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361 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 361 credit score provides a clear starting point for building a stronger financial future, though it is on the lower end of the spectrum. This score falls into the 'Poor' FICO category, which means there is a significant opportunity for improvement.
What Does a 361 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 361 is considered very poor. On the widely used FICO Score range of 300 to 850, a 361 falls into the lowest category. This score indicates to lenders that there's a significant history of financial missteps, such as late payments, defaults, or high credit utilization. It signals a very high risk to potential creditors, making it challenging to get approved for new lines of credit.
With a 361 credit score, your financial options are severely limited. You'll likely face rejections for most traditional loans and credit cards. If you are approved for any form of credit, it will almost certainly come with extremely high interest rates and unfavorable terms. While this position presents significant hurdles, it's not a permanent state. Understanding where you stand is the first step toward building a stronger financial future.
Who Has a 361 Credit Score?
While age is not an explicit factor in calculating credit scores, data shows that scores tend to improve as people get older. This is often because older consumers have had more time to build a longer credit history and establish a positive repayment track record. According to 2023 Experian data, the average FICO score rises steadily with each generation:
- 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 361 Credit Score
A credit score of 361 places you in the lowest range of credit scores, making it extremely difficult to qualify for most traditional credit cards. Lenders view this score as a significant indicator of risk, suggesting a history of financial difficulties or missed payments. Consequently, you'll likely face rejections for standard unsecured cards and may only be eligible for options like secured credit cards, which require a cash deposit as collateral.
Kudos can help you find the best credit card by using its AI-powered tools to search through a database of nearly 3,000 cards, providing personalized recommendations based on your financial goals and spending habits. The platform provides valuable insights into how applying for a new card might impact your credit score and helps you determine if a card's benefits justify its fees for your situation.
Auto Loans and a 361 Credit Score
A 361 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, making it challenging, though not impossible, to secure an auto loan. You will almost certainly face the highest interest rates offered by lenders, which significantly increases the total cost of your vehicle over the life of the loan.
According to 2025 auto loan analysis, average interest rates vary dramatically across credit score brackets for both new and used cars:
- Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars and 7.13% for used cars
- Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars and 9.36% for used cars
- Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars and 13.92% for used cars
- Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars and 18.86% for used cars
- Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars and 21.55% for used cars
Mortgages at a 361 Credit Score
A 361 credit score is significantly below the minimum threshold for any standard mortgage. Even the most lenient options, like FHA-insured loans, require a score of at least 500 with a 10% down payment. Other conventional and government-backed loans have even higher minimums, typically starting between 580 and 640. As a result, traditional mortgage options are not available with a 361 score.
This score effectively disqualifies you from standard financing. Lenders view it as extremely high-risk, leading to almost certain denial. In the unlikely event a subprime lender considered your application, you would face severe consequences, including prohibitively high interest rates, substantial fees, and a large down payment requirement, making homeownership financially unfeasible.
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 361 Credit Score
While a 361 credit score is considered low, it is entirely possible to rebuild your financial standing with a consistent strategy. Taking a few key proven actions can make a significant difference over time and help you improve your creditworthiness.
- Monitor your credit reports regularly. This allows you to spot and dispute any inaccuracies or fraudulent activity that could be unfairly dragging down your score.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is a foundational step toward recovery.
- Apply for a secured credit card. For those with damaged credit, a secured card allows you to build a positive payment history and demonstrate responsible credit use to lenders.
- Become an authorized user. Being added to the account of a responsible primary cardholder can add their positive payment history and low credit utilization to your report.
The Kudos browser extension can help you manage your cards and maximize rewards, which supports your credit improvement journey.
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