Average American Credit Score in 2026: What It Is and What It Means for You

The average American credit score — measured using the FICO scoring model — was 713 as of late 2025, according to Experian data. FICO's own tracking placed the figure at 715 as of April 2025. Either way, the national average sits in the "good" range (670–739), and it has dipped for the first time since 2013.

What Is the Average Credit Score in America Right Now?

Two numbers are regularly cited, and they differ slightly. Experian's September 2025 sampling puts the average at 713. FICO's April 2025 data shows 715. The difference comes down to timing and methodology — both organizations sample consumer credit data at different points in the year. Neither figure is wrong.

Both confirm the same thing: the typical American borrower lands in "good" territory, not exceptional, but not struggling either.

How Has the National Average Changed Over Time?

For over a decade, the average credit score only moved in one direction — up. That streak ended in 2025. This is the first annual decline since 2013, which makes it worth paying attention to, even if the drop itself is small.

The scores above reflect a long improvement period followed by a plateau and now a modest pullback. What's worth noting is that despite the 2025 dip, scores are still higher than they were five years ago in almost every state.

Why Did the Average Credit Score Drop in 2025?

No single cause explains it cleanly. What the data shows is a combination of pressures that built up through 2025 — rising delinquencies on mortgages and auto loans, the end of the SAVE student loan repayment program (which pushed monthly payments higher for nearly 8 million borrowers), record-high rejection rates on new credit applications, and a job market that stopped growing without quite contracting. 

As reported by Bloomberg, the 2025 decline marked the sharpest year-over-year drop in FICO scores since the financial crisis.

In practice, borrowers who were already stretched found it harder to stay current. Those with financial cushion — paid-off homes, savings, stable employment — largely held steady or improved.

Mortgage and auto loan delinquencies rose notably. Credit card and personal loan delinquency rates actually edged down — possibly because more borrowers are consolidating high-interest card debt into personal loans or home equity lines.

What Do the FICO Score Ranges Mean — and Where Does 713 Land?

FICO scores run from 300 to 850. The scale is divided into five bands, each carrying practical weight when lenders decide whether to approve you and at what rate.

A score of 713 gets you through most doors. What it doesn't guarantee is the best rate on the other side of those doors. Borrowers in the 740+ range routinely see meaningfully lower interest offers — especially on mortgages and auto loans where even half a percentage point compounds significantly over time.

FICO Score vs VantageScore — Why Your Score May Look Different

This is one of the most common sources of confusion, and it rarely gets explained clearly. When you check your score on Credit Karma, Chase Credit Journey, or most free banking apps, you are almost certainly seeing a VantageScore — not a FICO Score.

The two models use different formulas and weight factors differently, which means the number you see can vary by 20–30 points from what a lender actually pulls.

Lenders — particularly for mortgages and auto loans — predominantly use FICO scores when making approval decisions. The score you see on your bank's app is a useful indicator of direction, but it may not match what your lender sees.

If you are preparing to apply for a significant loan, it is worth checking your actual FICO Score through myFICO.com or a credit bureau directly.

What Credit Score Do You Need for Common Loans?

These are general industry thresholds, not guarantees — individual lenders set their own minimums, and approval also depends on income, debt-to-income ratio, and other factors.

Average Credit Score by Age Group in 2025

Scores rise with age, and the pattern is consistent year over year. The reasons are structural, not behavioral. Older consumers simply have longer credit histories, more paid-off accounts, and fewer recent hard inquiries. They also tend to have lower credit utilization because their credit limits have grown while their balances have not kept pace.

Interestingly, every generation still lands in the "good" range or above — even Gen Z, despite the three-point drop. Baby Boomers improved slightly, which aligns with their credit profile: fewer new loans, lower utilization, long-established histories with no disruption.

Why Do Younger Americans Have Lower Scores?

It is not because younger people are less responsible — it is mostly a math problem. FICO rewards long credit histories, and a 24-year-old simply cannot have a 15-year credit history.

On top of that, younger borrowers are more likely to carry student loan debt, apply for new credit more frequently, and have thinner files overall. The score gap between generations narrows naturally over time as long as credit habits remain sound. 

