Finding personal loans for a 600 credit score may be a challenge, but many lenders work with borrowers who have fair or poor credit.

Just keep in mind that qualifying for the best rates will be more difficult if you have fair credit. You’ll need to shop around and compare rates and terms to find a loan that will work for your unique financial needs. 

It’s possible to get a personal loan when you have a credit score of 600. In fact, several lenders specialize in offering fair credit loans. 

Keep in mind that with a lower credit score, lenders may consider you as more of a risky bet to pay off your debt. Because of this, you’ll likely have to pay higher interest rates than you would with a higher credit score.

Here’s an example to illustrate how having a lower credit score — and therefore a higher APR — can increase the cost of personal loan repayment: Let’s assume you plan to borrow $10,000 and repay it over three years…

If you’re struggling to qualify for a personal loan, consider applying with a cosigner with good credit to increase your chances of getting approved. This could even help get you a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own.

You can add any willing cosigner to your personal loan application. But be aware that cosigners assume equal responsibility for repayment, so if you struggle to keep up with your monthly dues, it would negatively impact your cosigner’s credit, too. Understanding the obligations — and risks — of cosigning is critical before you apply for a loan.

Related: Learn more about getting a personal loan on Credible.com

Here are Credible’s partner lenders that offer personal loans for borrowers with credit scores in the 600s: 

Best for: Consolidating high-interest debt

Achieve offers interest rate discounts to borrowers who want to use their loan specifically for debt consolidation. You can borrow from $5,000 up to $50,000 with repayment terms from two to five years. Although Achieve does charge an origination fee up to 6.99% of the loan amount, you won’t be charged prepayment penalties for paying the loan off early.

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Best for: Borrowers with lower credit scores

Avant offers personal loans to borrowers with a credit score as low as 580, so it’s perfect for borrowers with bad or fair credit. You can borrow $2,000 to $35,000 with repayment terms from two to five years, and get your loan funded as soon as the next day.

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Best for: Home improvement and debt consolidation

Best Egg’s loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including credit card refinancing or adoption. You can borrow from $2,000 up to $50,000 with repayment terms from two to five years with Best Egg, but you won’t get the best rates if you don’t have a credit score of 700 or higher.

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Best for: Longer repayment periods

If you’re looking for more than the average two- to five-year repayment period, Discover may have the loan for you. They offer repayment periods from three to seven years, which can help you get monthly payments that fit your budget. You can borrow $2,500 to $35,000 with Discover.

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Best for: Consolidating credit card debt

Happy Money helps you pay off your high-interest credit card debt, which can help you boost your credit score. They do this by consolidating your credit card bills into a single monthly payment, and you can even opt to have them pay your credit card company directly. You can borrow between $5,000 and $40,000 with Happy Money, and repay the loan over two to five years.

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Best for: Direct payment to creditors

LendingClub will work with you to pay off your creditors directly. Plus, your entire credit profile is evaluated to determine your eligibility for a loan — not just your credit score. This might help some borrowers  qualify more easily. You can borrow as little as $1,000 up to $40,000 with a three- or five-year repayment term via LendingClub.

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Best for: Next-day funding

LendingPoint offers speedy personal loans to borrowers with a fair credit score, offering funding as soon as the next day. LendingPoint loans are flexible and can be used for a variety of purposes — from debt consolidation to home improvement or vacations.  You can borrow $2,000 to $36,500 with LendingPoint and you’ll have two to six years to repay the loan.

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Best for: Large loans and same-day funding

Personal loans from LightStream can be funded as fast as the same day of approval, with the option to borrow from $5,000 to as high as $100,000. Most LightStream loans come with repayment terms from two to seven years, but home improvement loans carry terms as long as 12 years. In addition to your credit score, LightStream considers your entire credit profile to determine your eligibility for a loan.

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Best for: Secured loans

OneMain Financial provides loans between $1,500 and $20,000 to borrowers with all kinds of credit scores, making it a worthy option for borrowers with a 600 credit score. The company evaluates your total profile when approving loans, not just your credit score. Just be mindful that OneMain Financial might qualify you only for a secured loan, which requires posting collateral that could be seized if your repayment were to go awry. Repayment terms for personal loans from OneMain Financial range from two to five years.

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Best for: Small loan amounts

PenFed is a great option for borrowers looking for small loan amounts. You can borrow as little as $600 up to $50,000, and use the funds for expenses like home improvements or medical bills. You might also like the idea of borrowing from a not-for-profit credit union.

