Credit Score Ranges: Where Do You Stand?

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.

What is a good FICO Score?

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.

What is a good VantageScore?

VantageScore considers a credit score of 661 or higher “good,” though it uses slightly different language than FICO. Here’s how VantageScores are rated.

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:

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.

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.