What Can You Get Approved For With a 738 Credit Score?

With a 738 credit score, you can likely get approved for rewards credit cards, 0% intro APR cards, personal loans, prime-rate auto loans, and most mortgages.

A 738 score is good credit, and it's 2 points short of very good. At 740, you'd also cross into Fannie Mae's next mortgage fee band, which lowers what you pay.

Is 738 a good credit score?

Yes. FICO's good range runs from 670 to 739, and 738 sits near the top of it. At 740, you'd move into very good credit.

What stands between 738 and very good credit is usually one small factor, like these:

• Card balances. Using a large share of your available credit holds your score down, even if you pay in full each month. Your issuer reports the balance on your statement.
• A recent application. Each hard inquiry can take a few points off for about a year. At 738, that's enough to matter.
• History length. A score backed by a few years of accounts has less to go on than one backed by a decade. Length of credit history only grows with time.

Read more >> What Can You Get Approved For With a 770 Credit Score?

What can you get approved for with a 738 credit score?

At 738, most lenders will approve you, so what's left is the price you get. Lenders will also look at your income, your job history, and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).

Credit cards

Rewards cards with cash back, points, welcome offers, or introductory 0% APR periods are realistic at 738. Many premium travel cards are within reach too, though some issuers save their top cards for higher scores. Before applying, check whether the issuer offers prequalification, which uses a soft credit check that doesn't affect your score.

A good score doesn't make card interest cheap. The average rate on card accounts charging interest is 22.15%, according to the Federal Reserve. An intro 0% period helps only if you pay the balance off before it ends.

Personal loans

Most personal lenders will approve a 738 score if your income and DTI check out. Expect rates in the lower half of a lender's advertised range, though not always its lowest. For comparison, the Federal Reserve's average for a 24-month bank personal loan is 11.86%. Federal credit unions can't charge more than 18% on most loans, so include them when you compare options.

Auto loans

At 738, you're well within Experian's prime tier (661 to 780). Prime borrowers average 6.15% on new cars and 8.81% on used cars. On a $20,000, 60-month new car loan at average rates, a prime borrower would pay about $1,000 more in interest than a super prime borrower. Super prime starts at 781, 43 points away. Experian sorts these tiers by VantageScore 4.0, so your FICO score may place you a little differently.

Manufacturer promotions like 0% financing may be in reach, so ask the dealer what score a specific promotion requires. Before you visit a dealer, get preapproved by a bank or credit union. That gives you a rate to compare against the dealer's offer and any promotion.

Use an auto loan calculator to check payment amounts before you sign.

Mortgages

At 738, most mortgage types are open to you, and you're 2 points from Fannie Mae's next fee band:

• Conventional loans. Fannie Mae no longer sets a minimum score for loans run through its automated system, but lenders still set their own minimums. Fannie Mae does charge lenders an upfront fee on the loans it buys, based on your score and down payment. With 20% down, the fee is 1.25% of the loan amount for scores of 720 to 739, 0.875% at 740 to 759, and 0.375% at 780+. On a $200,000 loan, that's $2,500 at 738, $1,750 at 740, and $750 at 780+. Reaching 740 would save about $750. You'd pay the fee through a higher rate or more cash at closing.
• FHA loans. Borrowers with scores of 580 or higher can qualify with 3.5% down. On a $250,000 home, that's $8,750 up front. Each lender can set higher minimums. These loans carry their own mortgage insurance premium, so get an FHA quote alongside a conventional one if your down payment is small.
• Jumbo loans. These are for amounts above conventional loan limits. Each lender sets its own standards, usually stricter on score, income, and down payment, so whether 738 qualifies depends on the lender.

Run the numbers >> Use Kikoff's mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payment and plan your homebuying budget.

What interest rates can you expect with a 738 credit score?

Expect strong offers, often close to a lender's best. The Federal Reserve's averages across all borrowers were 22.15% for card accounts charging interest and 11.86% for 24-month bank personal loans. At 738, your offers will likely land at or below those averages.

The next cutoff is 740, just 2 points away. That's where FICO's very good range and Fannie Mae's next mortgage fee band both start.

5 ways to raise a 738 credit score

1. Check your credit reports for errors. You can get all three for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. If something is wrong, like an account that isn't yours, dispute it with the bureau. Disputing is free.
2. Pay down card balances before the statement closes. Your issuer usually reports the statement balance, so paying early lowers the balance that reaches your report, even if you already pay in full. That boost lasts only while the balances stay low.
3. Pay every bill on time. Payment history is the biggest factor in your score, making up 35% of a FICO Score.
4. Limit new applications before a big loan. Each hard inquiry can take a few points off for about a year. When you're shopping for an auto loan, mortgage, or student loan, FICO counts those inquiries as one if they fall within 14 to 45 days, depending on the FICO version. Credit card and personal loan applications each count separately.
5. Think twice before closing a card. Closing one removes its credit limit, which can raise your credit utilization if you carry balances on other cards.

If your report is thin on accounts, adding one helps. A Kikoff Credit Account reports your payments to all three bureaus.

Read more >> What Is a Good Credit Score in 2026?

Bottom line

A credit score of 738 gets you approved for most cards, loans, and mortgages, often at rates close to the best. From here, your score decides how much you pay. You're 2 points from 740, the start of very good credit in FICO's ranges, so low reported balances and fewer new inquiries matter most.

Kikoff brings credit building, bill and rent reporting, AI-powered disputes, credit monitoring, and debt negotiation into one place. Sign up with no credit check. Plans start at $5 a month.