November 16, 2025
Written by Catherine Hiles
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Catherine Hiles, CFEI®, originally hails from the U.K. and currently resides in Ohio, where she writes about finance, parenting, pets, home improvement, and more. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys running, reading, and hanging out with her husband, two young children, and energetic dog.
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and from "Poor" to "Exceptional."
A good FICO Score is between 670 and 739, while a good VantageScore is between 661 and 780.
The average U.S. FICO Score is 715, and the average VantageScore is 701.
Your credit score directly impacts loan approvals, interest rates, and rental applications
Understanding your credit score range can help you predict whether you'll be approved for loans or qualify for low interest rates. We'll break down the most common credit score ranges, explore what they mean, and suggest ways to improve your credit score range.
There are two main credit scoring models: FICO Score1 and VantageScore. Both use credit score ranges of 300 to 850. FICO also has industry-specific scoring models that range from 250 to 900.
FICO and VantageScore both use credit report data from the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to produce your consumer score.
When you apply for a loan or a credit card, the lender will review your credit score. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to repay a loan. If your score falls in a lower range, you may have more trouble getting approval for a loan or credit card.
Knowing where your credit score falls before applying for credit helps you anticipate the lender's decision. And if your score is low, you can take time to boost it before you submit that application.
FICO and VantageScore categorize credit scores into rating groups like "excellent," "good," and "poor." These ranges help lenders assess your creditworthiness – your ability to repay debt – when you apply for a loan or credit card.
A good FICO Score is 670 and above, while a good VantageScore is 661 and above. The higher your credit score, the better your chances of loan or credit card approval. A higher score can also lead to lower interest rates, which saves you money over the life of your loan.
The two scoring models have slightly different credit rating ranges. Let's explore the differences between your FICO Score and VantageScore.
Rating | FICO Score range |
|---|---|
Exceptional | 800+ |
Very good | 740–799 |
Good | 670–739 |
Fair | 580–669 |
Poor | <580 |
These ratings refer to the base FICO Scores. They may differ slightly if your lender uses an industry-specific FICO Score, like FICO Auto Scores or FICO Bankcard Scores.
VantageScore considers a credit score of 661 or higher "good," though it uses slightly different language than FICO. Here's how VantageScores are rated.
Rating | VantageScore range |
|---|---|
Superprime | 781–850 |
Prime | 661–780 |
Near prime | 601–660 |
Subprime | 300–600 |
If you have a VantageScore that falls in the "Prime" or "Superprime" range, you'll typically find it easier to get lower-interest loans. But if your score is in the "Near prime" or "Subprime" range, it's wise to work on boosting your score before applying for that mortgage or car loan.
The average credit score fluctuates from month to month, but data suggests the average American's credit score falls firmly in the "good" range:
The average FICO Score is 715 as of April 2025.
The average VantageScore is 701 as of August 2025
Although both scoring models have seen a slight drop in average scores over the past year, credit scores are generally trending up. VantageScore data shows that consumers had an average score of 691 at the end of 2020, and scores have climbed steadily since then.
Your credit score can affect your financial life in multiple ways. The biggest is your ability to borrow money.
When you apply for a car loan, credit card, personal loan, or mortgage, lenders will look at your credit score, income, debt, assets, and employment history. But your credit score can overshadow these other factors – especially if it's "Poor" or "Subprime."
Your credit scores also influence your interest rates. A higher credit score can mean a lower interest rate and vice versa. When you're borrowing even a small amount of money, you want the lowest interest rate possible to minimize your total interest payments over time.
Credit scores can also affect other parts of your financial life. For example, a landlord might perform a credit check when you apply for an apartment. A poor credit score could be a deal-breaker for getting a lease.
In addition, you might have to undergo a credit check if you're trying to get a cell phone or utility services in your name. Employers can also pull your credit report with your permission if you apply for a job.
FICO and VantageScore both use information from your credit report to calculate your credit score. However, each scoring model assigns slightly different weights to each factor when determining your score.
Here's how FICO calculates your credit score:
Factor | Percentage of FICO Score |
|---|---|
Payment history | 35% |
Amounts owed | 30% |
Length of credit history | 15% |
Credit mix | 10% |
New credit | 10% |
Payment history is the most influential factor, followed by amounts owed. You can boost your FICO Score by always paying your bills on time and keeping your credit card utilization as low as possible.
VantageScore has a slightly different approach. The main difference between VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 is how they interpret your credit data. While 3.0 looks at your credit snapshot, 4.0 evaluates patterns and trends.
Factor | Percentage of VantageScore 3.0 | Percentage of VantageScore 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
Payment history | 40% | 41% |
Depth of credit | 21% | 20% |
Credit utilization | 20% | 20% |
Balances | 11% | 11% |
Recent credit | 5% | 6% |
Available credit | 3% | 2% |
Like FICO, VantageScore considers payment history to be the most important factor. Other influential factors include depth of credit (which combines length of credit history and credit mix) and credit utilization.
Checking your credit score is easy, and often free. Here are your best options:
AnnualCreditReport.com: Get free weekly online credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. However, you can't check your credit score.
Your bank or credit card company: Check whether yours provides free credit score monitoring as a customer perk.
Personal finance apps: Numerous apps, including myFICO and Experian, offer free basic credit score monitoring.
Monitoring your credit score is smart, even if you're not trying to build or boost it. You can see how your financial behavior affects your credit score in real time – and you can catch and dispute potential errors on your credit report before they affect your credit score.
Once you know where you stand, you can work on building your credit score. Here are some of the most effective ways to do that:
Pay your bills on time every month
Keep the balances on your credit cards low
Only apply for new credit when you absolutely need it
Keep older credit accounts open, even if you're not using them
Use different types of credit, such as loans or credit cards
One way to ensure you pay bills on time each month is to set up automatic payments from your checking account. With Chime, you can also set up direct deposit and get paid up to 2 days early.2
Your credit score range paints a picture of your financial health – but it's not the full picture. Whether you want to boost a low credit score or reach that exceptional range, every positive step counts.
Check your score regularly, focus on the factors that matter most, and remember that building good credit is a marathon, not a sprint. With the right knowledge and consistent habits, you can move up through the credit ranges and unlock better financial opportunities.
Wondering how long you'll need to wait to see a change in your credit score? Learn how often credit scores update.
Some specialized scoring models can reach 900, but the most common FICO and VantageScore models cap at 850. That makes an 850 credit score the highest you can reach.
The five levels for FICO Scores are:
Poor (below 580)
Fair (580-669)
Good (670-739)
Very good (740-799)
Exceptional (800 and up).
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