Getting A $30,000 Loan: Everything You Should Know

If you need $30,000 and don’t have it saved, you may be able to get it with a personal loan. A loan can be used for any number of expenses as well as debt consolidation. Depending on your lender and your financial qualifications, you can generally borrow $1,000 – $50,000.

Since $30,000 is just over half of the typical borrowing limit, it’s a reasonable amount to borrow. However, you’ll have certain credit requirements to meet before qualifying for a $30,000 loan.

Let’s walk through those requirements, the pros and cons of a $30,000 loan, the steps required to get a $30K loan, and some alternative funding options.

Generally speaking, personal loans are available from any of these financial institutions:

• Traditional banks
• Credit unions
• Private lenders
• Online lenders

Credit requirements, maximum loan amounts, fees and interest rates vary among lenders, so it’s important that you shop around to find the best, most affordable deal.

You can work with a loan provider such as Rocket Loans℠ to find the best loan for your needs. With Rocket Loans, you can borrow $2,000 – $45,000 and have a 36- or 60-month repayment period and an annual percentage rate (APR) potentially as low as 9.116% (if using autopay).¹

The features of your financial profile that most lenders will take the closest look at are your credit score and debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Your credit score represents how well you manage your debts, and it will play a big role in the interest rate you receive if approved for a loan. Your DTI demonstrates how much of your gross monthly income goes toward monthly debt payments, telling a lender whether you can afford your current monthly payments and have room in your budget for another one.

The average minimum credit score for a personal loan is in the 610 – 640 range, but this range can vary from lender to lender. Some lenders may even approve a credit score as low as 500. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will likely be. For a good interest rate, aim for a credit score of at least 650.

As for your DTI, a lower one is best for borrowing more money at a good rate. Most lenders will approve applicants with a DTI at or below 36%. You might get approved by some lenders with a DTI of 43% or even higher, but a lender that approves a DTI this high is likely to charge a higher interest rate.

Let’s say you’re approved for a $30,000 loan at a 12% interest rate. How much you pay per month on the loan will vary with the length of your loan term.

Using Rocket Loans’ Simple Loan Calculator, see roughly how much you’ll pay a month and over time with different repayment terms.

A shorter loan term will mean higher monthly payments, but you’ll pay less interest over time.

As with personal loans of all different amounts, $30,000 loans come with various benefits and drawbacks. Among other personal loan pros and cons, consider the ones highlighted below.

Pros

• The personal loan application process is quick and straightforward.
• Personal loans are often unsecured, in which case they don’t require collateral.
• Your fixed-rate monthly payments (which are the case with most personal loans) will be the same amount every month.
• Making on-time payments can help boost your credit score over time.

Cons

• Having a lower credit score could land you a high interest rate on your loan.
• Lenders may charge an origination fee at 1% – 10% of the loan amount.
• Late or missed payments can be detrimental to your credit score.
• Interest accrues immediately on personal loans.

As noted, getting a personal loan can be a fast and straightforward process. Follow these time-tested steps for getting a $30,000 loan as seamlessly and easily as possible:

1. Decide if you really need a $30,000 loan. There are many reasons to get a personal loan, but, above all, make sure you actually need the money since $30,000 is quite a large sum to pay back. You should also be certain that $30,000 is the exact amount you need – you wouldn’t want to borrow too little, or too much and owe interest on money it wasn’t necessary for you to borrow.
2. Check your credit profile. Look over your credit report to see where your creditworthiness stands. If you spot any mistakes, contact your provider immediately to correct them. If your credit score is too low for a loan, take steps to improve your score.
3. Compare loan types and lenders. Different lenders and loan types come with varying rates, terms and fees. The more offers you review, the likelier you are to find the best deal for your needs.
4. Apply for prequalification. Getting prequalified can give you a close estimate of the loan rates and repayment terms you’ll qualify for. Prequalification requires a soft credit check, but this won’t affect your credit score. You may want to prequalify with multiple lenders for a better idea of your options for loans.
5. Gather your application documents. When you’ve chosen a lender, round up the documentation required to apply for a loan. This documentation should include personal identification and proof of income.
6. Complete a full loan application. Once you’ve completed your loan application, submit it and the attached documents to your prospective lender. The loan approval process should take 1 – 7 business days, but it could take a little more or less time.
7. Accept your loan and receive your funds. If you’re approved, your lender will contact you with an official loan offer. If you accept the amount, interest rate and repayment term, you’ll receive the funds in your bank account in a lump sum.
8. Begin the repayment process. A standard repayment period will begin 30 days after the lender delivers your loan. Consider signing up for automatic payments to make sure you never miss a payment – Rocket Loans offers a rate discount when you choose online autopay.

