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Is 600 a good credit score? Credit card & loan options. How to improve a 600 credit score.
John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
May 22, 2024
Poor Credit
A credit score of 600 is a “bad” credit score, unfortunately. It is 100 points away from being a “good” credit score, which many people use as a benchmark, and 40 points from being “fair.” Such a score will make it difficult to get approved for a decent loan or line of credit.
Key Things to Know About a 600 Credit Score
Below, you can learn more about what a 600 credit score can get you and, even more importantly, how you can get a higher credit score. To that end, you can also check out your personalized credit analysis to see where you need to improve and exactly how to do it.
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What Does a 600 Credit Score Get You?
Type of Credit | Do You Qualify? |
Secured Credit Card | YES |
Unsecured Credit Card | YES |
Home Loan | YES (FHA Loan) |
Personal Loan | MAYBE |
Auto Loan | MAYBE |
Note: It may be possible to qualify for a personal loan or auto loan in some cases, but the terms are unlikely to be attractive. If you apply for the average offer, you’re more likely to be rejected than approved.
This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer.
Popular Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score
- Best Overall:Discover it® Secured Credit CardDiscover it® Secured Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- No Credit Check:OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Unsecured:Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditCredit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Rewards & No Annual Fee:Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
How to Improve a 600 Credit Score
Get Personalized Advice From WalletHub
The best approach to improving a 600 credit score is to check the Credit Analysis page of your free WalletHub account. This will tell you what problem areas to focus on and how to correct them.
If your grades are similar to those earned by the average person with a 600 credit score, for example, improving your credit utilization and paying your bills by the due date every month should be among the first orders of business.
Improve Your Credit Utilization
There are four ways to improve your credit utilization, which refers to how the balances listed on your credit card statements each month compare to the credit limits for those accounts. You can spend less, make bigger payments or pay your bill multiple times per month to bring down your statement balances. You can also request higher credit limits, but that’s harder for you to control.
Use a Secured Credit Card Responsibly
The most reliable way to begin rebuilding bad credit is to place a down payment on a secured credit card. The deposit reduces the issuer’s risk, making it possible to get approved no matter how low your score might be. Then, simply keeping your account in good standing will result in positive information being added to your credit report month after month.
You could try a credit card for people with fair credit first, but if you don’t get approved, go the secured-card route. Repeatedly getting rejected will result in multiple hard inquiries on your credit report and only make rebuilding harder.
Pay All Your Bills By the Due Date
On-time payments are important because your payment history accounts for a lot of your credit score, and success in this area is directly within your control. The best approach is to set up automatic monthly payments from a bank account. This will at least save your score from taking a hit just because you lose track of time.
Keep Tabs on Your Credit Report
No matter what your credit score is, it’s also a good idea to regularly review your credit report for errors and dispute any you find. Doing that and signing up for a free 24/7 credit monitoring service will help keep you and your credit score safe.
Sample Scorecard for Someone With a 600 Credit Score
Below, you can get a feel for how your credit analysis might look as well as what your other top credit-improvement priorities might be.
- Payment History: D = Less than 98% on-time payments
- Credit Utilization: C = 10% - 29% utilization
- Debt Load: B = 0.36 - 0.42 debt-to-income ratio
- Account Age: B = Average loan / line of credit is 7 - 9 years old
- Account Diversity: C = 2 account types or fewer than 5 total accounts
- Hard Credit Inquiries: A = Fewer than 3 in past 24 months
- Collections Accounts & Public Records: B = 1 collections account / public record
Top 10 Resources for a 600 Credit Score
- Why Did My Credit Score Drop? Top 10 Causes
- Free Credit Score Simulator
- How To Improve Your Credit Utilization
- Bad Credit Guide
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Questions & Answers
(6 questions)
Get answers to your questions about a 600 Credit Score below. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by this issuer. In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
What unsecured credit cards can I get with a 600 credit score?
Reply
4
thom Fotenberg, WalletHub Credit Card Analyst
@thom.f
There are several unsecured cards you can get with a 600 credit score, the best of which is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. This card is open for applicants with bad credit. Plus, the card offers 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Just note that the Credit One Visa card comes with an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after.
Notable Unsecured Cards to Get with a 600 Credit Score
- Cash Back Rewards:Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditCredit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- No Upfront Fees:Milestone® Mastercard®Milestone® Mastercard®Learn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Pre-Approval Offers:Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect CreditIndigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Store Card With High Approval Odds:Fingerhut Credit AccountFingerhut Credit AccountLearn MoreLearn More
Having acredit score of 600means you have bad credit. So, you can take a look at some of thebest unsecured credit cards for bad creditand pick one according to your individual needs. Regardless of the card you end up getting, it's definitely worth having a look at some tips on how toimprove your credit score.
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Upvotes
Can I get approved for a credit card with a 600 credit score?
Reply
25
Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
Yes, you can get approved for a credit card with a 600 credit score, which is considered bad credit. One of the best choices is the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card (see ) as it offers 1.5 - 5% cash back on purchases and has a $0 annual fee.
Some of the Best Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score
- No Credit Check:OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- No Security Deposit:Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditCredit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Cash Back:Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Build Credit:Capital One Platinum Secured Credit CardCapital One Platinum Secured Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
You can also check our editors' latest picks for the best credit cards for bad credit on the market to weigh your options. Keep in mind that the best...
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Upvotes
Can I get a VA loan with a 600 credit score?
Reply
17
Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator
@sydneygarth
You can't get a VA loan with a 600 credit score. While the VA loan program has very relaxed credit requirements, VA lenders typically require a minimum credit score of about 650.
The VA loan program is aimed at helping military buyers get an accessible mortgage. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not issue loans. The agency only oversees the program and guarantees a portion of each loan. Individual VA lenders handle the...
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Upvotes
How big of a loan can I get a with a 600 credit score?
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Upvotes
Is debt consolidation an option for people with 600 credit score?
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2
Northpointe Bank
@NorthpointeBank
Yes! With a credit score under 660, your best bet will be to check into peer-to-peer lending options such as Prosper or Lending Club. If you're not familiar with these options Google each to learn more. Consumer Reports also has done a review on both in the Feb 2015 edition and recommend them as good alternatives to bank or credit union financing.
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Upvotes
Is 600 a good credit score for a credit card?
Reply
Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
No, a 600 credit score isn't good for a credit card, as it is considered bad credit andmost cards require good credit or better for approval. There are credit cards designed for people with lower credit scores, too, but there aren't as many to choose from. With a credit score of 600, you may also find it more challenging to qualify for credit cards with good terms and rewards.
Generally, the best credit cards for a 600 credit score are secured cards because...
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