What the Numbers Mean Credit scores range from 400 to 900, with the average around 700. According to the model, as your score increases, your risk of default decreases. Industry experience shows a direct correlation between low scores and high default rates. But just as your credit history can vary from credit bureau to credit bureau, so can your credit scores. Wide-ranging credit scores are rare, however, although some lenders admit to seeing borrowers with scores that vary by 100 points or more.
Narrow ranges are more typical.
How to Get Your Credit Score Credit scorers are not required by law to reveal credit scores to consumers. And for years, they haven't. But happily, that is changing. Although Fair Isaac is the only credit scorer to voluntarily disclose consumer credit scores, if you live in California and are shopping for a home mortgage, you can still get your credit score, even if it's from a company other than Fair Isaac. This is because a new California law requires mortgage lenders to disclose credit scores to loan shoppers starting July 1, 2001.