More than 100 million Americans have a low or no credit score. These Americans are either locked out of the traditional finance system or pay higher fees and interest rates for access to credit. Additionally, they often pay more for insurance and other services.

But your credit score won't start at zero, because there's no such thing as a zero credit score. The lowest score you can have is a 300, but if you make responsible financial decisions from the beginning, your starting credit score is more likely to be between 500 and 700.

What is the lowest credit score possible? Generally, credit scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest possible credit score.

Here's how the FICO credit scoring system ranks credit scores:

• Poor: 300-579.
• Fair: 580-669.
• Good: 670-739.
• Very Good: 740-799.
• Exceptional: 800-850.

The most commonly used credit scoring models have a range of 300-850. It is not possible to get a score of 900. Older models of the FICO® and VantageScore® went up to 900, and there are other specialized scores that have different ranges going up to 900.

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 500 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

A 550 credit score is considered poor and can significantly limit your access to credit and financial opportunities. However, by taking proactive steps to improve your credit score, you can increase your chances of securing better interest rates, loan terms, and credit limits.

If you have an 650 credit score, you are generally considered a subprime consumer, but it won't necessarily prevent you from borrowing money. The average FICO credit score in the United States is 714 as of 2021, and scores within the 580-669 range are considered to be “fair” credit.

Perfect credit scores are incredibly rare, though they are possible. Although high credit scores make it easier for people to qualify for financing, you don't need perfect credit to get a good interest rate on loans or credit cards.

Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit. Baby boomers make up a whopping 59.4% of the people with an 850 credit score.

How Long Does It Take to Fix Credit? The good news is that when your score is low, each positive change you make is likely to have a significant impact. For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use.

You can potentially get a personal loan with a 500 credit score if you have a steady source of income! Quality lenders like CreditNinja may extend a loan offer if you can provide proof of your ability to make monthly payments on time. Credit scores are typically one of the main qualifying factors for loans.