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Credit Score Chart: Learn About Credit Score Ranges

Last Updated: August 16, 2024

4 min read

Table of contents

What is a credit score?

What are FICO® Credit Score ranges?

Monitor your credit report to stay in the right credit score range

Key Points:

“Exceptional” credit scores can mean a person qualifies for most credit card offers, depending on other elements of the application.
A credit score in the “very good” and “good” range tells credit issuers that a consumer typically pays back debts dependably.
If a credit score falls in the “fair” range, it indicates that a credit seeker may hold high amounts of debt.

The other day, Aisha took the plunge and bought a new sofa. Before making the purchase, she decided on two things. First, not to drain her savings and instead look for a new credit card offer—one with a low interest rate or 0% intro APR on new purchases. Second, to check her credit score to see what her chances were to be approved for a new credit card. By verifying her credit score, Aisha was able to make an informed decision about her purchase and get the best credit card offer.

If you review and understand your credit score, like Aisha did, you've taken the first step toward financial peace of mind. That information can help you make better decisions about your spending, borrowing, and savings practices.

With this knowledge you can also take proactive steps to stay on top of your credit score, paving the way for a more secure financial future.

What is a credit score?

Your credit score is a three-digit number that has a strong influence on your financial life. It can impact how much interest you’ll have to pay on loans and credit cards, or whether you’ll be able to get them at all. It could also affect the kind of home or car you’ll be able to buy.

What are FICO® Credit Score ranges?

The Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) makes a credit score using their own algorithms.¹ Most FICO^® Scores fall in the range from 300 to 850. The higher your score, the less of a risk you are to potential lenders.

Note that each of the three major credit bureaus might use their own credit scoring model to calculate a score. While the weighting systems are quite similar, sometimes lenders only report information to one or two bureaus, so you may see a different credit score based on that information.

Did you know?

If you’re a Discover^® Cardmember, you can get a free Credit Scorecard with your FICO^® Credit Score and important information behind it, like credit utilization, number of missed payments, number of recent inquiries, length of credit history, and total number of accounts.²

Learn More

There are five levels of credit score ranges on the FICO^® Score scale.

Exceptional: A score of 800 or above puts you in the highest FICO^® Credit Score range. Falling anywhere in the “exceptional” range means you should qualify for most credit card offers when you meet other application requirements.
Very Good: The “very good” range usually means you have a credit score of 744–799. Lenders consider people in this range dependable borrowers.
Good: If your score is between 670–739, you’ll fall into the “good” range. This means you’re considered dependable, but you may have had a late payment in the past, carry higher debt levels, or you may not have a long credit history.
Fair: A credit score of 580–669 means you’re in the “fair” range. Consumers in this range likely made a payment that was 30 days late or more, carry a high debt load, or have other negative information on their report, and won’t be eligible for the best interest rates.
Poor: When you have defaulted on loans or frequently pay your bills more than a month late, your credit score is likely to be poor. With a range of 580 or below, a poor credit score may not qualify you for a credit card.

Climb the credit score chart

People with a good credit score have a long history of making their credit card and loan payments on time. Payment history typically makes up 35% of the total calculation.

The total amount you owe typically makes up another 30% of your credit score. Other considerations are length of credit history, about 15%; credit mix (having accounts such as mortgages, loans and credit cards), about 10%; and new credit (or credit inquiries received from new creditors) about 10%.

Monitor your credit report to stay in the right credit score range

The data in your credit report directly affects your FICO^® Scores and it’s a good idea to check your credit report once per year through the free resource, AnnualCreditReport.com. Similarly, if you sign up for a credit score service or your lender provides you with a score, you’ll know where you stand. When you know more about your score, you make better decisions about financial health.

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