 TITLE: What Credit Score Does a Cosigner Need? CONTENT: Who Qualifies as a Cosigner?\n----------------------------\nTo be a cosigner, your friend or family member must meet certain requirements. Although there might not be a required credit score, a cosigner typically will need credit in the very good or exceptional range—670 or better. A credit score in that range generally qualifies someone to be a cosigner, but each lender will have its own requirement.\nIn addition to having a good or excellent credit score, your potential cosigner will need to show that they have enough income to pay back the loan in the event you default on it. If they lack sufficient income, they won't be able to offset the lender's risk and may not be able to cosign.\nTo determine whether a potential cosigner has enough income, the lender will likely calculate their debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which compares their total monthly debt payments with their earnings. It's a good idea to figure out your potential cosigner's DTI on your own before they apply to be your cosigner. To do so, add up all of their monthly bills, including the new loan payment they'd be liable for in the event you default, and divide that amount by their monthly pretax income. If their DTI is less than 50%, they should be good to go. END