630 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad? - NerdWallet (2024)

A 630 credit score is considered a fair credit score. Your credit score determines whether you will qualify for products like credit cards and loans, and what interest rate you will be charged by a lender.

The share of Americans who had scores of 600 to 649 was about 9% as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO .

Here’s how a score of 630 can affect your financial life.

You may pay higher rates than others

As someone with a 630 credit score, you have just crossed over into the “fair” territory of credit score bands. You can qualify for financial products, like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with better credit.

To keep your score from falling back into the bad range, continue practicing good credit habits to beef up your score. Here are some quick ways to improve your credit.

Tips to work on your 630 credit score

Try these ways to build credit:

  • Consider applying for a secured credit card. This type of card is backed by a cash deposit.

  • Get a credit-builder loan or secured loan from a credit union. A credit-builder loan allows you to build your score and put away money for a goal at the same time.

  • If you know a family member or friend with a high credit score and long credit history, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their credit card.

  • Continue to practice good credit habits: Pay all your bills on time and use no more than 30% of the credit limit on all your credit cards; the lower the better. Those are the two biggest factors affecting your credit score. You can also open a new credit card account to increase your available credit and lower your usage ratio, but make sure you conduct research before you apply.

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630 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad? - NerdWallet (2)

630 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad? - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

630 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad? - NerdWallet? ›

A bad credit score generally falls below 630 on the common scale of 300-850. Scores of 630 to 689 are considered fair credit in NerdWallet's guidelines.

Is a credit score of 630 considered good? ›

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 630 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.

Can you buy a house with a 630 credit score? ›

Credit score required: 620

Conventional loans are the most common type of mortgage, accounting for about 70% of the market. They usually require a 620 credit score, though some lenders will consider applicants with scores as low as 580.

How much of a loan can I get with a 630 credit score? ›

You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 630 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.

How long does it take to go from 630 to 700 credit score? ›

For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use. Once you've made it to the good credit zone (670-739), don't expect your credit to continue rising as steadily.

Can a 630 credit score buy a car? ›

Can I get an auto loan with an 630 credit score? The short answer is yes, but you're likely to get a significantly higher-than-average interest rate. To put it into perspective, as of November 2022, the typical borrower with prime credit (720 or higher FICO score) got an APR of 5.34% on a 60-month new auto loan.

Can you rent with a 630 credit score? ›

Generally, most landlords require applicants to have a credit score of at least 620 to be considered for rental housing. This means that if your FICO score is lower than 620, you may be denied an application or asked for additional security deposits or co-signers before being approved.

What credit score is needed to buy a $400,000 house? ›

Your credit score has less bearing on your ability to get a mortgage than you might think. The minimum FICO score for a conventional loan is 620. The best rate comes with a score of 740 or higher.

What credit score is needed for a 300K house? ›

What credit score is needed to buy a $300K house? The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.

What is the average person's credit score? ›

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.

Where does a credit score of 630 rank? ›

FICO score ranges

Below 580: poor. 580 to 669: fair. 670 to 739: good. 740 to 799: very good.

Do you need a cosigner with a 630 credit score? ›

Although requirements can vary by lender, a cosigner typically needs to have good to excellent credit (670 and up) to cosign a loan or credit line. Lenders look at a cosigner's credit score and report as well as their income and assets to determine whether they qualify for a loan.

What credit card can I get with a 630 credit score? ›

The best credit card for a 630 credit score is the OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card because it does not check your credit score when you apply and has a $0 annual fee. The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card also reports to the credit bureaus on a monthly basis.

Why is my credit score going down when I pay on time? ›

Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.

How to improve a 630 credit score? ›

Strategies to help improve a 630 credit score
  1. Make payments on time, as payment history makes up a large portion of your credit score.
  2. Reduce outstanding debt. ...
  3. Lowering your credit utilization ratio, which is the proportion of your credit usage against your total available credit.
Mar 25, 2024

What credit score is needed to buy a car? ›

The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.

What is a good credit score for my age? ›

What is a good credit score for your age? You might consider your score to be good if it meets or exceeds the average for your peers, but that isn't the best gauge. Following NerdWallet's general guidelines, a good credit score is within the 690 to 719 range on the standard 300-850 scale, regardless of age.

Is a 700 credit score good? ›

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.

Is a 900 credit score possible? ›

Highlights: 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.

What is the average credit score in the United States? ›

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850. The higher your score, the better.

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