My Credit Score Is Over 800. Here's How I Got There

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The average credit score in the U.S. was 715 in 2023, according to Experian, one of three credit reporting bureaus. But a score of 800 or above is considered "exceptional." And at the risk of sounding obnoxious, I'm proud of the fact that I've managed to get my credit score above 800.

When your credit score is above 800, it generally means that it's easier for you to qualify for a new loan or credit card when you apply. This isn't to say that you're guaranteed to get approved. With a mortgage , for example, you may be denied on the basis of not having a high enough income. But in that case, it's not your credit score that's holding you back.

A higher credit score also tends to mean snagging a borrowing rate that's competitive based on what's out there. For example, the average mortgage rate as of this writing is 6.49%. But you might qualify for a rate of 6.29% with great credit, which could result in lower monthly home loan payments.

But the fact that I'm sitting on a credit score above 800 isn't an accident. I worked hard to get my credit score to that point. And with the right strategy, you can do the same.

How I got my credit score above 800

If you were to ask me my exact credit score today, I probably couldn't tell you unless I went and looked it up. That's because credit scores can fluctuate from one month to the next. But the last time I checked, my credit score was around an 820.

Earlier in the year, it was more like an 810. And frankly, I don't really care exactly what my credit score amounts to as long as that number is an 800 or above. Once you get to that point, you're in great shape -- period. So how did I get my credit score so high?

I stay current on bills

For one thing, I've stayed current on all of my bills and debts through the years. I budget carefully to make sure I can swing my monthly payments, and I either have calendar reminders for when they're due or I have them set to autopay (this is the case with my mortgage and car payments).

I keep my balances low

I also make a point to keep my credit card balances low. Your credit utilization, which is the amount of available credit you're using at once, counts a lot toward your credit score. Keeping your credit card usage to 30% of your total spending limit or below can help your score. And the lower, the better. Since I pay my credit cards off in full every month, I'm able to keep my score in solid shape.

I review my credit report often

Finally, I make a point to review my credit report every month. You're entitled to a free copy from each of the three credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion -- every week. But what I do is select one report from one bureau each month and then rotate. So for example, in January I might check my Experian report, in February I'll check my Equifax report, in March I'll check my TransUnion report, and repeat.

The reason for this is twofold. First, if you see a loan or credit card account you don't recognize on your credit report, it's a sign that you've fallen victim to fraud. And that's something to address immediately.

But also, it's not unheard of for credit reports to contain mistakes, some of which could be damaging to a credit score. If you have a late payment listed on your credit report that isn't accurate, that could be driving your credit score down. So it's important to check and make sure there's no false information working against you.

You have the power to boost your credit score

If you're eager to get your credit score to 800 or higher, I suggest you take the steps I do -- pay bills on time, keep credit card balances low, and check your credit report on a regular basis. But there are a few additional ways you can give your score a lift.

If you haven't had credit accounts in your name for that long, you can ask a parent or sibling to add you as an authorized user to one of their credit cards. That way, their positive payment history will reflect well on you. And also, this might help you increase the average length of your open accounts, which is another factor that could help your score improve.

You can also ask your credit card issuers for a higher spending limit to lower your credit utilization. But this strategy only works if you don't increase your credit card spending, so be careful here.

All told, a credit score over 800 could do you a lot of good. It pays to take steps to raise your score, but don't get discouraged if a boost doesn't happen right away. Improving your credit can take time. But if you're patient, you might soon enough get to a place where you have more options for borrowing money affordably.

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