Personal Loan With a 600 Credit Score: What You Can Get and How to Prepare
Yes, some lenders will consider you at 600. A 600 is inside FICO's "Fair" band, 20 points above the line where "Poor" ends, and several online lenders and finance companies publish terms that reach this far. What a 600 changes is price. Expect offers near the top of published APR ranges, and expect fees. This page lays out what named lenders actually publish, what a loan costs at this band, and a 60-day plan if your expense can wait.
Key takeaways
- 600 is "Fair" on myFICO's scale (580 to 669), and Bankrate says you'll "typically need a credit score of at least 580" for a personal loan.
- Avant is the only lender in this group that publishes a minimum (550). OneMain and Upstart say there is no single minimum.
- LendingTree's Q2 2026 average APR for 580 to 669 was 27.52%; most mainstream lenders top out at 35.99%.
- Sixty days of report cleanup and lower card balances can be worth more than any lender comparison.
This page is part of our hub on personal loans by credit score.
Can you get a personal loan with a 600 credit score?
You can apply and some lenders will consider you, but no one can promise approval. myFICO labels 580 to 669 "Fair" and says "many lenders will approve loans with this score." Experian counted 14.9% of consumers in that band in 2025, while 14.7% were below 580.
What sets 600 apart from 550 is distance from the floor. At 600 you are above 580, the score Bankrate says is generally the minimum needed to qualify for a personal loan. At 550, you are below it and the lender list shrinks. At 600 the list is longer, but each offer is priced for risk.
Which lenders publish a minimum credit score?
Very few. Here is what each lender says on its own site, as of October 1, 2026.
| Lender | Published minimum score | APR range | Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avant | 550 ("you may qualify ... with a minimum credit score of 550") | 9.95% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $35,000 |
| OneMain Financial | None: "there's no single minimum credit score" | 11.99% to 35.99% | $1,500 to $30,000 |
| Upstart | None published; its model "considers additional variables like employment and education" | 6.3% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 |
| Best Egg | None on its loan page; rate tool lists a "Fair" band of 560 to 669 | 6.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 (rate tool) |
| Upgrade | None on its loan page | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 |
If a comparison site lists a "minimum score" for a lender, check whether the lender itself says it. Often it's the comparison site's estimate. OneMain also writes secured loans, which is worth asking about at this score because collateral can change what you are offered, though it also puts the asset at risk.
What will a loan cost at 600?
LendingTree's offer data for the second quarter of 2026 lists an average APR of 27.52% for "Fair (580-669)" and 30.51% for "Poor (under 580)." Bankrate says it is "not unusual for applicants with bad credit to be offered an annual percentage rate (APR) as high as 35.99%." In practice, 35.99% is the top of the published range at every lender in the table above.
| APR on $5,000 over 36 months | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 22.70% (LendingTree Good average) | $192.77 | $1,939.72 |
| 27.52% (LendingTree Fair average) | $205.52 | $2,398.72 |
| 30.51% (LendingTree Poor average) | $213.66 | $2,691.76 |
| 35.99% (top of published ranges) | $228.99 | $3,243.64 |
Payments computed by Loans Generator; they ignore origination fees, which can add to the cost. Compare them with the site's representative example:
Representative example. For a $5,000 loan at a 10% APR over 36 months, the monthly repayment would be $161.34. Over the term, the total repayment would amount to $5,808.24, with $808.24 in interest. The loan terms range from 6 months to 12 years, with APRs between 5.99% and 35.99%. The exact rate you receive depends on factors like your creditworthiness, loan size, and repayment schedule. Better rates are typically offered to those with excellent credit.
At 600, plan around the middle to top of that table, not the 10% example. If the payment only works at a low rate, the loan doesn't work yet.
Fees at this band. Avant's administration fee runs up to 9.99% and is deducted from the proceeds. Best Egg's origination fee also runs up to 9.99%. On $5,000, a 9.99% fee means about $4,500 reaches your account while you repay $5,000 plus interest.
Loans Generator may be paid when you click or submit a request through this link. This does not change what we report.
What should you do in the 60 days before you apply?
If the expense can wait, this is the sequence that gives a 600 the best chance of pricing better.
Days 1 to 7: get the facts. Pull all three reports. The FTC says the nationwide bureaus have permanently extended free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only site authorized to fill those orders. List every negative item and every balance.
Days 1 to 30: dispute errors and cut card balances. A collection that isn't yours or a paid account still showing a balance is the cheapest fix available. myFICO lists credit utilization among the factors in a FICO Score, so paying down revolving balances is the lever you control most directly.
Days 1 to 60: stop applying. The CFPB says hard inquiries affect your score because "most credit scoring models look at how recently and how frequently you apply for credit." Each formal application adds one.
