The average credit score in America was 713 in 2025, according to Experian data — a two-point drop from 2024, and the first annual decline since 2013. Despite the dip, 70% of Americans still hold a good or better score (670 and above).
What Is the Average Credit Score in America Right Now?
The short answer: 713, based on Experian's September 2025 data. A separate FICO report from Spring 2026 puts the figure at 714 — the one-point difference comes down to when each snapshot was taken and how the sample was drawn. Both sources agree on the direction: scores are down slightly from a year ago.
To put that in context, 713 sits comfortably in the "good" range (670–739). Most borrowers at this level will qualify for standard loan products, though they likely won't see the best available interest rates — those tend to be reserved for scores above 740.
What's notable about 2025 isn't the size of the drop. It's the fact that it happened at all. The national average had climbed steadily for more than a decade. One point or two doesn't sound like much, but the trend reversal is worth paying attention to.
As tracked by data from Statista, the average U.S. FICO score has been broadly rising since 2010, making 2025's reversal the first meaningful pullback in that multi-year run.
U.S. Average FICO Score — Historical Trend
|
Year |
National Average FICO Score |
|
2020 |
710 |
|
2021 |
714 |
|
2022 |
716 |
|
2023 |
715 |
|
2024 |
715 |
|
2025 |
713 |
Source: Experian annual credit data
How Credit Scores Are Calculated
Before looking at who scores high or low — and why — it helps to understand what actually goes into a FICO Score.
The Five FICO Score Factors
The FICO model weighs five components, and they're not equal:
- Payment history (35%) — The single biggest factor. One missed payment can do meaningful damage, even if everything else looks clean.
- Amounts owed / credit utilization (30%) — How much of your available credit you're actually using. Above 30% starts to hurt. Above 50% hurts noticeably more.
- Length of credit history (15%) — Older accounts help your score. Closing them can quietly drag it down.
- Credit mix (10%) — Having different types of credit (cards, auto loan, mortgage) works in your favor.
- New credit (10%) — Each application triggers a hard inquiry. A cluster of applications in a short window raises a flag.
In practice, most financial advisors find that consumers underestimate the role of utilization. A borrower with a solid payment history but high balances relative to their limits can still land in the "fair" range — which surprises a lot of people.
FICO vs. VantageScore — The Quick Version
Both scoring models use a 300–850 scale, but they weight factors differently. VantageScore, for instance, puts more emphasis on payment history (40%) and less on credit mix.
For national average purposes — including every figure in this article — FICO is the standard. It's used in over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, which makes it the number that actually matters when you walk into a bank.
What FICO Score Ranges Mean for Borrowers
A credit score means different things depending on where it lands. Here's how lenders generally interpret each range — and what borrowers can realistically expect at each level.
FICO Score Ranges and What They Mean in Practice
|
Range |
Label |
What Lenders Generally Expect |
|
800–850 |
Exceptional |
Best available rates; highest approval likelihood |
|
740–799 |
Very Good |
Near-best rates; strong approval odds |
|
670–739 |
Good |
Competitive rates; generally approvable |
|
580–669 |
Fair |
Higher rates; approval not guaranteed |
|
300–579 |
Poor |
Limited options; secured products more common |
What Score Do You Need for Common Loans?
This is the question most articles skip — and it's often the one people actually care about.
- Conventional mortgage: Minimum around 620; 740+ for best rates
- Auto loan: 660 and above for competitive rates; below that, expect significantly higher APRs
- Rewards credit card: Generally 670 or above
- Personal loan: Floors vary widely by lender, but 580–600 is a common starting point
These are general industry benchmarks, not guarantees. Individual lenders set their own thresholds, and other factors — income, debt-to-income ratio, employment history — all play a role alongside the score.
How Credit Scores Are Distributed Across America
The national average of 713 tells one story. The distribution behind it tells a more interesting one.
As of 2025, 70% of Americans hold a good or better score. That's the stable headline. But underneath it, the spread between the top and bottom is widening slightly.
U.S. Consumers by FICO Score Range — 2024 vs. 2025
|
FICO Score Range |
2024 |
2025 |
Change |
|
Poor (300–579) |
13.2% |
14.7% |
+1.5 pts |
|
Fair (580–669) |
15.5% |
14.9% |
–0.6 pts |
|
Good (670–739) |
21.0% |
20.1% |
–0.9 pts |
|
Very Good (740–799) |
27.8% |
27.5% |
–0.3 pts |
|
Exceptional (800+) |
22.5% |
22.8% |
+0.3 pts |
Source: Experian data, September of each year
What this shows is a quiet polarization. The share of consumers in the poor range grew by 1.5 percentage points. At the same time, the exceptional tier hit an all-time high of 22.8%. The middle tiers — fair, good, very good — all shrank slightly.
Interestingly, this pattern mirrors a broader economic trend where upper-income households continued to build wealth while lower-income households faced compounding affordability pressures. The credit data reflects that gap in a fairly direct way.
