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What is a Good Credit Score?

5 min read

Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

What qualifies as a “good” credit score depends on the scoring model used.
A good FICO® Score is over 670, while a good VantageScore® is over 661.
To improve your credit score, make on-time payments, keep balances low, check your credit report for errors, and avoid unnecessary credit.

A higher credit score may help you qualify for many credit cards, achieve a better interest rate on loans, or even land the home or apartment of your dreams. But what’s considered a good credit score, and how do you get one?

Your credit score gives lenders, like banks, credit card companies, or even landlords and car dealerships, an idea of your likelihood to repay debts on time and keep your balances manageable. A “good” credit score instills trust in potential lenders. Let’s take a deeper look at what qualifies as a good credit score and what it takes to achieve one.

What’s a good credit score?

Each lender has its own criteria and priorities that inform lending decisions. What qualifies as a good credit score depends on those priorities and the model a lender uses. The FICO^® credit scoring model may be most familiar, as it’s common across industries. Each 3-digit credit score falls into one of the 5 FICO^® credit score ranges:¹

Exceptional – 800 or higher
Very good – 740 to 799
Good – 670 to 739
Fair – 580 to 699
Poor – 580 or lower

By falling in the “good” credit score range or higher, you demonstrate that you’ve successfully managed credit in the past and may therefore be more likely to repay your debts on time. You may qualify for a wider selection of credit cards.

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Many lenders likely view people with credit scores of at least 670 as relatively low-risk borrowers. According to FICO^®, the average credit score in the U.S., 717, falls in the middle of the “good” range.

VantageScore^® is another popular credit scoring model. While VantageScore^® also uses a credit scale from 300 to 850, the model categorizes scores differently, according to Experian:

Superprime – 781 to 850
Prime – 661 to 780
Near prime – 601 to 660
Subprime - 300 to 600

People with "prime” or higher scores are typically considered low-risk borrowers. So, a VantageScore^® of 661 or higher may be regarded as a good score.

How to get a good credit score

If your credit score falls below the “good” or “prime” ranges, don’t panic. Credit scores aren’t fixed numbers; they just represent your credit at a specific moment in time. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, you can take steps to improve it.

The first step in building a positive credit history is understanding the factors that determine credit scores. These include your payment history, new credit, and credit mix.

While FICO^® and VantageScore^® assess most of the same factors, they prioritize them differently. While the scoring models differ, the same responsible credit habits may help you improve both scores.

Make all payments on time

Your payment history plays a significant role in determining your credit scores. You may quickly tank your credit by letting bills pile up. To achieve higher credit scores, avoid missing payments or paying late on your credit card, loans, or other recurring bills. Always pay at least the monthly minimum. If bills sometimes slip your mind, try setting reminders on your phone or automating your payments with autopay.

Did you know?

You can find out if you’re pre-approved for a traditional Discover card. Checking your pre-approval status won’t harm your credit score.²

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Keep your balances low and manage debt

A high credit card balance can increase your credit utilization ratio, especially if your credit limit is low. Experian explains that credit utilization in the single digits is ideal, while credit utilization that exceeds 30% might do significant damage to your credit score. Higher balances may become challenging to manage, leading to missed payments.

If you fail to make multiple credit card or loan payments consecutively, you may find yourself in debt, which may result in a lower score. Credit card debt can be scary, but there are methods for working your way out of it:

Create a budget to cut non-essential costs
Request a lower interest rate from your credit card company
Consider debt consolidation, which is a personal loan that may have a lower interest rate
Work with a credit counseling company to develop a personalized plan for getting out of debt

Check your credit report and credit accounts often

By monitoring your credit report, you can quickly identify any issues that may hurt your score and report errors to the credit bureau. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can access each of your credit reports for free once a week at annualcreditreport.com. Checking your credit report often can also help you stay informed about your credit.

It’s also important to regularly check your credit account regularly to keep an eye on your current balance and available credit, as well as making sure you are making at least the minimum payments on time.

The bottom line

Your credit score is just one factor that contributes to your overall financial well-being, though it can have a significant impact. While what makes a good or high credit score varies across scoring models, practicing responsible money habits may keep your credit in good shape and help you achieve your financial goals.

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