FICO Score ranges
Most lenders use a FICO Score. Base FICO Scores run from 300 to 850 and are grouped into five bands:
| FICO range | Label | What it usually means for applications |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | Eligible for a lender’s best advertised pricing. Going higher rarely changes the offer. |
| 740–799 | Very good | Approval for most cards and loans; often the same or nearly the same rate as 800+. |
| 670–739 | Good | Approval for mainstream products is common, but pricing steps up as you move down the band. |
| 580–669 | Fair | Fewer options and noticeably higher rates; some prime cards and lenders will decline. |
| 300–579 | Poor | Unsecured credit is hard to get; secured cards and credit builder products are the usual starting point. |
Source: Chase, “Credit score ranges and what they mean” (FICO bands). The third column is our general summary; each lender sets its own cutoffs.
The bands are labels, not rules. Lenders draw their own lines. One card issuer may treat 690 as its cutoff; a mortgage lender’s price grid may change at 700, 720 and 740. The useful question isn’t “what band am I in?” but “how close am I to the next threshold that matters for the loan I want?”
VantageScore ranges
VantageScore also uses 300–850, but it groups scores into four tiers with different breakpoints:
| VantageScore range | Tier | Closest FICO comparison |
|---|---|---|
| 781–850 | Superprime | Top of very good through exceptional |
| 661–780 | Prime | Good through most of very good |
| 601–660 | Near prime | Upper fair |
| 300–600 | Subprime | Poor through lower fair |
Source: Chase, “Credit score ranges and what they mean” (VantageScore tiers). The comparison column is approximate because the models score differently.
Why this matters: many free apps show a VantageScore. A 665 there puts you in VantageScore’s prime tier, but a lender using FICO could see a different number that falls in its “fair” band. Same person, different model, different label. VantageScore 4.0 is now also accepted for mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA announced the change in July 2025, and Freddie Mac opened it to all sellers on September 9, 2026, so it matters more than it used to. Our guide to how credit scores work explains how the two models are built.
Where the average American stands
FICO’s Credit Insights Report released in August 2026 put the national average FICO Score at 714. It was flat from October 2025 to April 2026 and down one point from a year earlier. Two details from the same report show what moves the average:
- Student loans. About 3.2 million consumers with student loan delinquencies saw their scores fall by an average of 38 points over the year.
- Younger borrowers. Gen Z scores are up 17 points and Millennial scores up 10 points compared with before the pandemic.
An average of 714 means a typical borrower is in the good band but about 26 points short of the 740 mark where many lenders’ best pricing begins.
What each range costs: a mortgage example
myFICO publishes sample loan rates by score band. In May 2026, its average APRs for a 30-year fixed mortgage of $378,384 were as follows. We calculated the monthly principal-and-interest payment and total interest at each rate.
| FICO band | Sample APR | Monthly payment | Total interest (30 yrs) | Extra vs. 760–850 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 760–850 | 6.70% | $2,442 | $500,602 | — |
| 700–759 | 6.95% | $2,505 | $523,310 | $22,708 |
| 680–699 | 7.07% | $2,535 | $534,292 | $33,690 |
| 660–679 | 7.11% | $2,545 | $537,965 | $37,363 |
| 640–659 | 7.21% | $2,571 | $547,172 | $46,570 |
| 620–639 | 7.36% | $2,610 | $561,049 | $60,447 |
Source: myFICO sample APRs (May 2026) as published by The Mortgage Reports; payments and interest are MoneyVerge calculations using standard amortization. Sample rates only; your rate will differ.
Three things stand out:
- The biggest single jump is at the top. Moving from 700–759 to 760+ saves about $63 a month in this example, more than moving from 660–679 to 680–699 (about $10).
- Below 620, the table stops. myFICO’s sample grid ends at 620. If you’re below that, ask lenders directly which programs you qualify for, and compare that against the cost of waiting while you rebuild.
- The same logic applies to other loans. Auto lenders, personal loan lenders and card issuers also price by credit tier. The loan is smaller, but the principle holds: crossing a lender’s threshold before you apply is usually cheaper than refinancing later.
If a mortgage is a year or two away, the cheapest move is often raising your score past the next band before you apply. Compare current lender offers in our best mortgage lenders guide.
How to read your number
800 and above
You’re in the top band. Additional points rarely change approval or pricing. Focus on keeping it: autopay, low reported balances, and checking your reports for errors or fraud.
740–799
For most loans you already qualify for top-tier pricing or close to it. If you’re just under a lender’s 760 or 780 break, paying card balances down before the statement date can sometimes close the gap within a billing cycle or two.
