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652 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 652 credit score is a solid foundation that can open doors to various financial products and opportunities. Under the FICO scoring model, this number falls into the "Fair" credit range, positioning you well for future financial growth.
What Does a 652 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 652 falls into the "fair" range on the FICO model, which runs from 300 to 850. While not a poor score, it's below the U.S. average and signals some risk to lenders. Consequently, you may be approved for credit, but likely with less favorable interest rates and terms than those offered to borrowers with higher scores.
However, a 652 score is a solid foundation for improvement. It places you on the verge of "good" credit, so positive financial habits can significantly boost your standing. This score is a stepping stone, not a permanent label, and represents a strong starting point for accessing better financial opportunities in the future.
Who Has a 652 Credit Score?
Credit scores often correlate with age, generally increasing as individuals get older. According to Experian data from 2023, the average FICO score varies significantly across different generations:
- Ages 18-26 (Generation Z): 680
- Ages 27-42 (Millennials): 690
- Ages 43-58 (Generation X): 709
- Ages 59-77 (Baby Boomers): 745
- Ages 78+ (Silent Generation): 760
Credit Cards With a 652 Credit Score
A credit score of 652 places you in the "fair" credit range, which is a common starting point for many people building or rebuilding their credit. While this score can open the door to several credit card options, particularly unsecured cards designed for this range, you may not qualify for premium rewards cards with the most attractive perks. Lenders might also offer you a higher annual percentage rate (APR) and a lower credit limit until you demonstrate a consistent history of on-time payments.
To navigate the options, Kudos offers AI-powered tools that provide personalized recommendations based on your specific financial goals, like finding a low interest rate or maximizing rewards. Its Explore Tool matches your preferences against a database of nearly 3,000 cards to find the best fit for your situation.
Auto Loans and a 652 Credit Score
A 652 credit score places you in the "non-prime" borrower category, which means you will likely be approved for an auto loan. However, you should expect to face significantly higher interest rates than applicants with stronger credit histories.
- Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars, 7.13% for used cars
- Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars, 9.36% for used cars
- Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars, 13.92% for used cars
- Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars, 18.86% for used cars
- Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars, 21.55%
Mortgages at a 652 Credit Score
With a 652 credit score, you are in a position to qualify for several major mortgage types. According to credit score requirements, this score meets the typical minimums for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. While this opens up many possibilities, it generally isn't high enough to secure a jumbo loan, which often requires a score of at least 700.
However, while a 652 score gets your foot in the door, it will impact your loan terms. You can expect to be offered higher interest rates compared to applicants with scores in the 700s. For conventional loans with a low down payment, this score will also likely result in higher private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, increasing your overall monthly housing cost.
What's in a Credit Score?
Figuring out what goes into your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, but it generally boils down to a handful of key elements. The most common factors include:
- Your history of making payments on time is the most significant factor.
- How much of your available credit you're currently using, known as your credit utilization ratio, plays a major role.
- The age of your credit accounts, including the average age and the age of your oldest account, is also considered.
- Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as credit cards and loans.
- Opening several new credit accounts in a short period can be seen as a risk and may temporarily lower your score.
How to Improve Your 652 Credit Score
Your credit score plays a crucial role in your financial life, but the good news is that it's never set in stone. With consistent effort and the right strategies, it is always possible to improve your creditworthiness and financial health.
- Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Keeping your balances below 30% of your available credit is critical, as this factor makes up a large portion of your score and shows lenders you manage debt responsibly.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Payment history is the single most important factor, so ensuring every bill is paid on time is a foundational step to move your 652 score into a higher tier.
- Monitor your credit reports regularly. A 652 score could be dragged down by errors or inaccuracies, and successfully disputing them can be one of the fastest ways to see an improvement.
- Become an authorized user. Being added to an account with a long, positive history can quickly add that positive data to your own report, helping to increase your score.
While working on these steps, consider using a tool like Kudos to help you make smarter spending decisions and maximize rewards.
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