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634 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025

TL;DR
While a 634 credit score isn't considered top-tier, it's a significant stepping stone toward stronger financial opportunities. This score places you firmly in the "Fair" credit range, offering a solid foundation to build upon for a higher rating.
What Does a 634 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 634 places you squarely in the "fair" category on the FICO scale. While not a poor score, it falls below the "good" range (670+). This means you can generally get approved for credit, but you likely won't qualify for the most competitive interest rates. Lenders may see you as a moderate risk, which often translates to higher borrowing costs.
Think of a 634 score as a solid foundation. It's a position from which you can build toward better financial products and more favorable terms in the future. While it may present some immediate limitations, it shows you're an active participant in the credit system. A score in this range has significant potential for growth, paving the way for a stronger financial outlook.
Who Has a 634 Credit Score?
While age isn't a direct factor in credit score calculations, there is a clear trend of scores improving over time. According to 2023 data, the average FICO score varies significantly across different generations:
- 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 634 Credit Score
A credit score of 634 places you in the "fair" credit range, which can be a mixed bag when applying for new credit cards. While you'll likely find lenders willing to approve your application, you may not qualify for the most premium cards with the best rewards and lowest interest rates. Instead, you'll probably have better luck with cards designed for average credit, which might come with higher APRs and lower credit limits until you build a stronger payment history.
Kudos offers AI-powered tools like Dream Wallet that analyze your unique spending habits to provide personalized credit card recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 options. These tools help you understand how different cards align with your financial goals and even provide insights on how a new card might impact your credit score.
Auto Loans and a 634 Credit Score
With a 634 credit score, you fall into the non-prime lending category, meaning you can likely secure an auto loan but should expect higher interest rates than borrowers with better credit. These less favorable terms can significantly increase the total cost of your vehicle over the life of the loan.
- 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, based on a 2025 market analysis.
Mortgages at a 634 Credit Score
With a 634 credit score, you can qualify for several major mortgage types. This score meets the typical minimums for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, giving you multiple paths to homeownership. Government-backed loans like FHA are particularly accessible, requiring a score of just 580 for a low down payment, according to a guide on credit score requirements.
However, your 634 score will directly impact your loan terms. Lenders reserve the best interest rates for applicants with higher scores, meaning you'll likely face a higher rate. For a conventional loan, this also translates to more expensive private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, increasing your overall monthly payment.
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 payment history, which tracks whether you pay your bills on time, is the most significant factor.
- Credit utilization, or the amount of credit you're using compared to your total available credit, also plays a major role.
- The length of your credit history demonstrates your experience with managing credit over time.
- Having a healthy mix of different types of credit, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
- Finally, recent credit inquiries, which occur when you apply for new credit, are also taken into account.
How to Improve Your 634 Credit Score
No matter your current number, it is always possible to improve your credit score. By following some proven methods and maintaining consistent financial habits, you can see meaningful changes within a few months.
- Reduce your credit utilization ratio. This ratio is the second most important factor in your score, so keeping it below 30% can provide a significant boost. For a 634 score, paying down balances or increasing your credit limit can quickly demonstrate more responsible credit management to lenders.
- Set up automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single biggest component of your credit score, accounting for 35% of the calculation. Ensuring every bill is paid on time prevents negative marks that could lower your 634 score even further.
- Become an authorized user. Piggybacking on an account with a long, positive history can add that account's good standing to your own credit file. This is a great way to improve your score by benefiting from someone else's responsible credit use.
- Monitor your credit reports. Regularly checking your reports helps you spot and dispute inaccuracies or signs of identity theft. Correcting errors is one of the fastest ways to see an improvement in your 634 score.
You can use a tool like Kudos to help you maximize your credit card rewards while you work on building your credit.
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