What does a 780 credit score do?
People with credit scores of 780 typically pay their bills on time; in fact, late payments appear on just 15% of their credit reports. People like you with Very Good credit scores are attractive customers to banks and credit card issuers, who typically offer borrowers like you better-than-average lending terms.
A 780 credit score is often considered very good — or even excellent. With excellent credit, your credit scores become more of a bridge and less of a roadblock — a high score can help you qualify for premium rewards credit cards, auto loans and mortgages with the best terms.
You can borrow over $100,000 with a 780 credit score if you get a mortgage or a home equity loan. Keep in mind, the exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors in addition to your credit score, such as your income, your employment status and even the lender.
While having a perfect 850 credit score is impressive, you don't necessarily need it to unlock the best benefits. “Typically, once you hit the mid-700s, you're considered to have excellent credit and there's no practical benefit to scoring any higher,” says Ted Rossman, Bankrate's senior industry analyst.
On-time payments
The best way to get your credit score over 800 comes down to paying your bills on time every month, even if it is making the minimum payment due. According to LendingTree's analysis of 100,000 credit reports, 100% of borrowers with a credit score of 800 or higher paid their bills on time, every time.
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.
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.
As far as qualifying, you'll often need good or better credit (a FICO score above 670), and a stable income source that shows you can afford the payments. Annual percentage rates (APRs) for personal loans typically range from around 6% to 36%, depending on your credit profile and other factors.
Is 780 FICO good?
Within the FICO model, a score between 720 and 780 is categorized as so: Good: 670–739. Very Good: 740–799.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
| Generation | Average credit score (FICO) in 2023 |
|---|---|
| Generation Z (18-25) | 680 |
| Millennials (26-41) | 690 |
| Generation X (42-57) | 709 |
| Baby boomers (58-76) | 745 |
Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714. Achieving a good credit score can help you qualify for a credit card or loan with a lower interest rate and better terms.
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).
The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores. It's a good idea to check your credit scores regularly.
You can borrow over $100,000 with an 800 credit score if you get a mortgage or a home equity loan. Keep in mind, the exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors in addition to your credit score, such as your income, your employment status and even the lender.
If you have a 750 to 760 FICO, you qualify for the best terms on every type of credit, whether mortgage, auto loans/leases, personal loans, and so on. Having an 800 won't really make a difference.
Average FICO® Score in the U.S. Climbs to 715
Despite the slight increase over the past 12 months, average FICO® Scores have meandered throughout 2023, with average scores increasing from 714 to 716 this past summer, before settling at 715 at the end of the Q3 2023.
Can a 20 year old have a 750 credit score?
Length of credit history makes up 10% of your FICO score so the older you get, the more your score is likely to rise. According to Experian® data, the average American credit score for the age group 18-24 was 679 as of September 2022. This falls in the good FICO® credit score range (670-739).
Only about 20% of Americans that have a credit score land above the 780 mark, which is considered the top tier, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion. Even fewer are above the 800 mark.
| Lender | Loan Amounts | APRs |
|---|---|---|
| SoFi | $5,000 - $100,000 | 8.99% - 29.99% Fixed APR with all discounts |
| Wells Fargo | $3,000 - $100,000 | 7.49% - 23.24% |
| USAA | $1,000 - $100,000 | 7.24% - 17.65% |
| Discover | $2,500 - $40,000 | 7.49% - 24.99% |
According to FICO, about 98% of "FICO High Achievers" have zero missed payments. And for the small 2% who do, the missed payment happened, on average, approximately four years ago. So while missing a credit card payment can be easy to do, staying on top of your payments is the only way you will one day reach 850.
A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.
