Personal loans in Lawrence, KS
Lawrence is a KS community of roughly 96,207 people, the 6th-largest place in Kansas. Its population grew about 1.3% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate. Because personal-loan pricing follows the borrower rather than the ZIP code, the most useful steps before applying in Lawrence are to check your credit report, compare at least three offers, and model the payment first.
What is specific to borrowing in Lawrence
- Population: 96,207 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate) — the 6th-largest place of 625 in Kansas.
- Population trend: Its population grew about 1.3% between the 2020 Census base and the 2023 estimate.
- Size percentile: larger than about 99% of the Census places in Kansas.
- Location: 38.9596, -95.2655 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Topeka (24 mi); Olathe (25 mi); Kansas City (30 mi); Overland Park (31 mi); Kansas City (40 mi). Larger metros often have more walk-in branches, but online lenders serve Lawrence on the same terms.
- Nearest smaller towns: Lecompton (9 mi); Eudora (9 mi); Perry (10 mi).
Kansas lending rules that apply in Lawrence
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
How a personal loan works in Lawrence
A personal loan can be a reasonable tool for consolidating higher-rate debt, covering a planned expense, or smoothing a one-time cost — but only if the payment fits your budget without new borrowing. The common mistake is to consolidate a credit-card balance into a personal loan and then run the cards back up, which doubles the debt rather than resolving it. Decide what the loan is for, and what you will do differently afterward, before you apply.
Before you apply in Lawrence
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run the numbers with our personal loan calculator so you know the payment before a lender tells you.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check the lender is licensed in Kansas using the regulator listed above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.
Advertising disclosure: Loansloth may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. Read the full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Lawrence?
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Lawrence?
Does a personal loan in Lawrence require collateral?
Will shopping for a loan in Lawrence hurt my credit?
Nearby places
- Lecompton, KS — population 595
- Perry, KS — population 851
- Eudora, KS — population 6,466
- Baldwin City, KS — population 4,929
- Linwood, KS — population 425
- Tonganoxie, KS — population 6,102
- McLouth, KS — population 835
- Oskaloosa, KS — population 1,080