Does a 750 vs 800 credit score matter?
The answer is yes! But a credit score of 750 is probably just as good. “Aiming for 800 and above might be enticing, but it's not always necessary,” Griffin said. “Scores of 800 or above may earn you bragging rights, but they won't net you better terms.
This is because only 1% of these individuals will become delinquent on their loans in the future. While credit scores of 800 or above are labeled “exceptional,” a score of 750 will likely get you some of the best rates available for auto loans and mortgages.
A “perfect” score — an 850 on the most commonly used scale — requires a credit history spanning many years and having few or no credit missteps. And, as far as lenders are concerned, someone with a 780 or so is every bit as likely to repay borrowed money as someone with an 850.
A 780 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
Twenty-four percent have a FICO® Score between 750 and 799, making the "very good" bracket. Data source: FICO (2022). Nearly half of Americans score between 750 and 850, in the very good to exceptional range, while less than 25% of Americans have a score between 300 and 649, the poor to fair credit score range.
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
How rare is an 800 credit score? An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
Less than 2% of Americans have a perfect credit score.
“If you're at 760, or 780, you're already getting the best you can get,” Jim Droske, president of the credit counseling company Illinois Credit Services, said. “You're already hitting that pinnacle of what lenders care about. Anything above that is just pride.”
However, with a 735 credit score, you should qualify for rates on-par with national averages. Also, even though your score qualifies you for a mortgage, it's important to know that the lower your score is, the stronger the rest of your qualifications are generally expected to be.
Mortgages with a 704 Credit Score
More than 40% of first mortgages go to borrowers with credit scores below 740, so you should be able to finance your home purchase without much issue.
How many people have a FICO score over 800?
According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.
| Age Bracket | 2022 |
|---|---|
| 26–41 | 687 (Good) |
| 42–57 | 706 (Good) |
| 58–76 | 742 (Very Good) |
| 77+ | 760 (Very Good) |
What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
With a 750 credit score, you're in the running for pretty much every kind of home loan. FHA loans, VA loans and USDA loans all have much lower minimum credit score requirements, and conventional loans have a minimum credit score requirement of 620.
A 750 credit score is considered excellent on commonly used FICO and VantageScore scales, which range from 300 to 850. The exception is if you are new to credit because a high score isn't always enough. The length of your credit history and how much debt you carry relative to your income also matter.
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.
A credit score of 900 is not possible, but older scoring models that are no longer used once went up to 900 or higher. The highest possible credit score you can get now is 850.
Fewer than one-fourth of U.S. adults have credit scores of 800 or higher. Generally speaking, it takes a rather long history of responsible credit behavior to build your score to this level. A credit score of 825 tells lenders that you are highly likely to pay back money that you borrow.
Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data.
Is there a difference between 700 and 800 credit score?
No. With credit scoring, there's nothing wrong with trying to get the best credit score you can, but realize that once you fall into that “excellent credit” range, your precise score may not make much of a difference in your ability to qualify for credit and low interest rates on loans.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly mortgage payments.
- Very Poor: 300-499.
- Poor: 500-600.
- Fair: 601-660.
- Good: 661-780.
- Excellent: 781-850.
A credit score of 999 from Experian is the highest you can get. It usually means you don't have many marks on your credit file and are very likely to be accepted for a loan or credit card.
