $10,000 personal loan; those with higher scores may have more options as well as more favorable terms.

The Pros and Cons of Personal Loans

27 related questions found

How can I get a $5000 loan without income proof?

You may be able to get a personal loan without income verification if you pledge collateral, use a co-signer or have an excellent credit score. There are several ways to get approved for a personal loan with no proof of income, including applying with a co-signer and securing the loan with collateral.

What credit score do I need for a $60000 personal loan?

Know your credit history: Because $60,000 is such a large sum of money and there are fewer lenders that offer such large loans, you'll find it's harder to qualify for. You'll typically need good or excellent credit (a FICO score of 670 or higher) and may need to meet certain income requirements.

What is the monthly payment on a 3000 personal loan?

The monthly payment on a $3,000 loan ranges from $41 to $301, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $3,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $301.

Will Navy Federal give me a loan with a 550 credit score?

Navy Federal says its loans are available to borrowers across the credit spectrum, including borrowers with bad credit or thin credit histories, and there's no minimum credit score requirement. You must be a member of Navy Federal to apply.

Can I get a $20,000 loan with 650 credit score?

The required credit score for a $20,000 personal loan will vary from lender to lender, but a score of at least 650 will typically land you a decent interest rate and reasonably good repayment terms. Check with different lenders to find out their credit score requirements.

What is the easiest loan to get immediately?

Some of the easiest loans to get approved for if you have bad credit include payday loans, no-credit-check loans, and pawnshop loans. Before you apply for an emergency loan to obtain funds quickly, make sure you read the fine print so you know exactly what your costs will be.

What is a hardship loan?

Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan intended to help borrowers overcome financial difficulties such as job loss, medical emergencies, or home repairs. Hardship personal loan programs are often offered by small banks and credit unions.

What is the easiest loan to get with bad credit?

Secured loans

With a secured loan, you'll offer your lender an asset as collateral, like a car, a home or even a savings account. Because secured loans require valuable collateral, they're often easier to obtain than unsecured loans and generally offer better rates, since the lender is at less risk.

How to build credit quickly?

9 ways to build credit fast
  1. Dispute credit report errors. ...
  2. Pay down your credit card balances. ...
  3. Become an authorized user. ...
  4. Deal with delinquent accounts. ...
  5. Open a credit card account. ...
  6. Take out a credit builder loan. ...
  7. Request a credit limit increase. ...
  8. Keep a mix of different account types.

Does Capital One do car loans?

You don't have to have perfect credit to apply for an auto loan with Capital One. While the best rates go to borrowers with the highest credit scores, you're not out of luck if you have fair credit or a low income — it only requires a minimum monthly income of $1,500.

What credit score do you need to buy a car without a cosigner?

What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Buy a Car? In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.

What FICO score does Navy Federal use?

The credit score and report you will receive through Mission Credit Confidence Dashboard is a TransUnion credit report with a TransUnion Vantage 3 Score.

Is no credit bad credit?

Yes, having no credit is better than having bad credit, though both can hold you back. Bad credit shows potential lenders a negative track record of managing credit. Meanwhile, no credit means lenders can't tell how you'll handle repaying debts because you don't have much experience.

How much is a $20,000 loan for 5 years?

A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.

How much can I borrow from OneMain Financial?

OneMain makes personal and auto loans from $1,500 - $20,000. Not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance.

What credit score is needed for a $35000 personal loan?

Requirements to Get a $35,000 Personal Loan

Personal loan applicants with a credit score of 640 or higher are more likely to be offered favorable terms. Collateral: Personal loans are typically unsecured, which means collateral will not be required to back the loan.

How much would a $60,000 loan cost per month?

Here's what you could expect to pay with a $60,000 home equity loan monthly tied to those two rates and repayment periods: 10-year home equity loan at 8.47%: $742.95 per month. 15-year home equity loan at 8.38%: $586.63 per month.