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For some people, looking at credit scores is like reading a new language. Without any context, seeing the numbers alone doesn't necessarily help you understand how good (or bad) your credit is. But learning about credit score ranges can help.
FICO and VantageScore — the two leading companies that calculate credit scores — have different score ranges or tiers they deem "excellent," "poor," or somewhere in between. While being in a higher range doesn't guarantee you'll qualify for every new loan or credit card, it certainly helps.
As a credit expert and former credit counselor, here's what I believe every person should know about credit score ranges and what they mean.
Understanding the different credit score ranges
Credit score ranges can be confusing, since they're not always based on the same number of points. For example, some credit score calculations assign you scores between 250 and 900 points (typically, these are industry-specific scores, like when applying for a car loan), while others assign between 300 to 850 (most common).
For scores that range between 300 to 850 points, here's how FICO and VantageScore classify each range:
The higher your credit scores are, the easier your financial life can be. When you move into a higher range, you'll be more likely to get the credit cards and loans you want, and qualify for certain jobs or new apartments.
However, keep in mind that each creditor has its own requirements for the scores needed to qualify for certain products. And once your scores pass 760, you can usually qualify for the best products and lowest rates available, regardless of whether or not you ever move into the "excellent" or "exceptional" range.
As I used to (half-jokingly) tell my credit counseling clients who were worried about achieving perfect 850 credit scores, “Once you hit 760, find another hobby!"
How to check your credit scores for free
There are a lot of places you can potentially go to see different versions of your credit scores for free, but these are the places I recommend looking:
Your financial institution
If you have a credit card, there's a strong chance you have access to free credit score monitoring through the card issuer. Plus, many banks offer this perk too.
For example, if you have a Bank of America credit card, you can monitor your FICO score for free each month through your credit card account. For US Bank clients, you can use your bank account to see your free Vantage score.
Want to find out if your bank or creditor offers this perk? Here's where you can look:
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The bank or credit card app
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Your online account
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Your account statements
Another bank or credit union
Some banks offer free credit score monitoring, even if you're not a customer. For example, anyone can sign up for Chase Credit Journey or CapitalOne CreditWise for access to free credit scores and more.
My Money from Yahoo Finance
Our new personal finance platform, My Money, gives users access to their TransUnion VantageScores — plus much more. You can sign up for free here.
FICO tools
If you want to see your FICO scores specifically, you can sign up for a FICO Free Plan to get free access to your FICO 8 score. Signing up for a new service might seem unnecessary if you already get complimentary scores elsewhere. But this service only takes a couple of minutes to set up and doesn't require a credit card. So it’s valuable if you don't have access to your FICO scores elsewhere.
Alternatively, you can use FICO's free score estimator tool without having to set up an account. This tool asks about 10 questions and then estimates your score range. I've always found the tool to be very accurate. However, my most recent estimate was a bit low (755-805) compared to the score I saw on the Free Plan (848).
Credit score ranges FAQs
What is the average credit score?
In 2025, the average FICO credit score is 715, and the average VantageScore is 702. Both of these averages fall into the good credit score range.
Should you pay for credit scores?
You can pay to see certain versions of your credit scores, but it's not necessary. To see your credit scores for free, you can sign up for FICO's Free Plan or check to see if your bank or creditors offer free score monitoring.
What credit score is needed to buy a house?
Most mortgage lenders require a minimum credit score of 620. However, there are special loan programs where the requirements are flexible. For example, you can potentially qualify for an FHA home loan with credit scores as low as 500.
