College Station at a glance
- Population: 125,192 residents, the 31st-largest of 1,224 places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 120,524 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.9% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 31st of the state's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 97% of Texas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 30.5852, -96.2964 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Houston, TX (77 mi); Round Rock, TX (81 mi); Waco, TX (86 mi); Austin, TX (89 mi); Killeen, TX (92 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Bryan, TX (8 mi); Snook, TX (12 mi); Wixon Valley, TX (12 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in College Station
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Texas lending rules that apply in College Station
The table lists the Texas rules that apply to a loan made in College Station, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in College Station
Before you commit to a personal loan in College Station, work through these steps:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.