Key takeaways You’ll typically need a credit score of at least 580 to qualify for a personal loan, but the higher your score, the more affordable your loan rate. Lenders want to see that loan applicants have a history of responsibly paying debt, and your credit score provides a window into your past behavior. Prequalifying for a personal loan allows you to find out what interest rate you may qualify for without impacting your credit score. When you apply for a personal loan, your chances of getting a low interest personal loan rate are much higher if you have very good to excellent credit (a score of 740 or higher), compared to those in the fair credit range (580 to 739).  There is no set average credit score for personal loans, but the average FICO credit score was 714 in March 2026. Understanding how your score impacts your loan — and what you can do to improve it — can help you secure the most affordable financing possible. What credit score is needed for a personal loan?…