Oskaloosa at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 11,448 residents, ranking 36th of 940 places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 11,547 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.9% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 36th largest of 940 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of Iowa's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.2922, -92.6409 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Ottumwa, IA (22 mi); Newton, IA (35 mi); Indianola, IA (48 mi); Pleasant Hill, IA (50 mi); Altoona, IA (50 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: University Park, IA (1 mi); Beacon, IA (2 mi); Keomah Village, IA (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Oskaloosa
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Oskaloosa
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Oskaloosa: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Oskaloosa
Run through this list before signing anything in Oskaloosa:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.