The Dime Daily

Is a 780 Credit Score Good?

Updated 2026 · FICO Score 8 scale · U.S. average: 714

Yes — 780 is near the top of the 'very good' range (740–799), 20 points from 'exceptional.'

FICO bucket: Very Good (740–799)

Skip the fluff — TL;DR

780 is an excellent credit score that puts you in the top tier of borrowers by every measure. You get the best rates, every card, and zero friction on any credit-dependent application. The U.S. average is 714 — you're 66 points above it.
FICO RangeCategoryYour score
800–850Exceptional
740–799Very Good780 ← you
670–739Good
580–669Fair
300–579Poor

What a 780 credit score gets you

🏠 Mortgage

Absolute best-tier pricing. Lenders compete for your business at this score.

Typical rate: ~5.3–5.9% (30-year fixed)— estimate, varies by lender, LTV, and loan type

🚗 Auto Loan

Best rates, every lender. You're the customer dealers advertise their best rates for.

Typical rate: ~1.5–4% APR

💳 Credit Cards

Every card, any spend tier. You're in Amex Centurion invitation territory for high spenders.

🏢 Apartment Rental

No friction anywhere, ever.

How 780 compares to the U.S. average

The U.S. average FICO is 714. At 780, you're 66 points above average and in the top ~15% of American credit scores.

U.S. average (714)780
300 (min)714 avg850 (max)

How to improve a 780 credit score

  1. 1

    800 is 20 points away — achievable mainly by letting your accounts continue to age.

  2. 2

    The only significant risk: a missed payment at this score drops you significantly. Autopay everything.

  3. 3

    New accounts slightly lower your average age of credit. Don't open cards you don't need.

  4. 4

    Annual credit report review to catch any fraudulent activity is the most important maintenance step now.

💰 Dime's Take

780 is the score you have when you've done everything right for a long time. The jump to 800 is mostly psychological — lenders can't tell the difference in their pricing models. What 780 actually represents is years of disciplined credit behavior that will pay off in lower lifetime borrowing costs on every loan you ever take.

Nearby credit scores

Is 750 a good credit score?Is 760 a good credit score?Is 800 a good credit score?

Frequently asked questions

Yes — 780 is near the top of the 'very good' range (740–799), 20 points from 'exceptional.' FICO defines "good" credit as 670–739. Very Good credit (740–799) falls within or above that range, meaning you have access to most mainstream financial products at competitive rates.

With a 780 credit score: Mortgages — Absolute best-tier pricing. Lenders compete for your business at this score. Auto loans — Best rates, every lender. You're the customer dealers advertise their best rates for. Credit cards — Every card, any spend tier. You're in Amex Centurion invitation territory for high spenders. Apartment rentals — No friction anywhere, ever.

800 is 20 points away — achievable mainly by letting your accounts continue to age. The only significant risk: a missed payment at this score drops you significantly. Autopay everything. New accounts slightly lower your average age of credit. Don't open cards you don't need. Annual credit report review to catch any fraudulent activity is the most important maintenance step now.

The U.S. average FICO is 714. At 780, you're 66 points above average and in the top ~15% of American credit scores.

FICO scores range from 300 to 850. The five ranges are: Poor (300–579), Fair (580–669), Good (670–739), Very Good (740–799), and Exceptional (800–850). Most lenders use FICO scores, though some use VantageScore which uses the same 300–850 range with slightly different cutoffs.
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