Rates by credit score · Data through Q4 2025
Personal Loan Rates by Credit Score
Borrowers with excellent credit averaged 12.15% APR on their best personal loan offer, while those under 580 averaged 29.05%. Here is what each FICO range means, what it costs on a $200–$5,000 loan, and how to move up a tier.
Personal loan APR by credit score
Your credit score is the single biggest driver of the rate a lender offers. In the most recent quarterly data from one large online loan marketplace, borrowers with scores of 800 or higher averaged 12.15% APR on their best offer. Borrowers under 580 averaged 29.05%, more than twice as much for the same kind of loan.
Average APR offered, by credit tier
Q4 2025 · loans of $5,000–$54,999 · 36–83 month terms · bars drawn to a 0–35% scale
| Credit score | Best offer | All offers | Avg. amount offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ Exceptional | 12.15% | 15.75% | $19,486 |
| 740–799 Very good | 15.54% | 17.89% | $19,591 |
| 670–739 Good | 20.61% | 23.27% | $17,385 |
| 580–669 Fair | 25.78% | 27.79% | $12,840 |
| Under 580 Poor | 29.05% | 30.25% | $10,376 |
Source: LendingTree marketplace data, Q4 2025. These are conditional offers shown before verification; final rates can differ.
Why "best offer" matters. When several lenders bid on the same request, the gap between the best and the average offer was 2–4 points in every tier. Comparing more than one offer is often worth more than a small score bump.
What each FICO Score range means
Base FICO Scores, including FICO Score 8, 9, 10 and 10 T, run from 300 to 850. Lenders and credit bureaus commonly group them into five ranges. Industry-specific versions, such as FICO Auto and Bankcard Scores, use a wider 250–900 range.
| Range | Label | What lenders typically see |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | Long, clean history and low balances. Usually the lowest advertised rates. |
| 740–799 | Very good | Reliable payer. Offers are usually close to the best available. |
| 670–739 | Good | Near the national average of 714. Approval is common; rate depends on income and debt. |
| 580–669 | Fair | Some late payments or high balances. Fewer lenders, higher APRs. |
| 300–579 | Poor | Recent serious delinquencies or collections. Options are limited and costly. |
The national average FICO Score was 714 in FICO’s latest report, unchanged from October 2025. That sits in the "good" band, where the average best offer in our data was 20.61%.
What each tier costs on a $200–$5,000 loan
The tables below show the monthly payment and total interest at each tier’s average best-offer APR. They assume a fixed rate, no origination fee and on-time payments. Small loans are the range Riverstone handles, so we used four common amounts.
$500 over 12 months
| Tier | APR | Monthly | Interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ | 12.15% | $44.46 | $33.51 | $533.51 |
| 740–799 | 15.54% | $45.26 | $43.08 | $543.08 |
| 670–739 | 20.61% | $46.46 | $57.56 | $557.56 |
| 580–669 | 25.78% | $47.71 | $72.54 | $572.54 |
| Under 580 | 29.05% | $48.51 | $82.12 | $582.12 |
$1,000 over 12 months
| Tier | APR | Monthly | Interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ | 12.15% | $88.92 | $67.03 | $1,067.03 |
| 740–799 | 15.54% | $90.51 | $86.16 | $1,086.16 |
| 670–739 | 20.61% | $92.93 | $115.12 | $1,115.12 |
| 580–669 | 25.78% | $95.42 | $145.08 | $1,145.08 |
| Under 580 | 29.05% | $97.02 | $164.25 | $1,164.25 |
$2,500 over 24 months
| Tier | APR | Monthly | Interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ | 12.15% | $117.86 | $328.61 | $2,828.61 |
| 740–799 | 15.54% | $121.86 | $424.62 | $2,924.62 |
| 670–739 | 20.61% | $127.99 | $571.66 | $3,071.66 |
| 580–669 | 25.78% | $134.41 | $725.82 | $3,225.82 |
| Under 580 | 29.05% | $138.56 | $825.50 | $3,325.50 |
$5,000 over 36 months
| Tier | APR | Monthly | Interest | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ | 12.15% | $166.43 | $991.48 | $5,991.48 |
| 740–799 | 15.54% | $174.65 | $1,287.46 | $6,287.46 |
| 670–739 | 20.61% | $187.38 | $1,745.52 | $6,745.52 |
| 580–669 | 25.78% | $200.87 | $2,231.23 | $7,231.23 |
| Under 580 | 29.05% | $209.66 | $2,547.93 | $7,547.93 |
On a $5,000, three-year loan, moving from the "poor" tier to the "exceptional" tier cuts total interest from $2,547.93 to $991.48, a difference of about $1,556. On a $500 loan the gap is under $50, so for very small amounts the term and any fees matter more than the score.
Want to try your own numbers? Use the personal loan calculator.
What goes into your FICO Score
FICO publishes the general weight of each part of the score for the population as a whole. Your own mix can differ, but the order of importance is a reliable guide to where effort pays off.
FICO Score factors
Share of the score for the general population · bars drawn to a 0–40% scale
How to move up a tier
Moving from "fair" to "good" changed the average best offer by more than five points in our data. These steps target the two factors that make up about two-thirds of a FICO Score.
