It might also be hard to achieve an 800 credit score until you have a mix of credit under your name. We're not saying you should take out a mortgage or a car loan just to get your credit score over 800, but if the only credit accounts on your file are credit cards, you might struggle to reach that 800 credit score.
It can take a long time to build a credit score in the 800 range. To boost your chances, make sure you pay your bills on time, avoid carrying debt from month-to-month, and aim to have more than one type of credit in your arsenal.
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.
The longer you've been using credit, the more it means to your credit score. Members of the 800 Club average just under 22 years of using credit. Even the youngest ones, Millennials, average more than 14 years.
Believe it or not, everybody doesn't start with the same credit score. People begin with different credit scores based on various reasons. If you want to understand your credit score and set goals for your credit score, it's important to learn more about what a credit score is.
A 750 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
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.
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.
A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.
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.
Average FICO® Score in the U.S. Climbs to 715
Despite the slight increase over the past 12 months, average FICO® Scores have meandered throughout 2023, with average scores increasing from 714 to 716 this past summer, before settling at 715 at the end of the Q3 2023.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
Average Credit Score by Age
Still, average credit scores tend to increase with age. In 2021, people aged 18 to 24 averaged 679, while those 76 and up had an average credit score of 760.
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.
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.
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.
According to research by credit bureau Experian®, a score above 760 could qualify you for the best interest rates. Read on to learn more. Generally speaking, the highest credit score possible is 850, according to the most common FICO and VantageScore credit models.
Credit scores by race and ethnicity
Majority Black, Hispanic and Native American communities have at least 1.5 times the rates of subprime credit scores, debt in collections and high-cost non-bank borrowing (such as payday loans) compared to majority-white communities, according to data from the Urban Institute.
With the FICO credit scoring model, credit scores ranging from 300 to 579 are considered poor. Scores that range from 580 to 669 are considered fair. Anywhere between 670 to 739 is considered good. A credit score between 740 to 799 is considered very good.
In fact, according to Credit Karma, the average credit score for 18-24 year-olds is 630 and the average credit score for 25-30 year-olds is 628.
What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Buy a Car? In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
While credit card issuers don't make money through credit card interest if you pay your balance in full each month, they make money through credit card fees and miscellaneous charges. Credit card networks also charge merchants interchange fees for every purchase you make.
If you have no (or little) previous borrowing history, and no track record on which to determine credit-worthiness, CIBIL will assign you scores of 0 or -1 respectively: CIBIL score 0 means that information about the borrower's credit history is available only up to a period of less than 6 months in total.