A personal loan isn’t your only option for borrowing $30,000. Instead, you could go with one of the options discussed next.

Sign Up For A 0% APR Credit Card

One of the biggest drawbacks of using a credit card versus a personal loan is that credit card interest rates tend to be higher. As of late April 2024, the average credit card interest rate was nearly 28%.

However, some credit card companies offer a card to new customers at a temporary 0% APR. That means you can make interest-free payments on your card for the length of the promotional period.

The interest-free period will likely only last 6 – 21 months, though, so before this rate expires, be sure you can repay the total amount borrowed. Otherwise, you could be subject to a high interest rate on whatever balance is left.

Apply For A Home Equity Loan Or HELOC

Homeowners can tap into their home equity to take out a loan. Unlike a personal loan, a home equity loan is secured by your home’s equity. Be careful, though, because if you miss payments and default on the loan, your lender will repossess your house through foreclosure.

You can also use your equity with a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which acts as a credit line you can borrow from over the course of your designated withdrawal period. Your home will likewise act as collateral for a HELOC and could be taken by your lender if you default on payments.

Borrow From Family Members Or Friends

You could potentially borrow a loan on a more informal basis from family members or friends. Family loans are typically arranged between family members without going through a financial institution, but an attorney may still be involved. An interest rate and loan term are discussed and agreed upon by the borrower and lender.

Depending on the conditions of the agreement, repayment dates and payment amounts could be lenient or strict. If you miss payments, your credit won’t take a hit, but you could damage your relationship with the family member or friend loaning you the money.

Below are some common questions that people seeking a $30,000 loan have asked. Our answers may help inform you if you’re seeking a personal loan.

How hard is it to get a $30,000 personal loan?

Since $30,000 is a large amount of money – somewhere in the middle of the average borrowing limit for personal loans – some lenders have strict eligibility requirements for loan applicants. This could mean needing a credit score of 650 or higher, and a DTI at or below 36%.

How long would it take to pay off a $30,000 loan?

This depends on your designated loan term. Personal loan repayment periods can last 12 – 60 months, and your fixed monthly payments (including interest) will be measured out to align with the length of your term. If you’re hoping to pay off a personal loan early, make sure your contract doesn’t include a prepayment penalty.

What’s the best place to get a personal loan?

Your personal bank or credit union could offer you a special deal if you’re a longtime customer. Otherwise, shop around to find the lender that can offer you the best interest rate and repayment term for your needs. You can also work with a lending platform such as Rocket Loans to come up with a loan that’ll work well for you.

Could I get a $30,000 personal loan with no credit?

Qualifying for a $30,000 loan would typically require having good to excellent credit, but it may in some cases be possible to get a loan with no credit history. For example, your personal bank or credit union might have special considerations for longtime customers, or you might opt for a secured loan (with less strict credit requirements) or ask someone to co-sign the loan with you.

No matter what you need a $30,000 loan for, you’ll likely need to be in very good financial standing to qualify for a loan amount of this size. Consider what your monthly payment might be, along with the pros and cons of taking out the loan, and think about potential alternatives for financing.

Before committing to anything, it’s a good idea to compare lenders and offers and make sure you can keep up with the loan payments.

See how much you prequalify for with Rocket Loans today!

¹For example, a 5-year $16,000 loan with a 14.55% interest rate and a 6.95% ($1,112) origination fee would have 59 scheduled monthly payments of approximately $376.83 and 1 final monthly payment of approximately $399.09 for an APR of 17.90%.