What is a good credit rating?
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714.
If your credit score is between 725 to 759 it's likely to be considered very good. A credit score of 760 and above is generally considered to be an excellent credit score. The credit score range is anywhere between 300 to 900. The higher your score, the better your credit rating.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
For most credit-scoring models, including VantageScore 3.0 and FICO, the highest credit score possible is 850. We were able to speak to two Americans who belong to the exclusive FICO 850 Club: Brad Stevens of Austin, Texas, and John Ulzheimer of Atlanta.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 718, according to the latest FICO data from April 2023. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Following NerdWallet's general guidelines, a good credit score is within the 690 to 719 range on the standard 300-850 scale, regardless of age. Credit scoring companies have their own measures. FICO's good range is 670-739 and VantageScore's, which it labels “prime,” is 661-780.
The 5 Cs of Credit analysis are - Character, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, and Conditions. They are used by lenders to evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness and include factors such as the borrower's reputation, income, assets, collateral, and the economic conditions impacting repayment.
What credit score is needed to buy a house?
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.
What is a bad FICO credit score? A bad FICO credit score may fall in the fair or poor FICO range. FICO considers a credit score to be fair if it's between 580 and 669, and poor if it's below 580. According to FICO, borrowers with a FICO score in a lower range tend to be viewed as a credit risk.
There isn't a set credit score that each person starts out with. Instead, if you don't have any credit history, you likely don't have a score at all.
- Average credit utilization ratio: 4%
- Total late payments on credit report: 0.
- Average age of oldest account: 30 years.
- Average number of credit cards: 6.
- Average credit card balance: $2,500.
- Average auto loan balance: $17,000.
- Average mortgage balance: $205,000.
- Review your credit reports.
- Get a handle on bill payments.
- Use 30% or less of your available credit.
- Limit requests for new credit.
- Pad out a thin credit file.
- Keep your old accounts open and deal with delinquencies.
- Consider consolidating your debt.
- Track your progress with credit monitoring.
Paying your entire debt by the due date spares you from interest charges on your balance. Paying off your credit card debt in full also helps keep a lower credit utilization ratio, which measures the amount of your available revolving credit you're using.
When you have high-interest consumer debt, paying it down first can help you solve ongoing problems with managing your money. The more you reduce your principal and the amount of interest you owe, the more money you'll have in your budget each month to devote to savings or other line items.
Mississippi has the lowest average FICO credit score of all states in 2023 at 680, which is 38 points below the national average. Mississippi also had the lowest average credit score in 2018, at 666.
FAQ about paying off a car loan early and your credit
In the short term, paying off a debt and closing credit accounts can result in a drop in credit scores. But over time, it can improve a person's DTI ratio, which lenders may look at when considering your credit application.
What is the hardest credit score to get?
Most credit scores that lenders use in the United States range from 300 to 850. And when people talk about achieving the “highest” credit score possible, they're usually talking about the ever-elusive 850 FICO® Score. Earning a perfect 850 FICO Score isn't common, but it's certainly possible.
- Exceptional Credit: 800 to 850.
- Very Good Credit: 740 to 799.
- Good Credit: 670 to 739.
- Fair Credit: 580 to 669.
- Poor Credit: Under 580.
Most older Americans have been building credit for much of their lives, and this population tends to have higher FICO scores than average. But being older doesn't mean you no longer have to worry about your credit score.
CREDIT SCORE RANGES ▼ | RATING |
---|---|
800+ | Exceptional |
740-799 | Very Good |
670-739 | Good |
580-669 | Fair |
Generation | Average credit card debt |
---|---|
Silent generation (77+) | $3,316 |
Baby boomers (58–76) | $6,245 |
Generation X (42–57) | $8,134 |
Millennials (26–41) | $5,649 |
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