Average Credit Score by State
Geography matters here — more than most people expect.
States With the Highest and Lowest Average Credit Scores
There's a clear regional pattern in the 2025 data. The highest scores are concentrated in the Upper Midwest and New England. The lowest are clustered in the South.
Highest scoring states:
- Minnesota: 741
- Vermont: 737
- Wisconsin: 737
- New Hampshire: 735
- Washington: 734
Lowest scoring states:
- Mississippi: 677
- Louisiana: 686
- Alabama: 689
- Georgia: 692
- Texas: 692
The gap between Minnesota (741) and Mississippi (677) is 64 points. That's not a rounding difference — that's the difference between a good rate and a high one on most major loan products.
Average FICO Score by State — 2024 vs. 2025
|
State |
2024 |
2025 |
Change |
|
Alaska |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Alabama |
692 |
689 |
–3 |
|
Arkansas |
695 |
693 |
–2 |
|
Arizona |
712 |
709 |
–3 |
|
California |
722 |
721 |
–1 |
|
Colorado |
731 |
729 |
–2 |
|
Connecticut |
726 |
724 |
–2 |
|
District of Columbia |
715 |
711 |
–4 |
|
Delaware |
714 |
713 |
–1 |
|
Florida |
707 |
704 |
–3 |
|
Georgia |
695 |
692 |
–3 |
|
Hawaii |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
Iowa |
730 |
728 |
–2 |
|
Idaho |
730 |
729 |
–1 |
|
Illinois |
720 |
720 |
0 |
|
Indiana |
712 |
710 |
–2 |
|
Kansas |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Kentucky |
705 |
704 |
–1 |
|
Louisiana |
690 |
686 |
–4 |
|
Massachusetts |
732 |
731 |
–1 |
|
Maryland |
715 |
714 |
–1 |
|
Maine |
731 |
731 |
0 |
|
Michigan |
719 |
717 |
–2 |
|
Minnesota |
742 |
741 |
–1 |
|
Missouri |
714 |
712 |
–2 |
|
Mississippi |
680 |
677 |
–3 |
|
Montana |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
North Carolina |
709 |
707 |
–2 |
|
North Dakota |
733 |
730 |
–3 |
|
Nebraska |
731 |
728 |
–3 |
|
New Hampshire |
736 |
735 |
–1 |
|
New Jersey |
724 |
722 |
–2 |
|
New Mexico |
702 |
701 |
–1 |
|
Nevada |
701 |
699 |
–2 |
|
New York |
721 |
719 |
–2 |
|
Ohio |
716 |
713 |
–3 |
|
Oklahoma |
696 |
693 |
–3 |
|
Oregon |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
Pennsylvania |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Rhode Island |
721 |
719 |
–2 |
|
South Carolina |
700 |
699 |
–1 |
|
South Dakota |
734 |
731 |
–3 |
|
Tennessee |
706 |
703 |
–3 |
|
Texas |
695 |
692 |
–3 |
|
Utah |
730 |
728 |
–2 |
|
Virginia |
723 |
721 |
–2 |
|
Vermont |
737 |
737 |
0 |
|
Washington |
735 |
734 |
–1 |
|
Wisconsin |
738 |
737 |
–1 |
|
West Virginia |
702 |
699 |
–3 |
|
Wyoming |
725 |
722 |
–3 |
Source: Experian data, September of each year
Why Do Northern States Score Higher Than Southern States?
All three major data sources note this pattern. None of them fully explain it. Here's what the structural data suggests.
A few contributing factors show up consistently:
- Median household income is higher across most Upper Midwest and New England states, which reduces financial stress on credit accounts.
- Unbanked and underbanked populations are disproportionately concentrated in southern states. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), credit score distributions skew significantly lower among lower-income consumer segments — the same segments that are overrepresented in southern states.
Consumers without established banking relationships have thinner credit files, which limits score potential.
- Student debt concentration varies by region, affecting younger borrowers disproportionately in certain southern states.
- Cost-of-living pressure relative to income is more acute in several southern states, which can push utilization higher.
None of these factors work in isolation, and the gap between states isn't caused by a single variable. But the combination creates conditions where southern-state borrowers are, on average, carrying more financial strain relative to their credit capacity.
Which States Saw the Biggest Changes in 2025?
- Largest drops: Louisiana (–4 points), Washington D.C. (–4 points)
- No change: Illinois, Maine, Vermont
- No state recorded an increase
That last point is significant. In prior years, some states would tick upward even in flat national years. In 2025, every state either held steady or declined.
Average Credit Score by Age and Generation
Age is one of the strongest predictors of credit score — not because older people are more financially responsible, but because they've had more time to build the factors that FICO rewards.
