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.
It is not possible to get a score of 900. Older models of the FICO® and VantageScore® went up to 900, and there are other specialized scores that have different ranges going up to 900. The FICO Auto and Bankcard Score 9, for instance, ranges between 250 and 900.
Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit.
But he has one more thing that most people would really, really love to have: a credit score that is higher than almost everyone else in the country. Pavelka, 56, has a credit score of 848 out of 850.
A credit score of 1,000 is not possible because credit scoring models simply do not go that high. According to Experian, some credit scoring models reach upwards of 900 or 950, but those are industry-specific scores that are only used by certain institutions.
As you can see in the scoring models below, achieving a 900 score is not possible today. The VantageScore credit score ranges are: Excellent: 781 to 850. Good: 661 to 780.
Generally, credit scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest possible credit score. But it's important to note that you typically have more than one credit score. And they may differ depending on the credit-scoring company and when they were calculated.
Fortunately, no one's credit score can equal zero – the range for FICO scores is 300-850 – and even people with poor or bad credit have a credit score of at least 300. A “no credit score” means there is insufficient information for a credit score calculator to compute a score.
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.
Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data. Since so few people have such high scores, lenders don't split the 800+ credit score crowd into smaller groups that get separate offers.
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).
Depending on where you're starting from, it takes several years to build a good credit score. You need to have a few years of only positive response towards your payment and a good credit report. Getting a perfect 900 credit score will demand huge financial discipline and above all time and patience.
A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. “Excellent” is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.
An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
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.
However, with a 718 credit score, you should qualify for rates on-par with national averages. Also, even though your score qualifies you for a mortgage, it's important to know that the lower your score is, the stronger the rest of your qualifications are generally expected to be.
So while paying rent and having it reported to credit bureaus can make a positive impact on your credit score, it will only ever be one of many ways to drive your credit score higher.
Missed bill payments, high credit utilization, bankruptcy, and a number of other factors can cause your credit score to drop.
Having no credit is better than having bad credit, though both can hold you back. Bad credit shows potential lenders a negative track record of managing credit. Meanwhile, no credit means lenders can't tell how you'll handle repaying debts because you don't have much experience.
In general, a landlord will look for a credit score that is at least “good,” which is generally in the range of 670 to 739.
What is the lowest credit score possible? Most of the credit scores that lenders use in the United States, including most versions of the FICO Score, range from 300 to 850. Therefore, most financial professionals generally accept that 300 is the lowest credit score a consumer can have.
Do you start with 0 and work your way up, or do you begin with a higher score? According to Experian™, when it comes to your starting credit score, you actually won't have an exact number until about 3–6 months after you've opened up your line of credit, but could be sooner.