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Is 630 a Good Credit Score?


Is 630 a Good Credit Score?

630 credit score

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    By Kevin Brouillard

    (Last Updated – 11/2025)

    A 630 credit score isn’t good, but it isn’t bad either. According to the FICO® Score scale, it falls in the fair range.

    Your three-digit credit score indicates your creditworthiness as a borrower, including how you’ve managed debt and bills in the past. While a 630 credit score is below the average U.S. credit score of 715, you can likely still qualify for a credit card and different types of loans, such as a mortgage or car loan. You may, however, pay higher interest rates than those with a higher credit score.

    Here’s what you need to know about a 630 credit score, from what it means to the types of financing you can qualify for.

    Key Points

    •   A 630 credit score is considered fair, below the U.S. average of 715.

    •   Qualification for some credit cards, car loans, and personal loans is possible, but not with the best terms.

    •   Higher interest rates and limited access to certain loans are potential drawbacks of a 630 credit score.

    •   Payment history, credit utilization, credit history length, new credit, and credit mix affect a person’s credit score.

    •   Building a credit score can require timely payments, lower credit utilization, maintaining a long credit history, and avoiding multiple new credit applications.

    What Does a 630 Credit Score Mean?

    A credit score is a three-digit number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, that demonstrates your ability to repay debt. On the FICO scale, which is the most widely used credit scoring model, a 630 credit score sits in the middle of the “fair” category.

    The other popular scoring system, VantageScore®, also uses a scale of 300 to 850. The higher your credit score, the less risk you pose as a borrower in the eyes of lenders.

    Here’s an overview of FICO Score ranges for further context on how a 630 credit score stacks up.

    •   Exceptional: 800 to 850

    •   Very Good: 740 to 799

    •   Good: 670 to 739

    •   Fair: 580 to 669

    •   Poor: 300 to 579

    Simply put, the answer to whether 630 is a good credit score is no. A 630 credit score sits in the middle of the fair range. Approximately 15% of Americans have a credit score with a “fair” rating.

    If you’re curious about how FICO and VantageScore calculate your credit score, here are the five key factors that affect your credit score:

    •   Payment history (35%): Whether your loan and credit payments have been made on time is the single biggest contributor to a credit score.

    •   Amounts owed (30%): How much revolving credit you have available versus your credit limit, known as your credit utilization, can harm your score if it exceeds 30%.

    •   Length of credit history (15%): How long you have maintained your accounts impacts your score, with longer usually being better.

    •   New credit (10%): Too many applications for credit in a short period of time can negatively impact your score.

    •   Credit mix (10%): The variety of credit types you have, such as revolving credit and installment loans, can contribute positively to your score.

    Recommended: How Many Lines of Credit Should I Have?

    What Else Can You Get with a 630 Credit Score?

    Lenders may view a borrower with a 630 credit score as a risky candidate for certain loan products. To get approval, you may be charged a higher interest rate or otherwise be offered less favorable terms due to the perceived risk of lending to borrowers with a fair credit rating.

    Read on for a closer look at what you might qualify for as a borrower with a 630 credit score.

    Can I Get a Credit Card with a 630 Credit Score?

    Borrowers with fair credit can qualify for some types of credit cards. But the best credit cards with more favorable terms and perks, including lower interest rates and credit card points, typically require a good credit rating or higher to qualify.

    If a 630 credit score has kept you from obtaining a credit card, you may want to look into a secured credit card. These cards tend to have lower minimum credit scores requirements but require a refundable deposit as collateral. The credit limit on the card typically corresponds to the deposit amount. In other words, a $600 deposit would translate to a $600 credit limit.

    A secured credit card can help build your credit score and may help you qualify for an unsecured credit card if managed well. To do so, it’s important to stay on top of monthly payments and maintain a credit utilization ratio of 30% or less.

    Worth noting: If you are struggling with credit card debt and high credit utilization, you might consider such options as a balance transfer credit card (to give you relief from high interest rates and help you pay down the principal) or a credit card consolidation loan, which can allow you to make just one payment a month and may offer a lower interest rate.

    Recommended: Breaking Down the Different Types of Credit Cards

    Can I Get an Auto Loan with a 630 Credit Score?

    With a 630 credit score, car loans are not out of the question. However, you can expect to pay higher interest rates than those with a good credit rating. According to Experian®, the average interest rate for borrowers with a credit score of 601-660 was 9.83% for a new car and 13.74% for a used car in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 6.70% for those with credit scores between 661 and 780 for a new car, and 9.06% for a used car.

    You may need to make a higher down payment to get a car loan with a 630 credit score. Having a vehicle to trade in at the dealer can also help reduce the loan amount and secure more favorable terms.

    Can I Get a Mortgage with a 628 Credit Score?

    Yes, you can likely get a mortgage with a 630 credit score. Here’s a look at several types of home mortgages you might qualify for.

    •   Conventional mortgage: The minimum credit score for a conventional home loan is usually 620. This type of home loan is not backed by the government, and you’ll need to have enough funds to cover the down payment and closing costs.

    •   FHA loan: A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is popular with qualified first-time home buyers. Since these loans are insured by the federal government, you can qualify with a minimum credit score of 500. Borrowers with a credit score of at least 580 can get a FHA loan with just a 3.5% down payment; lower than that typically requires a 10% down payment.

    •   USDA loan: Borrowers typically need a 640 credit score to automatically qualify for a USDA loan, which also requires purchasing a home in a designated rural area. However, lenders can consider other factors when evaluating your application.

