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A personal loan is a financing option you can use to cover a variety of different expenses. Whether you need a loan for debt consolidation, home improvement projects or something else, a personal loan might make your goals more manageable.
Larger personal loans of $50,000 may be available to well-qualified individuals from a variety of financial institutions and online lenders. Follow these five steps to get a $50,000 loan.
1. Consider Qualification Requirements
The first step is to look over the qualification requirements from different lenders. Here are some common personal loan requirements you might encounter.
- Minimum credit score: You should check your credit score to get an idea of how your credit measures up to lender standards. We recommend a minimum score of 670.
- Income: Some lenders may want confirmation that you earn a minimum salary before issuing you a personal loan, but not all lenders will disclose the minimum income they require.
- Debt-to-income ratio (DTI). If you owe too much debt in relation to your income, you might struggle to qualify for financing, especially a $50,000 personal loan. A DTI of less than 36% is ideal, though some lenders will approve a highly qualified applicant with a ratio of up to 50%.
As you go through lender requirements, make a list of personal loans you think you might be eligible to take out. You should also keep a separate list of lenders that are unlikely to approve your application so you’ll know which ones to avoid.
2. Prequalify With Multiple Lenders
Once you have a list of lenders you think might work with you, check if any of them offer prequalification. Many lenders allow interested borrowers to prequalify for a loan, which lets you see the terms you may be eligible for when you apply, although they are not guaranteed. Prequalification typically only requires a soft credit inquiry, which has no impact on your credit score.
3. Compare Your Offers
Next, it’s time to compare your prequalified loan offers and choose the best personal loan for you. Of course, you’ll want to pay close attention to the interest rates that different lenders offer. A lower interest rate has the potential to save you a significant amount of money over your loan.
However, there are other details that could influence your decision, including:
- Fees (origination fee, application fee, prepayment penalty, etc.)
- Loan amount (can you borrow up to $50,000?)
- Repayment term
- Monthly payment
- Loan uses
- Funding speed
4. Complete and Submit Your Application
After you make your final choice, fill out and submit your official loan application. You should expect to provide more information on your full application than you did on your initial prequalification form.
Here are some of the details and documents your potential lender may request when you apply for a personal loan:
- Personal information (name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, etc.)
- Employer and job title
- Income and proof of income (e.g., paystubs, tax returns, etc.)
- Checking and savings account balances
- Copies of bank statements
- Monthly rent or mortgage payment
5. Manage and Repay Your Loan
If approved, you should receive final loan documents that confirm the specifics of your loan agreement such as your interest rate, repayment term, monthly payment and loan amount.
Lenders require you to sign your loan agreement to confirm that you agree to the terms and conditions of financing. After you sign, the lender can begin the process of sending you the loan proceeds. You may expect a direct deposit into your bank account the same day or within a few days.
Once you receive your loan proceeds, the repayment period of your loan begins. The lender will expect you to begin repaying your loan according to the terms outlined in your loan agreement. Certain lenders may offer you a rate discount if you sign up for autopay.
How To Determine If You Need a $50,000 Loan
As with any loan, calculate the exact amount you need to borrow before taking on a $50,000 loan. This will help you avoid overborrowing, which can lead to overpaying on interest and payments that are higher than necessary.
More importantly, make sure you can repay the loan you plan to take on. Once you’ve determined what payments you can afford, use a personal loan calculator to understand how different interest rates and loan terms can affect the cost of borrowing. A personal loan may not be right for you if you can’t fit loan payments into your budget.
Beyond that, be sure to consider loan fees that could add to the amount you borrow. Some lenders charge origination fees, which they take out of your loan proceeds. If you’re using the loan for debt consolidation, fees and other charges could make the new loan more expensive than your existing debt.
How to Get a $50,000 Loan With Bad Credit
Qualifying for a $50,000 personal loan with bad credit can be a challenge. Many lenders are unwilling to approve a borrower for a personal loan unless they have at least a fair credit score or better.
However, you may be able to find some lenders that are willing to work with you if you have bad credit. Of course, your income, DTI ratio and other factors will need to satisfy the lender’s borrowing criteria as well. Your credit alone doesn’t guarantee loan approval.
If you are able to qualify for a personal loan with bad credit, you should be prepared to pay higher interest rates and fees in exchange for the credit risk you represent as a bad-credit borrower. Furthermore, bad credit might limit the loan amount you’re eligible to receive.
Where to Get a $50,000 Loan
| Loan provider | Minimum credit score | Loan amounts |
|---|---|---|
| SoFi | 650 | $5,000 to $100,000 |
| Lightstream | 660 | $5,000 to $100,000 |
| Universal Credit | 580 | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Upstart | 600 | $1,000 to $50,000 |
Featured Partner Offers
1
SoFi®
Minimum credit score
650
APR range
8.99% to 29.99%
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $100,000
2
LightStream
Minimum credit score
660
APR range
5.99% to 23.99%
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $100,000
3
Universal Credit
Minimum credit score
580
APR range
11.69% to 35.99%
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $50,000
3
Universal Credit
Compare Rates
Via Credible.com's Website
4
Upstart
Minimum credit score
600
APR range
5.40% to 35.99%
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $50,000
Long-term Costs of a $50,000 Loan
It’s always wise to calculate the cost of a loan before you make your final decision about whether to accept an offer. You can use tools like the Forbes Advisor personal loan calculator to estimate monthly payments and the overall interest you would pay throughout the life of a loan.
If you’re taking out a lower-rate loan to consolidate debt, a new personal loan might help you save money in the long run. But even in this scenario, you have to commit to not running up additional debt after the consolidation. Otherwise, you could wind up with bigger debt problems down the road.
Bottom Line
Taking out a $50,000 personal loan could be helpful in many different financial scenarios. However, it’s important to make an honest evaluation of your situation before you commit to such a large amount of debt.
If you believe that a $50,000 loan makes sense for you, be sure to shop around for the best deal available. Getting the lowest interest rate and fees possible matters, especially when borrowing larger amounts of money.
