Grading Your Credit Score
A great credit score could open up financial opportunities, like being able to afford a new house or car; things that aren't as widely available to those with not-so-great credit scores. It’s a fact of modern life. Of course, if you have a particularly poor credit score, it might feel less like a fact and more like a cruel joke.
Attorney and best-selling author of The Plastic Effect, Stephen Lesavich says, "Like it or not, decades of research have shown that a person’s credit score can be used directly to predict risk in underwriting of both credit and insurance.”
Your credit score determines a lot. So it will help to know...
How do credit scores work?
Your credit scores don’t just magically appear out of nowhere. They’re based on the information in your credit reports, which are compiled by the three major credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax—and contain data on how much money you’ve borrowed, whether you make your payments on-time, etc.
Think of a credit score as a letter grade on your credit report: Just like getting an A is an easy way to tell if you did well on your math test, having a credit score of 780 is a fast way for lenders to see that you have a history of using credit responsibly.
While each of the credit bureaus can produce their own version of the credit score, the most common kind of score is the FICO score. According to Lesavich, “About 90% of all lenders use FICO credit scores to determine creditworthiness.”
FICO scores are based on a scale of 300-850 (with 300 being the worst and 850 being the best). Since a credit score is like a grade, we thought it might be nice to translate some of those score ranges into letter grades. So without further ado…
Grade A
If you have a credit score of 720 or above, congrats! You have great credit!
A credit score in this range is what everyone should strive for. It means that you make your payments on time and don’t max out your credit card(s). It might even mean that you don’t carry any balance on your card(s) from month to month, and that your debt load is manageable compared to your income.
While having a credit score of 720 might not entitle you to very best interest rates—those are usually reserved for people with even higher scores—it still means that you may save thousands of dollars in interest. Plus, a score in this range might qualify you for additional credit card rewards and perks.
Grade B
If you have a credit score between 680 and 719 you have good credit.
There is nothing wrong with having a score in this range. Sure, you should definitely strive to improve your credit score—higher is always better—but by no means should you be freaking out about your score. It’s still above average.
A score in this range probably means that your credit history isn’t quite as long, or that there were one or two bills you forgot to pay. It could mean that your credit card balances are high or that you’re still dealing with student loans.
People with scores in this range might be seen as a riskier bet, but they’re still likely to be approved for a personal loan. No matter what kind of loan they’re taking out, their rates will be higher than the rates of people with great credit.
Grade C
If you have a credit score between 630 and 679, you have fair credit.
A score in this range means that you probably have too much debt and/or more than a few late payments. You might even have a collection notice or two against you. It means you might not qualify for some unsecured personal loans—especially ones from a traditional lender—and that you will have to pay a substantially higher rate for a mortgage, auto loan or credit card.
While people with fair credit can still qualify for most kinds of loans—especially secured loans—this is the point at which the cost of borrowing really starts to add up. Trying to pay down your debt, take care of your overdue accounts, and get better about making payments on time are all good places to start if you’re looking to improve your credit score.
If you have a credit score in this range, it’s probably a good idea to get a copy of your credit report. According to author and credit expert, Julie McDonough, “One out of three consumers have errors on their credit report that can be affecting their credit scores. Most people are more interested in knowing their credit score and are not reviewing the source of that score, their credit report.”
McDonough says that you should obtain a free copy of your credit report—available per federal law at AnnualCreditReport.com–and dispute any and all errors on the report.
According to McDonough, items to look for in your credit report include:
- Variations in data between the three major bureaus
- Accurate and timely reporting of payments—especially for accounts that have been paid in full
- The accuracy of your full name and social security number
- The correctness of current balances and terms
Grade D
If you have a credit score between 550 and 629, you have subprime credit.
Folks with credit scores in this range may be shut out from traditional lenders like banks. They might have a narrow range of lenders they can borrow from, and might even find their ability to get hired or get an apartment affected by their credit woes.
If you have a score in this range, it’s likely that you have a history of late payments, have been sent to collections on one or more accounts, and have a debt load that is much too large for how much money you make. Whatever the reason, you should consider meeting with a certified credit counselor to go over your finances; they can help with budgeting, establishing better money habits, and managing your debt through a debt management plan.
People with subprime credit scores are seen as risky by lenders. Their credit score indicate that they haven’t been great about paying back lenders. While the higher interest rates lenders charge these borrowers are understandable, the predatory lending practices that some of them use are not. A credit score in this range means you are going to be a target for predatory lenders offering products like dangerous payday and title loans. Make sure you don’t become prey!
Grade F
If you have a credit score below 550, you have poor credit.
Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. Having a credit score in this range is not great, but all credit scores are fixable. Even yours.
A score in this range is most likely the result of defaulting on past loans or declaring bankruptcy. You probably have a number of collection notices on your report, or you might have a massive amount of debt – especially credit card debt. If you haven’t scheduled a meeting with a certified credit counselor – it is something to consider.
Most of the loans you will qualify for will come with extremely high interest rates – which is understandable, given what your credit score says about your borrowing habits. And you likely won’t be able to get a credit card unless it’s secured.
Be careful to avoid predatory lenders. With short terms, lump-sum repayments, and a lending strategy focused on high-cost loan rollover, you should stay as far away from these lenders as possible. They won’t make your situation any better. They’ll only make it worse.
While the letter grades you received in school were often final, your credit score is not.
Stephen Lesavich, PhD, JD, is an attorney, credit card expert, award-winning and best-selling author of "The Plastic Effect How Urban Legends Influence the Use and Misuse of Credit Cards."
Julie McDonough, has more than 28 years’ experience as a real estate broker, loan broker, and credit consultant. Julie is also the author of "How to Make Your Credit Score Soar."