What Does Your Credit Score Start At? (2024)

FAQs

What Does Your Credit Score Start At? ›

You may think that a zero credit score is the starting point for people new to finances. But this is not true. Your first credit score will most likely be 300, as this is the lowest score credit scoring models usually recognize. However, the average credit score of established borrowers is 710.

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.

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.

A credit score is a three-digit number, typically between 300 and 850, designed to represent your credit risk, or the likelihood you will pay your bills on time.

The credit score range is anywhere between 300 to 900. The higher your score, the better your credit rating. Your credit score helps lenders to assess your credit capacity. The higher your score, the more likely you are to get approved for loans and credit.

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”.

So yes, 700 ought to be a good enough credit score to buy a house. In fact, says DiBugnara, “a credit score of 680 or above will likely give borrowers access to 95 percent of financing options available.”

Conventional lenders now require a 780 credit score or higher to qualify for the lowest mortgage interest rates, so anything above 780 is considered an excellent score to buy a house.

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.

What is a 1 credit score? ›

In FICO's scoring model, scores in the 800 to 850 range are considered exceptional, or best. A given lender, however, may consider scores in the 750 to 850 range as best and categorize those borrowers as tier 1.

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2023, the average FICO^® Score^☉ in the U.S. reached 715.

Poor: 300-579. Fair: 580-669. Good: 670-739. Very Good: 740-799. Exceptional: 800-850.

What credit score do you start with? 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.

The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.

It's exceedingly rare for anyone to have a credit score over 900, as most credit scoring models have a maximum limit of 850, and even achieving that score is uncommon.

The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2023, the average FICO^® Score^☉ in the U.S. reached 715.

Depending on the credit reporting agency, your score will be between zero and either 1,000 or 1,200. A higher score means the lender will consider you less risky. This could mean getting a better deal and saving money.

If your child is under 18, they likely won't have a credit report, but it's possible they could due to one of these situations: Authorized user: Minors can't sign a loan or credit card contract, but they can become authorized users on their parents' credit card accounts.