Who Has a 738 Credit Score?

While age isn't a direct factor in credit calculations, scores tend to improve over time. A generational breakdown from 2023 shows a clear upward trend across different age groups:

• Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
• Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
• Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
• Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
• Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760

Credit Cards With a 738 Credit Score

With a 738 credit score, you're sitting comfortably in the 'good' credit range, which significantly boosts your chances of getting approved for a new credit card. Lenders generally view this score favorably, opening the door to a wide variety of options, from generous cash-back cards to travel rewards cards. While final approval depends on other factors like your income and existing debt, a 738 score positions you to receive better interest rates and higher credit limits than applicants with fair or poor credit.

‍

Kudos offers personalized tools like the Explore Tool and Dream Wallet to help you find the ideal credit card for your financial situation. By analyzing your preferences and real-time spending habits, these tools provide tailored recommendations and even offer insights into how a new card could impact your credit score.

Auto Loans and a 738 Credit Score

A 738 credit score places you in the "prime" borrower category, making you a very attractive candidate for an auto loan. Lenders will likely offer you competitive interest rates, significantly better than those available to borrowers with lower scores.

According to Experian's Q2 2025 data, average auto loan rates break down as follows:

• 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% for used cars

Mortgages at a 738 Credit Score

A 738 credit score is considered very good and will qualify you for nearly all major types of home loans. This includes conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, as your score is well above the minimum credit score requirements for each. Having a score in this range opens up a wide variety of mortgage products and generally makes the approval process much smoother.

While excellent, a 738 score is just below the top tier (typically 740+) where lenders offer their absolute best interest rates. You will still secure a very favorable rate and likely benefit from lower Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums. Improving your score by just a few points could unlock even better terms, saving you more money over the life of the loan.

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 factors.

• Your payment history tracks whether you've paid past credit accounts on time.

• Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you're currently using.

• The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest account, newest account, and the average age of all your accounts.

• Credit mix refers to the variety of credit products you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, and mortgages.

• New credit accounts for how many new accounts you've recently opened and the number of hard inquiries on your report.

How to Improve Your 738 Credit Score

No matter your current standing, improving your credit score is always within reach. With a 738 FICO® score, you are on the cusp of the “very good” category, and a few strategic actions can help push you over the edge.

• Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Keeping your total balance well below the recommended 30% of your available credit is crucial, as this is the second most important factor in your score. For a score in the 700s, aiming for a utilization rate under 10% can provide the boost needed to enter the next tier.
• Diversify your credit mix. Lenders favor borrowers who can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as revolving credit cards and installment loans. If your file only contains one type of account, adding another can demonstrate your financial flexibility and positively impact your score.
• Limit hard inquiries. While a good score makes you a prime candidate for new credit, each application can cause a small, temporary dip in your score. Be strategic about when you apply for new lines of credit to protect the high score you have already achieved.
• Monitor your credit reports. You should regularly check your credit reports from all three bureaus for any inaccuracies or signs of fraud that could be holding your score back. Disputing even a small error can sometimes be the key to unlocking a higher score.

To help manage your cards and put these strategies into practice, consider using a financial tool like Kudos to optimize your credit profile.