VantageScore 3.0 is one of the most popular credit-scoring models on the market, both among lenders and consumers. It is used by more than 3,700 institutions, including nine of the top 10 banks, and VantageScore issued about 42 billion credit scores in 2024 alone.
WalletHub is one of the companies using VantageScore, allowing users to check their VantageScore 3.0 credit score for free and get daily updates. So you can find out where your credit stands just by signing up.
Key Things to Know About VantageScore 3.0
- It helps generate credit scores for about 35 million people who were previously considered "unscorable."
- Consumers can get a VantageScore with just one month of credit history reported to the credit bureaus.
- The VantageScore 3.0 credit score range goes from 300 to 850, with 850 being the best credit score you can get.
- VantageScore 3.0 considers factors like your payment history and credit utilization to determine your credit score.
- VantageScore 3.0 does not factor paid collection accounts or medical debt into your credit score.
- It’s one of VantageScore’s most popular credit-scoring models along with VantageScore 4.0.
How VantageScore 3.0 Is Calculated
VantageScore 3.0 is no different from any other credit score, at least in the sense that it’s calculated based on the contents of our credit reports. More specifically, here’s a breakdown of what goes into a VantageScore 3.0 credit score and how much weight each factor carries.
| Payment History | 40% |
| Depth Of Credit | 21% |
| Utilization | 20% |
| Balances | 11% |
| Recent Credit | 5% |
| Available Credit | 3% |
Learn more about how credit scores are calculated.
VantageScore 3.0 Range
The range for VantageScore 3.0 credit scores is 300 to 850, with 850 being the best credit score you can get and 300 being the worst. The credit tier your score falls into can help determine your likelihood of being approved for new credit.
VantageScore 3.0 Credit Tiers
| Superprime | 781-850 |
| Prime | 661-780 |
| Near prime | 601-660 |
| Subprime | 300-600 |
Note: Lenders won’t necessarily use the same credit tiers as VantageScore.
Learn more about the credit score range.
VantageScore 3.0 vs. Earlier VantageScore Models
VantageScore 3.0 stands out relative to previous VantageScore models and other types of credit scores because it:
Changed the score range. VantageScore 2.0 ranged from 501 to 990, but version 3.0 adopted the standard 300 to 850 credit score scale, making things a lot less confusing for consumers.
Works for millions more people. VantageScore 3.0 can generate a score for up to 35 million more people than conventional models, according to company claims. That’s because it uses more expansive credit data and improved analytics to evaluate people with:
- Less than 6 months of credit experience
- No open credit card or loan accounts
- Credit card or loan activity that is more than 24 months old
- Credit card or loan activity only from six to 24 months ago.
Ignores paid collection accounts. Collection accounts take seven years to fall off your credit report. Previously, both paid and unpaid collection accounts were factored into your credit score. However, if you pay off a collection account, VantageScore 3.0 will exclude the account from its credit score calculations. That can help improve your credit score, depending on the rest of your credit history.
Protects your credit from natural disasters. If late payments and other negative records are the result of issues related to a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, etc., VantageScore 3.0 will ignore them. You just have to ask your lender to add a code to your account that indicates you have been “affected by a natural or declared disaster.”
VantageScore 3.0 vs. 4.0 & 5.0
Since VantageScore 3.0 was released, VantageScore has introduced more versions, including VantageScore 4.0, VantageScore 4 Plus, and VantageScore 5.0. Even though these models calculate your credit score slightly different, they all use information found in your credit reports.
| VantageScore Model | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4 Plus | 5.0 |
| Year Released | 2013 | 2017 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Uses Info From Credit Reports | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Uses Banking Data | No | No | Yes | No |
| Analyzes Credit Data Over Time | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 are the two most popular VantageScore models. With VantageScore 4.0, trended data is factored into your score. So instead of calculating your credit score with information from one point in time, your credit score is calculated based on trends in your credit history. For example, VantageScore 4.0 will look at how often you paid more than the minimum balance on your credit card over a 24-month period.
In addition to trended data, VantageScore 4 Plus considers your banking history, which is not listed on your credit report.
VantageScore vs. FICO
VantageScore and FICO credit scores are both used very frequently by lenders and consumers. However, there are some differences in how and when their credit scores are calculated.
When you get your first credit score: While you need at least six months’ worth of credit history before you can get a FICO score, you can get a VantageScore credit score with only one month’s worth of credit history reported.
How credit inquiries are handled: Credit inquiries stay on your credit report for two years. FICO only factors credit inquiries from the past 12 months into your credit score, while VantageScore considers credit inquiries for two years.
How medical collection accounts are treated: Paid or unpaid medical collection accounts under $500 are not listed on your credit reports, so they will not be factored into your VantageScore or FICO credit scores. However, VantageScore takes things a step further and doesn’t include any medical debt, paid or unpaid, in credit score calculations.
Learn more about the differences between VantageScore and FICO credit scores.
Where VantageScore 3.0 Shines
Stability
VantageScore was developed based on a sample database of anonymous credit data for 45 million people, which the company collected in two separate rounds to account for changes over time. That gives VantageScore a superior basis for comparison and prediction than models that rely on more limited data. With fewer surprises in store, you can be more confident in your credit score.
Consistency
VantageScore uses a single model to produce scores, regardless of which bureau’s credit report provides the information. This practice is an exception for the credit-score market, and it helps protect credit and loan applicants from receiving different decisions depending on which bureau’s report a given lender uses.
Predictiveness
VantageScore 3.0 outperformed benchmarks in tests by a wide margin. Compared with earlier models, it predicts credit risk for prime and near-prime consumers about 25% more accurately. That means it’s doing its job as a credit score really well. Obviously, the more accurate a credit score is, the more lenders will use it and the more you can learn from it.
Check Your Latest VantageScore for Free
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