How to get a $5,000 loan

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• With a $5,000 loan, you can fund a new home improvement project, pay down existing debt, and cover medical expenses. 
• In order to be approved for a $5,000 loan you must meet all of your lender's qualification requirements.
• If you have a bad credit score, you can still take out a $5,000 personal loan with specialized lenders who charge higher interest rates. 

Whether you're trying to fund a new home improvement project, consolidate other debts, or cover medical expenses, a $5,000 loan can help. 

You can get a $5,000 personal loan from a credit union, bank, or online lender. There are a lot of choices, and it's important to compare different loan offers in order to get the best rates, fees, and benefits.

See Insider's picks for the best personal loans >>

How to get a $5,000 loan

You'll need to meet some lender qualification requirements before you can be approved for a $5,000 loan. These can vary by lender, but generally include:

• Income and employment: Lenders want to ensure that you can repay your loan, so you'll need proof of employment, household income, and other key financial information. You can use documents like pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, or a job verification letter to verify your employment. A job verification letter should include crucial information like when you were hired, salary, and job title. 
• Credit score and history: Lenders want to check for possible "red flags" in your credit history, such as late payments, bankruptcy, various new lines of credit, or maxing out your cards. Having any of these red flags can significantly hurt your chances of getting approved for a $5,000 personal loan. Most lenders are usually looking for a credit score at least in the mid-600s. 
• Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: This is a metric used by most lenders to view how much of your gross monthly income is going toward debt payments. Debt payments include how much you spend on credit cards, car payments, student loans, and other loan payments. A lender may calculate your DTI ratio to determine if you can reasonably afford a $5,000 loan without exceeding limits. Ideally, your DTI ratio should be 36% or lower. A 43% DTI ratio is considered OK.

Get prequalified

Before submitting an application, you can prequalify at multiple lenders to compare offers and ensure that you are eligible before submitting a formal application. Most lenders offer prequalification as a way to estimate the rates and terms they can offer without hurting your credit score.

During the prequalifying process, lenders will conduct a basic overview of your financial and personal information, including income, employment status, Social Security number, monthly debt payments, and loan purpose. At this stage, they'll do what's known as a soft credit inquiry, which does not have any effect on your credit score. 

Prequalifying for a loan doesn't guarantee you'll be approved. The formal approval process for taking out a personal loan is more in-depth, and lenders may catch something they didn't during the prequalifying process. You'll also have to agree to a hard credit inquiry, which will probably reduce your credit score slightly for a short time.

Before submitting an official application you should also consider the type of loans the lender offers, how long the terms for the loans are, and if the lender charges fees.

Next Step: See if you're prequalified for a loan without impacting your credit score.

How to qualify for a $5,000 loan with bad credit

Credit scores are key in determining whether or not you'll be able to pay back your loan. Nowadays, it's easier than ever to check your credit score for free. 

Your credit score is one of the biggest factors that affects the interest rate you'll pay. Folks with good to excellent credit often get the lowest rates. The reverse can be said for bad credit scores. Credit scores of 580 or under are considered "poor." A low credit score can significantly limit your chances of getting approved for a $5,000 loan. Most lenders require a minimum score around 670, which is considered a "fair" score.

While you can qualify for and take out loans for bad credit, they'll come with much higher interest rates. Credit union personal loans are often more flexible and could be a good choice if you don't have great credit. The National Credit Union Administration caps the APRs they can charge on loans at 18%.

Best $5,000 loan offers

If you're looking to take out a $5,000 loan, here are some lenders worth considering:

LightStream Personal Loan

LightStream Personal Loan - Editorial Name Only is geared toward borrowers with excellent credit looking to take out a loan for medical debt, debt consolidation, and home remodeling. It offers the lowest APR compared to similar lenders (ranging from 7.99% to 24.99%), doesn't charge fees, and offers a wide range of borrowing amounts. But it doesn't offer preapprovals.

LightStream requires a minimum credit score of 660. 

SoFi Personal Loan

SoFi Personal Loan - Editorial Name Only is best for borrowers on the low end of a good credit score (minimum of 680) and with annual incomes of $100,000 or more (according to the loan comparison site Credible). It has competitive APRs, doesn't have fees, and even offers unemployment protection.

But keep in mind that you can't take out loans of less than $5,000 and there's no in-person support. Also, borrowers with excellent credit scores may be able to get a better rate from LightStream. 

PenFed Credit Union Personal Loan

PenFed Credit Union Personal Loan - Editorial Name Only is best for borrowers with fair credit scores (at least 580) looking to take out a small loan. It offers loans from as little as $600 and may be a good fit for a $5,000 loan. 

There is, however, a membership requirement for personal loans. Folks who served, or are currently serving, in the military can qualify for membership. Otherwise, you'll need to open a PenFed savings account, which requires a $5 minimum deposit. 

Avant Personal Loan

Avant Personal Loan - Editorial Name Only is best for borrowers with low credit (a minimum of 600) looking to take out a loan as little as $2,000 and as high as $35,000. Although Avant does offer loans to folks with bad credit, its APRs are on the higher end of what's available. Therefore, borrowers with low credit are likely to get charged a much higher APR on their loans. Avant also charges multiple fees, such as an administration fee of up to 4.75%. 

Upstart Personal Loan

Upstart Personal Loan - Editorial Name Only is best for borrowers with a limited credit history, bad credit (minimum of 300), and small loans. Uphold is unique as it examines not only factors like your credit score but also your employment history, education history, and area of study. It offers loans as low as $1,000 but residents of Massachusetts, Ohio, New Mexico, and Georgia have higher loan minimums. 

Its maximum APRs are on the the higher side of what's available in the market. Upstart may also charge you origination fees and late fees. 

How to get a $5,000 loan FAQs

How much would a $5,000 loan cost per month?

The monthly cost of a $5,000 loan can vary greatly based on the regular annual percentage rate (APR) and the terms of your loan. For example, a $5,000 loan with an 8% interest rate over 12 months would cost you $434.94 per month. But the same amount with the same rate over three years would cost you $122.05 per month. 

Is it hard to get a $5,000 personal loan?

Borrowers who meet a lender's qualification requirements usually don't find it hard to get approved for a $5,000 personal loan. However, those with low credit scores may have a hard time qualifying. If your score is too low, you can apply to lenders that specialize in approving loans for those with low credit scores, or you can take steps to improve your score. 

What are the qualification for a $5000 loan? 

Lenders will have their own set of qualification requirements for loans but generally, lenders look at a borrower's credit score and history, employment status, income, and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

Should you take out a $5,000 loan?

Make sure you've considered all your options before applying for a loan. A $5,000 loan isn't unreasonably large. Moreover, if you have a bad credit score or a high DTI ratio, you may be offered a loan with a very high-interest rate. In that case, taking out a personal loan may end up costing you way more in the long run. 

If you go through with taking out a $5,000 loan, remember to spend the funds wisely and stick to your goals. You have to pay your loan back in full, so don't exceed your spending limits or spend too quickly. Borrow only what is necessary and don't commit to unreasonable monthly payments.