- Pay every bill on time from now on. Payment history is 35% of the score. Autopay for at least the minimum stops a missed payment from happening by accident.
- Lower your card balances. Amounts owed is 30% of the score. Paying balances down before the statement date lowers the utilization lenders see.
- Check your reports for errors. You can get free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything that is wrong.
- Keep older accounts open. Length of history is 15% of the score. Closing your oldest card can shorten it and raise utilization.
- Space out new applications. New credit is 10% of the score. Prequalify with soft checks first, and apply formally only for the offer you plan to take.
If you need money now, apply with what you have, compare APR across offers, and choose the shortest term you can afford. You can refinance later if your score improves.
Options if your score is fair or poor
Scores under 670 still get offers, but they cost more and come from fewer lenders. If your score is in the fair or poor range, these approaches can lower the cost or raise your chances:
- Borrow less, for less time. Lenders see smaller, shorter loans as lower risk. On a $500 loan over 12 months, the gap between the top and bottom tier is under $50 in total interest.
- Ask a credit union about a payday alternative loan. Federal credit unions can lend $200 to $2,000 at no more than 28% APR, which is below the average best offer for scores under 580.
- Add a co-signer. A co-signer with strong credit can help you qualify or lower your rate, but they become responsible for the debt if you don’t pay.
- Offer collateral. A secured loan, such as one backed by a savings account, can carry a lower rate because the lender’s risk is lower.
- Avoid triple-digit APRs. The CFPB says a typical two-week payday loan with a $15 fee per $100 works out to an APR of almost 400%, far above any tier in the table above.
Watch for "guaranteed approval." No legitimate lender guarantees a loan before checking your credit and income, and none will ask you to pay a fee before you receive the money.
How lenders use your score
Lenders use your score in two ways. First, as a gate: many set a minimum score for approval, and some only show offers above it. Second, as a price: within the scores they accept, lenders set rates in bands, which is why the averages above step up from tier to tier rather than rising smoothly.
Because each lender draws its bands differently, the same score can land in a better band with one lender than another. A borrower at 738 might be priced as "good" by one lender and close to "very good" by another. That is another reason comparing offers matters, and why a few points of improvement near a cutoff can be worth more than the same gain in the middle of a band.
Keep in mind that the score a lender pulls may not be the one you see in an app. There are several FICO versions, and some lenders use VantageScore, which also runs from 300 to 850 but labels its ranges differently.
What else lenders look at
Monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income. Two people with the same score can get different offers because of DTI.
Lenders verify that you can repay. Steady, documented income can offset a thinner credit file.
Shorter terms and smaller amounts carry less risk for the lender, which can mean a lower rate.
State law sets rate caps and licensing rules, so the offers you see can depend on where you live.
Credit score questions
Credit Score & Rate FAQ
Short answers using the figures on this page.
- 12.15% – 29.05%Average best offer, top to bottom tier
- 714Average U.S. FICO Score
- ≈ $1,556Interest gap on $5,000 over 36 months
What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
There is no single minimum. Each lender sets its own rules. In Q4 2025 marketplace data, borrowers with scores under 580 still received offers, but the average best offer was 29.05% APR, compared with 12.15% for scores of 800 or higher.
What APR can I get with a 700 credit score?
A 700 score falls in the 670–739 "good" range. Borrowers in that range averaged 20.61% APR on their best offer and 23.27% across all offers in Q4 2025 marketplace data. Your own rate also depends on income, debt and the lender.
What is the average FICO Score?
The national average FICO Score was 714 in FICO’s latest Credit Insights report, unchanged from October 2025.
How much does a better score save on a $5,000 loan?
At each tier’s average best-offer APR over 36 months, total interest ranges from $2,547.93 for scores under 580 to $991.48 for scores of 800+, a difference of about $1,556.
Does checking my rate lower my score?
Prequalification usually uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect your score. A formal application uses a hard inquiry, which is part of the "new credit" factor, about 10% of a FICO Score.
Can I get a personal loan with a 550 credit score?
Possibly, but expect a high rate. Borrowers under 580 averaged 29.05% APR on their best offer in Q4 2025 marketplace data. A credit union payday alternative loan, capped at 28% APR, may be cheaper for amounts up to $2,000.
Is VantageScore the same as FICO?
No. Both use a 300–850 range for their recent models, but they weigh information differently and label ranges differently, so the two scores can differ. Ask the lender which score it uses.
Which matters more, my score or my income?
Both. Your score shows how you have handled credit, and income and debt-to-income ratio show whether you can afford the new payment. Lenders weigh them together.
Sources
- LendingTree, personal loan marketplace data, Q4 2025
- Experian, What are the different credit score ranges?
- myFICO, What’s in my FICO Scores
- FICO Score Credit Insights report (average FICO Score 714)
- AnnualCreditReport.com, free credit reports
Cost examples are calculated by Riverstone with standard amortization, fixed rates, no fees and on-time payments. They are illustrations, not offers of credit.
Know your tier?
See What Lenders Offer You
Request $200 to $5,000 and compare APR, fees and terms from lenders in our network. No obligation to accept.