Generational Score Breakdown
Average FICO Score by Generation — 2024 vs. 2025
|
Generation |
Age Range |
2024 |
2025 |
Change |
|
Generation Z |
18–28 |
681 |
678 |
–3 points |
|
Millennials |
29–44 |
691 |
689 |
–2 points |
|
Generation X |
45–60 |
709 |
709 |
No change |
|
Baby Boomers |
61–79 |
746 |
747 |
+1 point |
|
Silent Generation |
80+ |
760 |
760 |
No change |
Source: Experian data, September of each year; ages as of 2025
Why Older Americans Score Higher
The gap between a 22-year-old and a 65-year-old isn't just about habits. It's structural.
Older borrowers have longer credit histories — which accounts for 15% of the FICO score. They typically carry a more diversified credit mix built up over decades.
And many baby boomers in particular have paid-off or low-balance mortgages, fewer household dependents, and lower overall spending pressure relative to income.
Gen Z and millennials, by contrast, are working with thinner credit files, higher student debt exposure, and less home equity to cushion financial shocks. The ending of the SAVE student loan repayment program in 2025 — which affected roughly 8 million borrowers — added upward pressure on monthly obligations for many in the under-45 age group.
What's often overlooked is that this isn't really a generational character flaw or virtue. It's a time-in-market problem. Gen Z borrowers in 2025 are essentially where millennials were a decade ago — and millennials are closing the gap with Gen X steadily.
Credit Utilization: The Factor Holding Most Scores Together
Given everything else that shifted in 2025, the stability of national credit utilization is genuinely notable.
The average utilization rate held at 29% for the second consecutive year — just below the 30% threshold where scores typically start to take a hit.
Average Credit Utilization by FICO Score Range (2025)
|
FICO Score Range |
Average Utilization |
|
Poor (300–579) |
79% |
|
Fair (580–669) |
61% |
|
Good (670–739) |
39% |
|
Very Good (740–799) |
15% |
|
Exceptional (800+) |
7% |
Source: Experian data, September 2025
The utilization table above reveals something worth noting: consumers with exceptional scores aren't just "keeping it under 30%." They're keeping it at 7%. That's a useful reference point for anyone trying to understand the gap between good and exceptional.
Because utilization held steady nationally, it's reasonable to conclude it's not the primary driver of the 2025 score decline. The pressure is coming from elsewhere — primarily delinquency and payment stress.
Delinquency Rates by Account Type
Delinquency data gives a clearer picture of where credit stress is actually accumulating.
Percent of Accounts Considered Delinquent by Debt Type
|
Account Type |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Credit card |
2.45% |
2.40% |
2.31% |
|
Mortgage |
1.88% |
2.24% |
2.45% |
|
Auto loans |
3.51% |
3.68% |
3.78% |
|
Personal loans (unsecured) |
3.89% |
3.86% |
3.76% |
Source: Experian data, September of each year
Mortgage and auto loan delinquencies are rising. Credit card and personal loan delinquency rates are actually ticking slightly downward — possibly because consumers are consolidating that debt into lower-rate products.
It's worth keeping this in proportion. These delinquency rates are climbing from historically low baselines set during the pandemic-era stimulus period. A rate of 3.78% on auto loans is higher than 2023, but not historically alarming. The direction matters; the absolute level is still relatively contained.
What Is Driving the 2025 Credit Score Decline?
The decline isn't explained by one thing. It's the result of several pressures arriving at the same time.
Confirmed contributing factors:
- Sustained inflation on shelter and transportation — the two largest household expense categories
- The end of the SAVE income-based student loan repayment program, which raised monthly payments for millions of borrowers
- Rising unemployment (from historically low levels, but moving in the wrong direction)
- Record-high rejection rates on credit applications, including mortgages and auto
loans — reported rejection rates for auto loans and mortgage refinances reached series highs in 2024, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's consumer expectations survey data
What isn't the primary cause:
Credit utilization held steady at 29% — that's not what's pulling scores down. The decline is broad-based across states and age groups, which points to macroeconomic pressure rather than a behavioral shift in how people use credit.
Conclusion
The average credit score in America sits at 713 in 2025 — still in the good range, but declining for the first time in over a decade. Younger borrowers and southern-state residents face the sharpest pressure. Utilization is stable; delinquency is the growing concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average credit score in America in 2025?
The national average FICO Score was 713 as of September 2025, per Experian data. A separate FICO report from early 2026 puts it at 714. Both reflect a slight decline from 2024.
Is a 713 credit score considered good?
Yes. A 713 score falls in the "good" range (670–739). Most borrowers at this level will qualify for standard loans, though the best interest rates typically require 740 or above.
Which state has the highest average credit score?
Minnesota leads at 741, followed by Vermont and Wisconsin, both at 737. Upper Midwest and New England states consistently rank highest nationally.
Why did average credit scores drop in 2025?
The decline reflects a mix of factors: inflation on essential expenses, the end of the SAVE student loan program, rising unemployment, and higher application rejection rates — not a single cause.
Does your credit score change as you get older?
Generally, yes. Older borrowers benefit from longer credit histories and more diversified credit profiles. Gen Z averaged 678 in 2025; the Silent Generation averaged 760.
