What Credit Score Do You Need for Each Loan Type?

The minimum credit score depends entirely on the loan program: FHA goes as low as 500-580, VA and USDA have no federal minimum (lenders typically want 580-640), conventional generally starts around 620, and jumbo loans want 700 or higher. Here's the breakdown by program.

FHA: the most forgiving

FHA allows a credit score as low as 580 with the standard 3.5% down, or 500-579 with 10% down. This makes FHA the most accessible option for buyers rebuilding credit. Note that individual lenders often set their own higher floors (overlays), commonly 620-640, so the 580 tier isn't available everywhere, which is exactly where working with a broker who has access to many lenders helps. Our FHA loan page covers the full requirements.

VA: no set minimum

The VA itself sets no minimum credit score. Lenders apply their own overlays, usually landing around 580-620. For eligible veterans, this flexibility plus zero down payment makes VA loans one of the strongest programs available, and credit is evaluated as part of the whole picture rather than against a hard cutoff.

USDA: no federal minimum, but 640 is the practical bar

USDA sets no official minimum, but most lenders want 640 for automated approval through the GUS system. Below 640, your file goes to manual underwriting, which is stricter but still possible. For eligible rural and suburban buyers under the income limits, USDA is often the cheapest loan available.

Conventional: generally 620

Conventional loans typically require 620, though Fannie Mae recently removed its hard 620 floor for loans run through automated underwriting, evaluating the whole financial profile instead. Manually underwritten conventional loans still require 620. Above 620 you have real options, and pushing your score higher meaningfully lowers both your rate and your PMI cost.

Jumbo: the highest bar

Jumbo loans, being non-conforming, want the strongest credit, typically 700 minimum, with the best terms at 740+. Larger jumbo amounts push the requirement higher still. See our jumbo loan requirements for the full picture.

The bigger point: minimum to qualify isn't minimum for a good rate

Meeting a program's minimum gets you approved. It doesn't get you the best pricing. Your credit score directly affects your interest rate across every program, so even when you clear the minimum, raising your score before applying can lower your rate and, on conventional loans, your mortgage insurance. It's often worth a short delay to improve a borderline score.

Verified as of 2026.