Days 30 to 45: recheck. Pull a fresh report to confirm disputes and paydowns have reported.
Days 45 to 60: prequalify, then apply once. The CFPB classifies prescreening inquiries as soft inquiries that "will not affect your credit scores." Collect soft-pull quotes on the same amount and term, compare APR and total repayment, and submit one formal application.
Our 60-day plan to raise your credit score before a loan breaks this into a checklist. If you're carrying several card balances, debt consolidation with a 600 credit score covers whether a consolidation loan makes sense at this band.
What happens if you're declined?
You have a right to know why. The CFPB says a lender that rejects your application must send an adverse action notice with "the specific reasons your application was rejected" or tell you how to get them if you ask within 60 days. If the decision was based on your credit report, the lender must also give you the score it used and tell you about your right to a free copy of that report within 60 days. That notice tells you exactly what to fix.
Is a 650 meaningfully better than a 600?
Both are "Fair" on FICO's scale, so averages by band don't separate them. Individual lenders do price within the band, and some lenders' cutoffs fall between the two. See personal loans with a 650 credit score for how fees and cosigners play out a little higher up.
Who this is for
Borrowers with scores roughly between 580 and 619 who need to know which lenders will consider them and what it will cost.
What to do next
Pull your reports, fix what you can for 30 to 60 days, then prequalify with several lenders and apply to one.
Loans Generator may be paid when you click or submit a request through this link. This does not change what we report.
Common questions
Can I get a $5,000 loan with a 600 credit score?
Several lenders lend $5,000 and publish ranges that reach fair credit, including Avant ($2,000 to $35,000) and OneMain ($1,500 to $30,000). Approval depends on income, DTI and underwriting.
What interest rate will I get with a 600 credit score?
LendingTree's Q2 2026 average for 580 to 669 was 27.52% APR. Expect offers in the upper part of published ranges, which top out at 35.99% at the lenders above.
Is 600 a bad credit score?
myFICO calls 580 to 669 "Fair," not "Poor." It is below the 2025 national average of 713 reported by Experian.
Does checking my rate hurt my score?
Prequalification uses a soft inquiry, which the CFPB says does not affect your score. A formal application usually triggers a hard inquiry.
Should I use a lender that doesn't check credit?
Compare the APR before you sign anything. Some small-dollar products cost far more than a personal loan; the CFPB says a typical payday fee of $15 per $100 equals an APR of almost 400 percent on a two-week loan.
How we researched this
We read each lender's own page and the FTC, CFPB, myFICO, Experian, LendingTree and Bankrate pages below on October 1, 2026, and recomputed every payment.
Sources
- myFICO, "What is a FICO Score?" https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/what-is-a-fico-score (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Experian, "What Is the Average Credit Score in the US?" https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- LendingTree, "Best Personal Loans with the Lowest Rates," https://www.lendingtree.com/personal/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Bankrate, "Average Personal Loan Interest Rates," https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/average-personal-loan-rates/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Bankrate, "The Average Credit Score for Personal Loans," https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/average-credit-score-for-personal-loans/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- CFPB, "What are the costs and fees for a payday loan?" https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-the-costs-and-fees-for-a-payday-loan-en-1589/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Avant, "How to Get a Personal Loan," https://www.avant.com/blog/borrow/how-to-get-a-loan/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Avant, home page loan disclosures, https://www.avant.com/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- OneMain Financial, "What credit score do you need for a personal loan?" https://www.onemainfinancial.com/personal-loans/resources/credit-score-for-personal-loan (accessed October 1, 2026)
- OneMain Financial, "Personal Loans," https://www.onemainfinancial.com/personal-loans (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Upstart, "Personal Loans," https://www.upstart.com/personal-loans (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Best Egg, "Personal Loans," https://www.bestegg.com/personal-loans/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Upgrade, "Personal Loans," https://www.upgrade.com/personal-loans/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- FTC, "Free Credit Reports," https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports (accessed October 1, 2026)
- CFPB, "What is a credit inquiry?" https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-inquiry-en-1317/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- CFPB, "What can I do if my credit application was denied because of my credit report?" https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/my-credit-application-was-denied-because-of-my-credit-report-what-can-i-do-en-1253/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
Loans Generator is not a loan provider or broker. We connect users with lending partners who may offer loans. Submitting a connection request on our site does not count as a loan application. To receive an actual loan offer, you must apply directly with a lender. We cannot guarantee loan approval or the terms shown on our website. Always review the loan agreement carefully before proceeding. Availability, rates, and terms vary by lender and by state. Rates, lender terms and regulatory details cited on this page were checked on October 1, 2026 and change without notice. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.