Oberlin at a glance
- Population: about 1,605, 139th by size in Kansas of 625 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,638 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.0% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 139th by size among 625 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 78% of the Census places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.8230, longitude -100.5307 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): McCook, NE (27 mi); Norton, KS (34 mi); Colby, KS (41 mi); Oakley, KS (51 mi); Phillipsburg, KS (64 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Herndon, KS (15 mi); Dresden, KS (15 mi); Jennings, KS (16 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Oberlin
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Oberlin
The Kansas rate caps and licensing rules that reach Oberlin are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Oberlin
Before you commit to a personal loan in Oberlin, 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.