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What Credit Score Do You Need to Apply for a Discover® Card?

4 min read

Last Updated: April 30, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You don't need a specific credit score to apply for Discover cards.
With a higher credit score, you may qualify for credit cards with better rates and rewards.
Discover Card offers a pre-approval tool to help you see if you might qualify for a specific card offer.

You don't need a certain credit score to apply for Discover credit cards, but your credit score still matters. Discover, like most other credit card issuers, considers your credit score alongside factors like income and employment. A high score may show that you manage your credit cards responsibly. Your credit score could help you secure better rates and a higher credit limit.

What's your credit score?

Before you begin applying for credit cards, you should know your credit score. Typically, lenders report your activity to each major credit bureau as you use your credit card and manage loans. The credit bureaus use that information to build credit reports. Credit scoring agencies then develop three-digit credit scores based on your credit reports.

While several credit scoring models exist, 90% of top lenders use FICO^® Credit Scores, including Discover.¹ (Business credit cards may work a little differently.) The factors that determine your credit score and the average percentage of your score include: payment history (35%), credit utilization ratio (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%).

Credit scores typically fall into the following credit ranges, depending on the algorithm used:

Exceptional credit: 800-850
Very good credit: 740-799
Good credit: 670-739
Fair credit: 580-669
Poor credit: 579 and below

Federal law allows you to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, and the three major credit bureaus have permanently extended the program to include one free report per week.

You can request your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com (the only website authorized by the federal government).

If you have a Discover account, you can also view your score as needed using your free Credit Scorecard. You could better understand your options if you check your credit score before completing credit card applications.

Your credit reports provide information about your credit history, including your payments and accounts. However, credit reports won’t always include credit scores. You may be able to check your credit score on your monthly credit card statement or through online services.

What if you have a high credit score?

You may have the best interest rates and terms to choose from when you have a high credit score. But even a good credit score (670 or above), might qualify you for most credit cards (if you meet income and employment requirements).

Access to more options means more flexibility to consider cards that align with your priorities. For example, if you tend to carry a balance, you might seek a card with a low introductory interest rate. Some credit card companies may require high credit scores for cards without annual fees. However, Discover has no annual fee on any of our cards.

With a high credit score, you may also qualify for a wide range of rewards credit cards that allow you to earn cash back rewards or Miles as you shop. The best credit card rewards for you depend on your everyday purchases, like gas or groceries. Some rewards cards have rotating bonus categories. That means different types of eligible purchases may boost your rewards each quarter.

If you take a few trips a year, you may want a rewards card that offers miles or bonuses for travel purchases. With the Discover Travel Credit Card, you earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on travel purchases and all your everyday purchases.² Plus, you can turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more.²

What if you have a low credit score?

If you have a low credit score or limited credit history, you could still have options. Factors like income, housing expenses, and employment could also help you get approved.

Applying for a credit card might temporarily hurt your credit score. It’s important to avoid applying for too many cards at once. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a credit card, you may be able to use a card issuer's pre-approval tool to see if you're pre-approved without a hard credit inquiry.

Some types of credit cards may also help people with low credit scores build their credit history.

Did you know?

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history with responsible use.³ For students, they can build your credit history with the Discover it^® Student Cash Back card. ⁴

Learn More

The bottom line

Discover doesn’t require a specific credit score. However, a high score expands your options. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like it to be, you may still qualify for a secured credit card. While a secured credit card may not offer as high a credit limit, it could help you build credit history⁴ and eventually help you get the card you want.

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