670–739
This is where most people are, and where effort pays off most. Card utilization is usually the quickest lever. If balances are the problem, see how to pay off credit card debt.
580–669
You’ll get approved for some products, often at higher rates or lower limits. Look at what is pulling you down: recent late payments, a collection, or high balances. Each needs a different fix.
Below 580
Start with products designed for rebuilding, such as a secured card. Our list of secured credit cards compares deposits and fees. Avoid anyone promising to remove accurate negative items for a fee.
Moving up a band: what’s realistic
How fast you can move depends on what is holding the score down.
- High card balances are the fastest fix. Utilization is based on the balances your issuers report, so once lower balances reach the bureaus, scores can respond within a billing cycle or two. Trended-data models such as VantageScore 4.0 also look at whether balances are falling over time, which works in your favor too. A borrower at 725 with cards near their limits may be one statement away from the 740 band.
- A thin file improves with time and on-time payments. There is no shortcut, but adding a well-managed account helps the average age and payment history grow together.
- Recent late payments, collections or a bankruptcy take longest. The mark stays for years (see the table below), but its weight fades as newer, positive history builds on top of it.
Before you apply for anything large, pull your free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com and fix any errors first. A wrong late payment on one report can drop you a full band with the lender that pulls that bureau.
How long negative items stay on your report
The Fair Credit Reporting Act limits how long most negative information can be reported. The clock generally starts at the original delinquency or filing date, not when you pay.
| Item | How long it can stay |
|---|---|
| Late payment (30+ days) | 7 years |
| Collection account | 7 years from the original delinquency |
| Charge-off | 7 years from the original delinquency |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 7 years from filing |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years from filing |
| Hard inquiry | 2 years (FICO counts it for 1 year) |
| Closed account in good standing | Up to 10 years after closing |
| Tax liens and civil judgments | No longer included on credit reports |
Sources: Experian (bankruptcy timelines); WalletHub summary of FCRA reporting periods; myFICO (inquiries). Checked October 2026.
Two points people often miss:
- Paying a collection doesn’t restart or end the 7-year clock. The date is tied to when you first fell behind. Paid medical collections are an exception: the bureaus remove those.
- The impact fades before the item disappears. A two-year-old late payment hurts less than a two-month-old one, especially if everything since has been on time.
Experian notes there is no legitimate way to remove an accurate bankruptcy early, but you can dispute entries that are wrong or that stay past their expiration date. If you’re recovering from bankruptcy, see how to rebuild credit after bankruptcy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit score?
On the FICO scale, 670 to 739 is labeled good, 740 to 799 very good and 800 to 850 exceptional. Many lenders reserve their best pricing for scores around 740 to 760 and above.
What is the average credit score in the US?
FICO's Credit Insights Report released in August 2026 put the average FICO Score at 714, flat from October 2025 to April 2026 and down one point from a year earlier.
Is a 700 credit score good?
Yes. 700 falls in FICO's good band (670 to 739). In myFICO's May 2026 mortgage sample, scores of 700 to 759 were priced about a quarter point above the 760+ band.
Are FICO and VantageScore ranges the same?
Both run from 300 to 850, but the bands differ. VantageScore calls 661 to 780 prime and 781 to 850 superprime, while FICO uses five bands with breaks at 580, 670, 740 and 800.
How long does a late payment stay on my credit report?
A payment 30 or more days late can be reported for 7 years. Its effect on your score shrinks over time, especially if your later payments are on time.
Does paying off a collection remove it?
Generally no. A paid collection can still be reported for up to 7 years from the original delinquency. Paid medical collections are an exception: the three bureaus remove them.
What is the lowest possible credit score?
Base FICO Scores and VantageScore 4.0 both start at 300.
Sources
- Chase – Credit score ranges and what they mean
- Chase – What is the VantageScore 4.0 credit model?
- FICO / Finviz – FICO Score Credit Insights Report: Average FICO Score Holds Steady at 714
- FICO Investor Relations – Average FICO Score Dips to 714
- The Mortgage Reports – Mortgage Rates by Credit Score (myFICO data)
- myFICO – Loan Savings Calculator
- myFICO – How to Rate Shop and Minimize the Impact to Your FICO Scores
- Experian – When Does Bankruptcy Fall Off My Credit Report?
- WalletHub – How Long Does Something Stay on Your Credit Report?
- Cornell LII – 15 U.S. Code § 1681c (FCRA reporting limits)
Rates, fees and terms change often. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm current details with the provider before you apply.