Fair Credit

Is 600 a Good Credit Score?

A 600 credit score is Fair. You're in the lower range of borrowers and will face higher rates and limited options, but you're within striking distance of Good credit (670+).

Last Updated: March 2026 WiseIQ Editorial Team

600

Fair Credit

FICO Score Range: 300–850

300850

Browse Credit Scores

580 600 620 640 660 680 700 720 740 760 780 800 850

Score Tier

Fair Credit

Grade

C-

Better Than

28% of Americans

What You Qualify For with a 600 Credit Score

Credit Cards

Secured cards and some unsecured subprime cards. Capital One Platinum and Discover it Secured are good options.

Personal Loans

Upstart and Avant accept 600+. Rates will be 15%–30% APR. Avoid anything above 36% APR.

Auto Loans

Yes. Capital One Auto Navigator and myAutoloan accept 600+. Expect 10%–18% APR.

Mortgage

FHA loans accept 580+ with 3.5% down. You qualify, but rates will be significantly higher than 620+ borrowers.

HELOC

Difficult. A few lenders accept 600+ but rates will be high. Improving to 620+ first is recommended.

Savings Account

Any bank — credit scores don't affect savings account eligibility.

Best Financial Products for 600 Credit Score

Credit Cards for 600 →Personal Loans for 600 →Savings Accounts for 600 →HELOC for 600 →

What's Holding Your Score Back

Recent late payments or a single missed payment
Credit utilization above 30% on one or more cards
A collection account or charge-off within the last 2 years
Short credit history (under 2 years average age)
Limited credit mix (only one type of credit account)

How to Improve a 600 Credit Score

Target 620 first

The 620 threshold unlocks conventional mortgages and significantly better loan rates. Focus on getting there before anything else.

Pay down your highest-utilization card first

If one card is at 80% utilization, paying it to 30% can add 20–40 points quickly.

Don't close old accounts

Closing accounts reduces your available credit and can increase utilization. Keep old cards open even if unused.

Use Experian Boost

Free tool that adds utility, phone, and streaming payments to your Experian score. Can add 10–20 points instantly.

Wait for negative items to age

Late payments hurt less after 2 years and fall off entirely after 7 years. Time is on your side.

Timeline: Most people can reach 640–660 within 6–9 months from 600 with consistent on-time payments and utilization management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 600 a good credit score?

No, but it's improving. A 600 score is Fair and below the national average of 714. You'll qualify for some credit products but at higher rates. The good news: 600 is only 20 points from 620, which unlocks significantly better options including conventional mortgages.

What credit cards can I get with a 600 credit score?

With a 600 score, your best options are the Capital One Platinum Credit Card (no annual fee, accepts fair credit), Discover it Secured (builds credit with cash back rewards), and the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa. Avoid cards with high annual fees or monthly maintenance fees.

How fast can I raise my credit score from 600 to 700?

With aggressive action (paying down utilization, disputing errors, on-time payments), most people can reach 700 in 12–18 months from 600. The biggest single action is reducing credit card utilization below 10%.

← 580 Score 620 Score →