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Introduction to an 801 credit score

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    Quick insights

    • An 801 credit score is considered “excellent” or “exceptional” by some scoring models.
    • There can be some perks to having an 801 credit score, such as the potential for lower annual percentage rates (APRs).
    • You can maintain an 801 credit score by making consistent, on-time payments and practicing responsible credit management.

    Have you been keeping track of your credit score or checked it recently? You might be wondering what this three-digit number means. If you have an 801 credit score, you are on the right track—this high score can be beneficial for you. Let’s learn more about what this score means.

    Is 801 a good credit score?

    Yes, an 801 credit score can be considered to be good, if not “excellent” or “exceptional.” Compared to lower scores, an 801 score demonstrates strong creditworthiness—your ability to repay debts—and may indicate that you are a lower risk candidate to potential lenders.

    Depending on the scoring model used, an 801 credit score may fall into different ranges. Below is a breakdown of the score range for both VantageScore® and FICO® scoring models below:

    As of January 2025, VantageScore 3.0 ranges are:

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

    As of January 2025, FICO 8 score ranges are:

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

    As you can see, an 801 score falls into the highest possible credit score categories for both models. So what does this mean for you and your credit profile?

    Benefits of an 801 credit score

    Some opportunities that come with having an 801 credit score include, but are not limited to:

    • The potential to access premium credit cards. Typically, credit cards with more exclusive rewards programs and perks require a higher credit score. With an 801 credit score, you may be able to get approved for more cards of your liking.
    • Lower APRs. The higher your score, the better your chances are of getting more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates, on different lending products like credit cards or a mortgage. Over time, you could potentially save in interest costs.
    • Improved chances of approvals. Whether you’re looking to apply for a mortgage or sign a lease for a housing rental, your lender or landlord may be more likely to approve you if you have a high credit score as opposed to a poor one.

    Improving and maintaining an 801 credit score

    To help you maintain an 801 credit score (and potentially improve it over time) consider the following tips:

    • Focus on payment history. This is one of the most important factors that gets considered when calculating your credit score, so continue to consistently make your payments on time. Just one missed or late payment can set your score back.
    • Review your credit report. You can request a free credit report annually from the three main credit bureaus—Experian™, Equifax® and TransUnion®. Review this report and look for signs of inaccuracies, which could negatively impact your credit score. You can dispute incorrect marks on your report and potentially have them removed.
    • Monitor your credit score. You can use free online tools like Chase Credit Journey® to help you keep track of your credit score. With Credit Journey®, you can view your credit score for free provided by Experian anytime without impacting it. You can also set up score goals using the score improvement feature powered by Experian. Monitoring your score can be important to help you understand what habits may be affecting it.
    • Maintain low credit utilization. Your credit utilization ratio—the amount of credit you use against your total available credit—is another important factor that contributes towards your score. Keeping a ratio of about 30% or less can help you keep a high credit score.

    In conclusion

    Credit scores help indicate your creditworthiness and can increase your chances of accessing credit. With a higher credit score, your credit opportunities may widen and you may be able to save in interest costs over time, as you may land more favorable terms. Maintaining a high score of 801 takes diligence, consistency and regular, healthy habits, such as maintaining a low credit utilization ratio. With tools like Credit Journey, you can track your progress along the way.

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