Students should be familiar with what their credit scores mean and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, of KHEAA, has provided information that should help students in that effort. Your credit score is a three-digit number that has a long-lasting effect on your buying power. When anyone applies for credit, his or her credit score will be checked. The higher your credit score, the better the chances you will be approved. Although there are several scoring methods, the most widely accepted one comes from FICO. Your FICO score ranges from 300 to 850. These items make up your FICO score: • 35 percent is based ...