FICO is the scoring model most lenders use to check an applicant's creditworthiness. A perfect FICO credit score is 850, but experts tell CNBC Select you don't need to hit that target to qualify for the best credit cards, loans or interest rates.
"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."
In fact, according to a May 2024 study from Experian, only about 1.54% of the scoreable U.S. population had the maximum 850 score.
Here's why a 760 credit score is the one to aim for, what it can get you and how to check your FICO score.
What's the best credit score to have?
It might be exciting to aim for 850, the highest possible FICO score, but it really comes with no additional benefits. According to credit expert John Ulzheimer, a 760 will typically get you the best mortgage rate and a 720 score is all you need for the best interest rate for an auto loan.
"I always tell people, shoot for 760 or better," Ulzheimer told CNBC Select. "That way, they're safe for all loan types and cards."
Even FICO says not to stress about perfection
"From the standpoint of qualifying for credit, it doesn't matter whether you have a perfect 850 or a score just below that," said Ethan Dornhelm, VP of FICO Scores and predictive analytics. "To lenders, a consumer with a score in the 800s is a sparkling applicant."
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
What a good credit score can get you
FICO scores are grouped into broad categories.
If you haven't yet reached a 760 credit score, you're not alone. The national average FICO Score is 717, as of the most recent October 2023 data.
The good news is that anything upwards of 670 is considered a good credit score and will enable you to get a conventional mortgage and qualify for top-notch credit cards. Here are some of the best credit cards that have "good" credit score requirements:
Best for cash back and 0% APR
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Regular APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Balance transfer fee
Intro balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Best for travel rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that's equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for long 0% APR intro period
The Citi Simplicity® Card may not earn rewards, but it can still save you money due to its amazing intro-APR offers.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and for 12 months on purchases; after that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Foreign transaction fee
3%
If you have fair or average credit, consider a card that has lower credit score requirements, like the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card available to those with limited/fair credit, which makes it surprising that it features an elevated 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
Balance transfer fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Compare credit repair options
How to check your credit score for free
Despite the common misconception, checking your credit report won't hurt your credit score. Many banks and credit card issuers will provide customers with their current FICO score for free.
Experian CreditWorks is a paid credit-monitoring service that includes your FICO® score, as well as identity protection and credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
If you're looking to raise your score, an easy way to do it quickly is with *Experian Boost®. This free service links monthly bills for things like cell phone, gas and streaming services to your Experian credit report and gives you credit for on-time payments.
According to Experian, members whose scores improved saw an average increase of 13 points.
Experian Boost®
Cost
Free
Average credit score increase
13 points, though results vary
Credit report affected
Experian®
Credit scoring model used
Results will vary. See website for details.
How to sign up for Experian Boost:
- Connect the bank account(s) you use to pay your bills
- Choose and verify the positive payment data you want added to your Experian credit file
- Receive an updated FICO® Score
Learn more about eligible payments and how Experian Boost works.
FAQs
Is it possible to have an 850 credit score?
It is possible to have a perfect 850 credit score, but it's not necessary to get the best loan terms and rates. In most cases, a 760 will get you the same benefits.
What's considered a good FICO Score?
A good FICO Score falls within the range of 670 to 739.
Is a 600 a good credit score?
600 is considered a "fair" credit score on the FICO Score model. You can qualify for a variety of financial products, but you likely won't get the best interest rates, rewards or terms.
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Meet our experts
At CNBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. For this story, we interviewed financial expert John Ulzheimer, formerly of FICO and Equifax, Jim Droske, president of the credit counseling company Illinois Credit Services, and Ethan Dornhelm, VP of FICO Scores and predictive analytics.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit monitoring and credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.