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Best for: Peer-to-peer loans

Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending platform, which matches borrowers to investors. A so-called “P2P” loan might be more accessible if you have a thin or checkered credit file. You can borrow up to $50,000 with Prosper and take two to five years to repay your loan.

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Best for: Co-borrowing

SoFi offers loan amounts up to $100,000, making it a good choice for homeowners looking to renovate without tapping their home equity. SoFi also allows co-borrowers on their loans, which can help you submit a stronger loan application and possibly get more favorable terms than you’d get on your own. You can also get terms up to seven years, which can help a loan payment fit into your budget.

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Best for: Fast loan decisions

If you have fair credit but need funds fast, Upgrade could be the right choice. They fund loans within a day, and determine your eligibility for a loan based on multiple aspects of your credit profile, rather  than just your credit score.

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Best for: Borrowers with little or no credit history

In addition to your credit score, Upstart also looks at your education and job history when approving loans, so you might qualify even with little to no credit history. You can borrow between $1,000 and $50,000 with Upstart, with repayment terms from three to five years.

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To find the “best companies,” Credible looked at loan and lender data points from 10 categories to give you a well-rounded perspective on each of our partner lenders. Here’s what we considered:

Applying for a personal loan can be simple, and many lenders let you fill out an application online. Follow these steps to apply for a loan: 

1. Check your credit score: It’s a good idea to know where your credit stands before you apply for a personal loan. You can use AnnualCreditReport.com to check your credit report for free with each of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Be sure to check for any errors and dispute them with the appropriate bureau to potentially boost your score.
2. Compare lenders and loan options: Once you know where your credit stands, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare as many lenders as possible. This will help you get an idea of what rates and terms you’ll qualify for.
3. Select the right fit: When comparing lenders, consider not only interest rates and repayment terms, but also any fees the lender charges. It’s also wise to use a personal loan payment calculator to confirm your potential loan payments would fit within your monthly budget.
4. Fill out the loan application and get approved: After you find the right lender for your unique financial situation, it’s time to submit an application. Lenders may ask for basic information like your name and address, as well as financial information, such as pay stubs or tax returns.
5. Sign your loan agreement: Once the lender approves your loan application, you’ll sign a loan agreement. The loan agreement outlines how much you’re borrowing and when you agree to pay it back.
6. Receive your funds: After you sign your loan agreement, the lender will release your money to you (usually via direct deposit) or, in some cases for debt consolidation, directly to your creditors. Many lenders are able to fund personal loans within one to three business days after approval, but others may take up to a week.

When you take out a personal loan, consider all of the costs associated with borrowing. There’s the principal balance, which is the amount you borrow, and the interest, which is the monthly cost of borrowing.

Before you apply for a personal loan, be sure to check for any additional fees the lender charges. Other fees might include:

You can use a personal loan calculator to estimate how much you’ll pay for a personal loan. Create or fine-tune your overall budget to confirm that your prospective personal loan payment wouldn’t strain your finances.

Related: Learn more about getting a personal loan on Credible.com

The amount you can borrow will vary by lender, but you can typically take out a loan between $1,000 and $50,000 with a 600 credit score. Keep in mind that the more you borrow, the more you’ll pay in interest. Make sure to only borrow what  you need — and can afford to repay.

Yes, you can get a debt consolidation loan when you have a 600 credit score. In fact, consolidating your debt and simplifying your payments might help you improve your credit. Look for lenders who work with fair credit borrowers, and keep in mind  that you might have to pay higher interest rates than someone with good credit.

You don’t need to wait to have the perfect credit score before you apply for a loan. But you’ll qualify for better rates and terms if you can raise your score to 670 or higher.

If you can wait to take out a personal loan, it may be worth it to take the time to improve your credit before applying. You can improve your credit score by paying down existing debts, making all of your payments on time, and disputing any errors on your credit report (such as incorrect balances or charge-offs) with the appropriate credit bureau.

You can also consider applying for a personal loan with a creditworthy cosigner to increase your chances of getting your application approved. Even if you don’t need a cosigner to qualify for a loan, you might be able to get a better interest rate than you’d get on your own.

While reviewing your credit report, lenders may also look at your debt-to-income ratio, credit history, number of open accounts, and recent credit activity. Whether you apply with a cosigner or co-borrower can influence their decision as well.