    •   VA loan: Service members, veterans, and qualifying surviving spouses may access a VA loan with a minimum credit score of 620, depending on the lender.

    With a 630 credit score, you’re unlikely to qualify for a jumbo loan, which is typically for an amount higher than that of a conforming loan. You usually need a credit score of at least 700, plus a 10% to 20% down payment, to qualify for these larger, nonconforming home loans.

    Can I Get a Personal Loan with a 630 Credit Score?

    You can likely get a personal loan with a 630 credit score, but you probably won’t land a low interest rate. For a credit card consolidation loan to pay off high interest debt, you may need a higher credit score — 670 or above — to qualify.

    As with any type of loan, you should compare rates from multiple lenders, including banks and online lenders, to find the best option before you apply for a personal loan. You might consider asking a family member or friend with stronger credit to cosign a personal loan to secure a better rate.

    Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

    The Takeaway

    To recap, a 630 credit score isn’t considered good, nor is it technically bad. It falls within the fair credit score range. Though you may qualify for credit cards and loans, you typically won’t get the most favorable terms. There are steps you can take to build your credit score and unlock more competitive rates, such as making on-time debt payments and keeping an eye on your credit utilization.

    Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.


    SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Personal Loan overall.

    View your rate

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    †Veterans, Service members, and members of the National Guard or Reserve may be eligible for a loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA loans are subject to unique terms and conditions established by VA and SoFi. Ask your SoFi loan officer for details about eligibility, documentation, and other requirements. VA loans typically require a one-time funding fee except as may be exempted by VA guidelines. The fee may be financed or paid at closing. The amount of the fee depends on the type of loan, the total amount of the loan, and, depending on loan type, prior use of VA eligibility and down payment amount. The VA funding fee is typically non-refundable. SoFi is not affiliated with any government agency.


    Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .



    Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

    Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.



    Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

    Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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    Tax Refunds Are Poised to Jump: 5 Ways You Could Cash In

    This article appeared in SoFi's On the Money newsletter. Not getting it? Sign up here.

    Filing taxes can be a pain, but there’s a compelling reason to get a headstart this year: A surprisingly hefty refund might be waiting for you on the other side of that paperwork.

    Tax breaks passed by Congress last summer could boost the average federal refund by $675, according to one analysis. For middle- and higher-income households, it could be a $1,000 bump.

    Of course, tax refunds vary widely depending on your income and tax liability — and there’s no guarantee you won’t owe money instead — but this year’s refunds stand to be unusually large because the IRS didn’t update its income tax withholding tables after the tax breaks were retroactively applied to the 2025 tax year.

    In short, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act added several new types of tax deductions, most of which can be taken in addition to the standard deduction amount (which was also increased.) Here’s how they could reduce your taxable income for 2025:

    •  If you earned tips from a qualifying occupation (here’s a list,) you can deduct up to $25,000 in tip income as long as you had less than $150,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). This deduction, which can be taken on top of the standard deduction, gets smaller if your MAGI is higher than that.

    •  If you work overtime, you can deduct the “half” portion of your “time-and-a-half” pay, up to $12,500. This can also be taken on top of the standard deduction, and the income limitations are the same as for tips.

    •  If you’re a homeowner who lives in a high-tax state, the cap on SALT (state and local tax) deductions increased from $10,000 to $40,000, but only for taxpayers who itemize their deductions. This benefit phases out if you had over $500,000 in MAGI. (If you’re not sure if you’re better off itemizing or taking the standard deduction amount, consult a tax professional.).

    •  If you borrowed money to buy a new American-made car last year, you can deduct up to $10,000 for the auto loan interest you paid as long as you meet certain eligibility criteria (it can’t be a used car, for example) and didn’t earn more than $100,000 in MAGI. This can be taken on top of the standard deduction and there’s a phaseout for higher incomes.

    •  If you’re 65 or older, you can deduct an extra $6,000 as long as you didn’t have over $75,000 in MAGI. Again, this is in addition to the standard amount for seniors and a phaseout applies.

    So what?

    Since the average 2024 tax refund was over $3,100, the new tax breaks could feel like a windfall of over $3,800 for many Americans. But if you don’t have a plan, you might absorb it into your budget with little or nothing to show for it.

    No matter how big or small, if you get a refund this year, make the most of it. You can still treat yourself, but you won’t regret using a solid chunk to pay down debt, bolster your emergency savings, or boost your retirement account.

    Related Reading

    Tax Refunds and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Tax Foundation)

    Prepare to File in 2026: Get Ready for Tax Season with Key Updates, Essential Tips (IRS)

    Trump Promises Largest Tax Refunds Ever in 2026 (Fox News)


    Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

    The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

    SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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    Home equity loan rates currently start at a 6.99% fixed APR and vary based on multiple factors, including credit history, loan amount, income, loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, loan term, and property status.



    Does a home equity loan change your interest rate?


    Unlike a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan will not change the interest rate on your current mortgage, nor will you have to refinance your existing home loan. If you’re using a home equity loan to pay off an existing secured loan or unsecured debt, a home equity loan can often lower your interest rate compared to personal loans or credit cards.



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    As a general principle, a good home equity loan rate should be lower than rates on unsecured loans, such as personal loans and credit cards. However, the rate that makes sense for you will depend on your individual financial circumstances, as lower rates will tend to come from shorter loan terms, which will have higher monthly payments than longer terms.



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    Does a home equity loan change your mortgage interest rate?


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