It's reassuring to know that your age and your salary won't determine whether you have a good or bad credit score, but you should still know what lenders will see when they evaluate your risk.
Yes, your credit report has an age just like anything else,” writes Gerri Detweiler for Credit.com. “And that age has a positive or negative value in your credit scores. This value equates to 15% of the points that make up your overall credit scores.
Credit scoring models don't consider how old you are when they calculate your credit score. Yet the age of the accounts on your credit reports does matter from a credit score perspective. Older accounts—and an older average age of credit—might boost your credit score.
So, given the fact that the average credit score for people in their 20s is 630 and a “good” credit score is typically around 700, it's safe to say a good credit score in your 20s is in the high 600s or low 700s.
While credit scores can differ, the average score for 25 year old's is around 660. According to the FICO scoring model, a 660 is considered "fair." So what does that mean? While you can still qualify for loans & lines of credit, a fair credit score might leave you with fewer options.
Anywhere between 670 to 739 is considered good. A credit score between 740 to 799 is considered very good. Credit scores 800 and up are considered excellent. Someone with a VantageScore that's 600 or less is considered to have poor or very poor credit.
Your 800 FICO® Score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is categorized as Exceptional. Your FICO® Score is well above the average credit score, and you are likely to receive easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
A 750 credit score generally falls into the “excellent” range, which shows lenders that you're a very dependable borrower. People with credit scores within this range tend to qualify for loans and secure the best mortgage rates. A 750 credit score could help you: Qualify for a mortgage.
While achieving a perfect 850 credit score is rare, it's not impossible. About 1.3% of consumers have one, according to Experian's latest data. FICO scores can range anywhere from 300 to 850. The average score was 714, as of 2021.
If your credit report shows scores out of 1,200 then as a rule of thumb a score above 853 is excellent while above 661 is good. If your credit report shows scores out of 1,000, above 690 is excellent and above 540 is good.
Factors that contribute to a higher credit score include a history of on-time payments, low balances on your credit cards, a mix of different credit card and loan accounts, older credit accounts, and minimal inquiries for new credit.
Age can be used as part of a valid credit scoring system as long as it does not disfavor applicants 62 years old or older. Valid credit scoring systems may favor applicants 62 years or older. A lender may relate your age to other information they use to decide if you are creditworthy.
Highlights: Even one late payment can cause credit scores to drop. Carrying high balances may also impact credit scores. Closing a credit card account may impact your debt to credit utilization ratio.
They have higher incomes
And incomes tend to go up with age as a person develops more skills and gains experience. Since older Americans have higher average incomes, they typically also receive higher credit limits.
A 900 credit score may be the highest on some scoring models, but this number isn't always possible. Only 1% of the population can achieve a credit score of 850, so there's a certain point where trying to get the highest possible credit score isn't realistic 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 of 1,000 is not possible because credit scoring models simply do not go that high. According to Experian, some credit scoring models reach upwards of 900 or 950, but those are industry-specific scores that are only used by certain institutions.
FICO & Vantage both set the lowest possible credit score at 300. However, almost nobody has this low of a score. In fact, according to FICO, the average credit score in America is 704. A bad FICO credit score ranges from 300-579, while a bad Vantage score ranges 300-499.
Since the length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your credit score, negative, minimal or no credit history can stop you from reaching an 800 credit score. To solve this problem, focus on building your credit. You can do this by taking out a credit-builder loan or applying for your first credit card.
Fortunately, it's never too late to get started. If you want to stay organized with your finances, knowing how to manage your money and build and maintain your credit is an excellent first step. This could include checking your credit report and creating a budget so you don't carry a card balance.
It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.