? about raising or lowering your credit score

Five open credit cards is a lot. But, it's true that closing accounts can lower your score. The credit bureau's look at length of credit.

Perhaps closing a couple of the "newer" cards and leaving the older cards open. You can use them to buy a tank of gas and pay them off, or not use them.

It's also true that creditors will look at "available" money (i.e. money you could take out on a credit card) but that shouldn't affect your credit score.

Since you lowered your money liabilities, your credit score should increase in about 90 days.

Congratulations on getting your score under control. I used to work in a financial institution coaching military members on their credit. And...although you want to be higher, 630 is not too awful bad. You should see it going up after about 90 days.