$30,000 Personal Loans

A $30,000 personal loan could help you cover the costs of a significant expense, such as a home renovation, medical bills, or a wedding. If you can qualify for a competitive rate, a personal loan could also be a strategic way to consolidate and pay off debt. 

You can find personal loans for $30,000 from online lenders, banks, and credit unions. Here are our recommendations for lenders that offer $30,000 personal loans with competitive rates, flexible repayment terms, and other appealing features. 

Where to get $30,000 personal loans

We’ve selected five popular lenders that stand out for borrowers looking to take out a $30,000 personal loan and have reviewed them below.

Click the lender’s name in the table to see more details about its $30,000 loans.

Lender	Best for
Credible	Marketplace
SoFi	Good credit
LightStream	Excellent credit
Upgrade	Fair credit
Happy Money	Credit card debt

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Credible – Best marketplace

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LendEDU rating: 5.0 out of 5

• Compare prequalified rates
• Quick and easy application process
• No fees

Credible is an excellent choice for those seeking a $30,000 personal loan due to its vast network of lending partners. As a marketplace, it allows borrowers to compare prequalified offers from multiple lenders, helping you find the best rate and terms. Credible asks how much you want to borrow while filling out the application to ensure you only receive offers from lenders that match your loan requirements.

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SoFi – Best for good credit

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LendEDU rating: 5.0 out of 5

• Competitive rates for borrowers with good credit
• No fees required

SoFi is an excellent choice for borrowers with good credit looking to borrow $30,000. It offers competitive rates and no required fees, making it an affordable option.

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LightStream – Best for excellent credit

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LendEDU rating: 4.8 out of 5

• Low rates for borrowers with excellent credit
• Personalized loan offers
• Rate Beat program to beat other offers

LightStream stands out for those with excellent credit. It offers some of the lowest possible rates on personal loans, and borrowers can get up to $100,000 in funds. Its Rate Beat program can lead to a 0.10 percentage point reduction in your interest rate from another lender if it’s better than LightStream offers.

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Upgrade – Best for fair credit

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LendEDU rating: 4.9 out of 5

• Transparent terms and competitive rates
• Simple application process with quick funding

Upgrade may be suitable if you have fair credit. The lender offers an online application process and competitive rates for those with less-than-stellar credit. Upgrade’s flexible repayment options and the potential for direct payment to creditors make it a practical choice for debt consolidation and other financial needs.

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Happy Money – Best for credit card debt

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LendEDU rating: 4.8 out of 5

• Loans for credit card debt consolidation
• Lender pays your creditors with approved funds
• Collection of educational content

Happy Money is an excellent choice for those looking to borrow $30,000 for credit card debt consolidation. This is the only acceptable use of its loan, which allows the lender to help borrowers become debt-free. Member advocates are available to speak to for human support.

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How to qualify for a $30,000 personal loan 

The specific criteria to qualify for a personal loan with higher limits will vary by lender, but most look for the following: 

• Fair or good credit: Your credit is a significant factor in your ability to qualify for a personal loan. Minimum requirements will vary by lender, but most want at least a fair credit score of 580 or a good score of 670. 
• Steady income: Lenders also want to know you make enough money each month to afford payments on your $30,000 personal loan. You might need to upload pay stubs or an offer of employment to verify your income when you apply for a loan. 
• Acceptable debt-to-income ratio (DTI): Lenders may also consider your DTI, which compares your monthly debt payments with your gross income, to ensure you can afford another loan payment. Most prefer a DTI under 36%.  
• Age and residency: You’ll need to live in a state where the lender operates and typically must be at least 18 years old to borrow a personal loan. 

If bad credit makes qualifying for a $30,000 personal loan difficult, you may still have options. For one, work on improving your credit before you apply. Making on-time payments on your debts and reducing your credit utilization could help your credit score. 

You could also apply with a creditworthy cosigner or pursue a secured personal loan backed with collateral, such as a vehicle or savings account. Secured personal loans can have more lenient credit requirements than unsecured loans, but you risk losing your collateral if you don’t repay your loan. 

Secured vs. unsecured loans: Our expert’s take

Erin Kinkade

CFP®

Typically, collateral will increase your approval odds if you have poor credit or offer lower interest rates than an unsecured personal loan. If you take out a secured loan, be aware the lender can seize that asset if the loan is delinquent or in default. If you don’t want to risk losing an asset and can be approved with a reasonable interest rate without putting up collateral, I would suggest choosing an unsecured loan. As always, keep in touch with the lender—no matter what type of loan you choose—if you need to make a late payment or you experience financial hardship. Many lenders will work with you by offering a grace period or other options.

How much is the monthly payment on a $30,000 personal loan? 

When you borrow a $30,000 personal loan, you’ll often pay it back monthly over a certain period. Your monthly payments and overall costs depend on your APR and repayment term. 

A higher APR will mean larger monthly payments and higher interest charges over the life of your loan. A lower APR could reduce monthly payments and make your loan more affordable. According to the Federal Reserve, the average APR on a two-year personal loan in January 2024 is 12.17%. 

The repayment terms you choose will also influence your loan costs. For example, a shorter term of three years will have higher monthly payments but lower long-term costs than a longer term of seven years. 

When selecting your repayment term, balance low interest costs with a monthly payment you can afford. Here are examples of personal loans for $30,000 with different APRs and repayment terms: 

APR	Term	Monthly payment	Total amount repaid
9%	2 years	$1,371	$32,893
12%	3 years	$996	$35,871
15%	5 years	$714	$42,822
18%	7 years	$631	$52,965

Other ways to borrow $30,000 

Personal loans are a flexible form of financing for almost any expense, but some may have better options. Here are other ways to borrow $30,000: 

• Home equity line of credit (HELOC): If you’re a homeowner, you may be able to tap into your home equity with a HELOC, a revolving line of credit you can draw on as needed and pay back along the way. Many HELOCs have a draw period that spans 10 years and a repayment period that may last up to 20 years. HELOCs are a type of “second mortgage” secured by your home. 
• Home equity loan: Home equity loans are another option for homeowners looking to borrow $30,000. Unlike a HELOC, a home equity loan gives you a fixed amount upfront, which you repay monthly over a set period. These loans are also secured and use your home as collateral. 
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) loan: You may be able to borrow a P2P loan for $30,000, which comes from individual investors rather than a bank or credit union. The borrowing requirements for P2P loans can be more flexible than the ones for traditional personal loans. In some cases, though, the fees may be higher. 
• Credit card: Borrowers with good credit may qualify for a credit card with a limit of $30,000 or higher. But keep in mind: Credit card debt can be a burden to repay due to high APRs and fees. Borrowers with good credit may consider a card with a 0% APR promotional period, which could span a year or longer. 

Method	Best for
Personal loan	Borrowers with fair or good credit
HELOC	Homeowners with variable costs
Home equity loan	Homeowners with predictable expenses
Peer-to-peer loan	Borrowers with weak credit
Credit card	Borrowers with solid credit, high income, and a plan for repayment