900 Credit Score: Possible or Not? | Chase (2024)

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.

A credit score of 900 is not possible, but older scoring models that are no longer used once went up to 900 or higher. The highest possible credit score you can get now is 850. If you’re curious about your current credit score and how you may achieve a higher one you can enroll in Chase Credit Journey®, a free, online credit monitoring tool available to Chase and non-Chase customers.

In this article, we will review:

  • What the highest credit score is
  • Credit score ranges by scoring model
  • What factors affect your credit score?
  • Benefits of having an exceptional score

What is the highest credit score?

According to the current scoring models, the highest credit score you can receive is 850, but essentially any score in the 800 range is considered to be an exceptional score. There may be some light differences when it comes to specific ranges for both the VantageScore® and the FICO score®. Let’s review them below.

Credit score ranges by scoring model

Both the VantageScore and FICO score models range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. They are both categorized into ranges from low to high credit scores. As you can see in the scoring models below, achieving a 900 score is not possible today.

The VantageScore credit score ranges are:

  • Excellent: 781 to 850
  • Good: 661 to 780
  • Fair: 601 to 660
  • Poor: 500 to 600
  • Very Poor: 300 to 499

For FICO, the credit score ranges are:

  • Exceptional: 800+
  • Very Good: 740 to 799
  • Good: 670 to 739
  • Fair: 580 to 669
  • Poor: 579 and below

What factors affect your credit score?

A credit score is calculated based on a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Payment history: This factor represents 40% of your VantageScore and 35% of your FICO score. This accounts for the consistency and timeliness of your bill payments over time.
  • Credit utilization: This segment accounts for 20% of your VantageScore and 30% of your FICO score. Credit utilization tallies the amount you owe compared to the credit you have available across all open credit accounts.
  • Length of credit history: This category adds up to 15% of value toward your VantageScore and FICO score. This segment considers the age of your oldest and youngest accounts. Credit agencies also factor the average age of all your accounts into this segment. They may note your usage rate for these accounts as well.
  • Credit mix: Credit mix indicates the types of credit you have. These may include installment loans, credit cards or mortgages, but it's not necessary to have all kinds of credit. But it may be beneficial for your score if you have more than one. Credit bureaus often look to see if you have a mix of revolving loans and installment loans.
  • New credit accounts: This includes the total number of new credit accounts and loans you’ve opened or applied for recently. Note that opening too many accounts at the same time can work against you here.

Benefits of having an exceptional score

You don’t need to have a perfect score. Just with a good score you may enjoy the benefits described below:

  • Having more room to negotiate for better terms/rates
  • Eligibility for more premium credit cards that could come with better earning rewards, perks and special benefits on travel
  • Receiving higher credit limits that grant you more purchasing power
  • Higher odds of approval for important life decisions like renting an apartment
  • A good impression on a potential employer who may run a credit check

Remember, a "perfect" score may be highly unlikely for you to achieve no matter which scoring model is used. To land in the top range — and be considered "exceptional” by the credit bureaus — there are some essential financial practices you should meet on a consistent basis, such as:

In summary

While 900 is no longer a credit score you can achieve today, you can still put in your best efforts to achieve an exceptional score of 800 or higher. Whether you’re looking to improve your score over time or challenge yourself to achieve something exceptional, enrolling in Credit Journey® will help you track your progress. Remember, your overall financial behavior and relationship with credit are key factors in helping you achieve your desired credit score.

900 Credit Score: Possible or Not? | Chase (2024)

FAQs

900 Credit Score: Possible or Not? | Chase? ›

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.

Is 900 credit score achievable? ›

It's exceedingly rare for anyone to have a credit score over 900, as most credit scoring models have a maximum limit of 850, and even achieving that score is uncommon.

What's the lowest credit score possible? ›

What is the lowest credit score possible? Generally, credit scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest possible credit score. But it's important to note that you typically have more than one credit score. And they may differ depending on the credit-scoring company and when they were calculated.

Is it possible to go from poor to excellent credit score? ›

You can improve a bad credit score by paying your bills on time, paying off debt, avoiding new hard inquiries and getting help building credit.

When did 900 credit score go away? ›

At first, the VantageScore used a very different scoring range, 501–900, but in 2013 it changed its range to be the same as FICO: 300–850. Both use similar scoring factors, although the VantageScore places more weighting emphasis on the length of an individual's credit history.

Has anyone gotten a 850 credit score? ›

Although a lot of people might like the idea of a perfect credit score, they'd likely have a hard time actually achieving it. In the U.S., only about 1.7 percent of the scorable population had a perfect 850 FICO credit score in April 2023, according to FICO data.

Can you have a 1000 credit score? ›

A credit score of 1,000 is not possible because the standard credit score range used by FICO and VantageScore is 300 to 850. Other credit scoring models have a high of 900 or 950, but they are industry-specific and only used by certain financial institutions.

What is the average US 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.

How bad is a zero credit score? ›

Lenders evaluate people based on how they've used credit in the past. An empty credit report with no evidence of a borrowing history signals to lenders that you're inexperienced. That makes lenders nervous and increases the chances they will deny you for credit like a car loan, credit card or mortgage.

How many Americans have bad credit? ›

Around 33% of Americans have a bad FICO credit score (between 300-620). In 2021, the average credit score in the United States was 711, with around 16% of adults having a credit score lower than 579.

How can I raise my credit score 100 points overnight? ›

10 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
  1. Review Your Credit Report. ...
  2. Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
  3. Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
  4. Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
  5. Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
  6. Become an Authorized User. ...
  7. Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
  8. Take Out a Secured Credit Card.

Can I pay someone to fix my credit? ›

You can always try to repair your credit yourself; however, depending on your financial situation, working with a reputable credit repair service may save you time and provide a better outcome in the long run.

How to increase credit score by 100 points in 30 days? ›

Steps you can take to raise your credit score quickly include:
  1. Lower your credit utilization rate.
  2. Ask for late payment forgiveness.
  3. Dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports.
  4. Add utility and phone payments to your credit report.
  5. Check and understand your credit score.
  6. The bottom line about building credit fast.

Is FICO out of 900? ›

Depending on the type of scoring model, a 900 credit score is possible. While the most common FICO and VantageScore models only go up to 850, the FICO Auto Score and FICO Bankcard Score models range from 250 to 900.

What is a good credit score to buy a house? ›

You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500. Whether you qualify for a specific loan type also depends on personal factors like your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and income.

Who has the best credit score ever? ›

For most credit-scoring models, including VantageScore 3.0 and FICO, the highest credit score possible is 850. We were able to speak to two Americans who belong to the exclusive FICO 850 Club: Brad Stevens of Austin, Texas, and John Ulzheimer of Atlanta.

What is highest credit score possible? ›

Generally speaking, the highest credit score possible is 850, according to the most common FICO and VantageScore credit models. There are several factors that go into determining a credit score, such as payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit inquiries and credit mix.

Is it possible to get 999 credit score? ›

A credit score of 999 from Experian is the highest you can get. It usually means you don't have many marks on your credit file and are very likely to be accepted for a loan or credit card. However, a high credit score doesn't guarantee your loan will be accepted.

How rare is an 800 credit score? ›

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.

Can you get a 1200 credit score? ›

At Equifax, we use a score range from 0 to 1,200 to calculate your credit rating. Our credit score range is broken down according to these classifications: below average (0 to 459), average (460 to 660), good (661 to 734), very good (735 to 852), and excellent (853 to 1,200).

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