What Is a Good Credit Score? (2026 Cutoffs)
The U.S. median FICO 8 is now 717 — technically 'Good'. But the cutoffs lenders actually use for the best pricing are higher. Here's the complete 2026 map: every tier, what it unlocks, and how to climb.
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The FICO and VantageScore tiers
- 800–850 Exceptional. Top of every offer. About 21% of U.S. consumers.
- 740–799 Very Good. Best published mortgage and auto rates unlock at 740.
- 670–739 Good. Approved for most credit products at average pricing.
- 580–669 Fair. Subprime pricing; FHA mortgage possible at 580 with 3.5% down.
- 300–579 Poor. Secured cards and credit-builder loans only.
What 'Good' costs vs. 'Very Good'
On a $300,000 30-year fixed mortgage, going from a 660 to a 760 score saves roughly $150 per month — about $54,000 over the life of the loan. On a $35,000 auto loan, the same jump cuts APR by 4–6 percentage points, saving another ~$5,000. Premium rewards cards typically require 740+.
Industry-specific FICO scores
Auto lenders use FICO Auto Score (250–900). Card issuers use FICO Bankcard Score (250–900). Mortgage underwriters use FICO 2/4/5 (a "trimerge" of all three bureaus' middle scores). Your generic FICO 8 of 720 might be a 730 Auto Score, a 700 Bankcard, and a 715 mortgage middle. Pull industry-specific scores before applying for big loans.
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- Daily monitoring & alerts
- Identity theft protection
- Score simulator & insights
- $1 for 15 days trial
- Cancel online anytime
- 3-Bureau credit reports & scores
- Daily monitoring & alerts
- Identity theft protection
- Score simulator & insights
- $1 for 15 days trial
- Cancel online anytime
FICO tier reference table
| Tier | FICO range | % of consumers | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional | 800–850 | ~21% | Lowest possible APR, every premium card |
| Very Good | 740–799 | ~28% | Best published mortgage/auto rates |
| Good | 670–739 | ~21% | Conventional mortgage, prime cards |
| Fair | 580–669 | ~17% | FHA at 580, subprime auto and cards |
| Poor | 300–579 | ~13% | Secured cards, builder loans only |
Related credit-score guides
- Full 300–850 credit score range explained →
- FICO score explained →
- How to improve your credit score →
- VantageScore vs FICO →
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