According to CNBC, the resumption of federal student loan delinquency reporting in 2025 was a significant contributing factor to the score declines seen most sharply among younger borrowers.

Average Credit Score by State

Geography plays a role. States in the Upper Midwest and New England tend to post the highest average scores. States in the Deep South and parts of the Southwest consistently rank lower. The gap between the highest and lowest state averages is substantial — roughly 60 points separates Minnesota from Mississippi.

What drives these gaps is not fully agreed upon — income levels, homeownership rates, age demographics, and local economic conditions all play a role. It is worth noting that scores declined in almost every state in 2025; only three states (Illinois, Maine, Vermont) held flat, and none increased.

How Are American Credit Scores Distributed Across the Population?

The national average tells you where the middle sits. The distribution tells you what is actually happening at both ends.

What stands out here is the simultaneous movement at both ends. More consumers dropped into the "poor" range in 2025, while the share in the "exceptional" category hit an all-time high. The middle bands shrank slightly.

Some economists have described this as a K-shaped split — a useful shorthand, though the polarization in these figures is modest rather than dramatic.

What Factors Make Up Your Credit Score?

Five factors determine your FICO Score. They are not equally weighted.

A missed payment hurts more than almost anything else. One late payment reported to the bureaus can drop a good score by 60–110 points depending on how high it was to begin with and how recent the miss is. That asymmetry surprises most people — it is much easier to damage a score than to rebuild it.

What Is Credit Utilization and Why Does It Matter?

Your utilization ratio is simply how much of your available revolving credit (mainly credit cards) you are currently using. The national average sits at 29%, which has held steady for three consecutive years despite score declines — meaning overuse of existing credit is not the primary driver of the 2025 dip.

The common guidance is to stay under 30%. What the data on high scorers actually shows is more demanding: consumers with exceptional scores (800+) carry an average utilization of around 7%. Getting from good to exceptional often means thinking of credit cards less as spending tools and more as credit-building instruments you pay off in full.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

No shortcuts exist here. Borrowers who work with credit frequently observe that improvement is slow and predictable — the same handful of habits done consistently over months and years.

Pay Every Bill On Time

Payment history is 35% of your score. One missed payment can take months to recover from. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum due removes the risk of an accidental miss — even if you plan to pay more later.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Low

Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit. For those trying to move from good to very good or exceptional, keeping utilization under 10% is more realistic target. Paying balances down before the statement closing date (not just the due date) can lower the utilization figure your lender sees.

Avoid Opening Too Many New Accounts

Every credit application typically triggers a hard inquiry, which causes a small, temporary score dip. Multiple applications in a short window can signal financial stress to lenders. Space out applications when possible.

Keep Older Accounts Open

Closing an old credit card shortens your average account age and reduces your total available credit — both of which can pull your score down. An unused card with no annual fee is generally better left open.

Check Your Credit Report for Errors

Errors on credit reports are more common than most people expect — teams at credit counseling organizations commonly report that a meaningful share of clients find at least one inaccuracy on their report.

Conclusion

The average American credit score is 713 — solidly "good," slightly lower than last year, and still higher than it was in 2020. Scores vary meaningfully by age, state, and economic circumstance. Being at the average is a reasonable baseline, not a ceiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 700 a good credit score?

Yes. A score of 700 falls in the "good" range (670–739) and qualifies for most mainstream loans and credit cards. However, rates improve noticeably above 740, so 700 is a solid starting point — not the finish line.

What is the average credit score for a 30-year-old?

Millennials (ages 29–44) averaged 689 in 2025. Specifically for those in their early 30s, the figure is typically around 672–680 based on age-segmented data patterns. Building credit steadily through your 30s is normal and expected.

Why is my credit score different on different apps?

Most free apps show VantageScore, while lenders typically use FICO. The two models weigh factors differently, producing different numbers. Neither is wrong — they are just different tools. For loan preparation, check your actual FICO Score.

Does checking my credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and has no impact on your credit score. Only hard inquiries — triggered when a lender checks your credit for an application — can cause a small, temporary dip.

What credit score do I need to buy a house?

Conventional mortgages generally require a minimum of 620. FHA loans may go as low as 580. To access the best available mortgage rates, most lenders look for 740 or higher. Income, debt load, and down payment also factor heavily into approval.