If you're wondering what is average credit score in america, the answer is 713 to 714 as of the latest 2026 data, according to figures reported by Experian and FICO.

That places the typical U.S. consumer in the "Good" credit range (670–739). It's a small but notable dip the first national average decline in over a decade.

Quick Answer: What Is Average Credit Score in America Today?

The national average FICO score stands at 713 (per Experian) and 714 (per FICO via CNBC Select) based on data. Both figures reflect a 1–2 point drop from the previous year  the first annual decline since 2013.

For most people, that number lands them squarely inside the "Good" credit category. In practice, this means the average American is generally considered an acceptable credit risk by lenders for everyday products like credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages.

Year	Average U.S. FICO Score	Year-over-Year Change
2024	715	—
2025	713–714	-1 to -2 points

Worth noting: a 1–2 point drop sounds tiny, but it matters because national averages rarely move at all. So when they do, it usually reflects something broader happening across the economy.

What Counts as a "Good" Credit Score?

Before you can really make sense of the average, it helps to know where it falls on the scale. Credit scores run from 300 to 850, and most lenders rely on either the FICO or VantageScore model.

FICO Score Ranges

FICO Range	Rating
300–579	Poor
580–669	Fair
670–739	Good
740–799	Very Good
800–850	Exceptional

VantageScore Ranges

VantageScore uses slightly different cutoffs. Anything 600 or below is considered poor or very poor.

The fair range sits between 601 and 660. Scores from 661 to 780 fall into the "good" category, and anything above 780 is excellent.

Why the Average Falls in the "Good" Range

Here's something often overlooked: the U.S. average has been sitting in "Good" territory for years. That's not by accident.

Lenders typically design products around this band, and most consumers tend to gravitate toward it over time as their credit histories mature.

Average Credit Score by State

State-level averages tell a more layered story. There's a clear regional pattern the Upper Midwest and New England tend to score higher, while the South tends to score lower.

Full State-by-State Average FICO Score (2024 vs. 2025)

State	2024	2025	Change
Alabama	692	689	-3
Alaska	722	720	-2
Arizona	712	709	-3
Arkansas	695	693	-2
California	722	721	-1
Colorado	731	729	-2
Connecticut	726	724	-2
Delaware	714	713	-1
District of Columbia	715	711	-4
Florida	707	704	-3
Georgia	695	692	-3
Hawaii	732	730	-2
Idaho	730	729	-1
Illinois	720	720	0
Indiana	712	710	-2
Iowa	730	728	-2
Kansas	722	720	-2
Kentucky	705	704	-1
Louisiana	690	686	-4
Maine	731	731	0
Maryland	715	714	-1
Massachusetts	732	731	-1
Michigan	719	717	-2
Minnesota	742	741	-1
Mississippi	680	677	-3
Missouri	714	712	-2
Montana	732	730	-2
Nebraska	731	728	-3
Nevada	701	699	-2
New Hampshire	736	735	-1
New Jersey	724	722	-2
New Mexico	702	701	-1
New York	721	719	-2
North Carolina	709	707	-2
North Dakota	733	730	-3
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
Vermont	737	737	0
Virginia	723	721	-2
Washington	735	734	-1
West Virginia	702	699	-3
Wisconsin	738	737	-1
Wyoming	725	722	-3

States With the Highest and Lowest Average Scores

The top five and bottom five tell a consistent story year over year.

Highest: Minnesota (741), Vermont (737), Wisconsin (737), New Hampshire (735), Washington (734).

Lowest: Mississippi (677), Louisiana (686), Alabama (689), Georgia (692), Texas (692).

In practice, lenders rarely use state averages directly to make decisions, but the geographic spread reflects broader differences in income, cost of living, and credit access.

The Score Gap Between States

The spread between the highest and lowest state averages is about 64 points a meaningful difference.

Two people with otherwise identical financial profiles could land in different credit tiers depending on regional economic conditions.

Average Credit Score by Age and Generation

Age plays a bigger role in credit scoring than many people realise. Length of credit history alone accounts for 15% of a FICO score, which means older consumers naturally have a head start.

By Generation (Experian Data)

Generation	Age Range	2024	2025	Change
Generation Z	18–28	681	678	-3
Millennials	29–44	691	689	-2
Generation X	45–60	709	709	0
Baby Boomers	61–79	746	747	+1
Silent Generation	80+	760	760	0

By Age Bracket (Chase Data)

A separate breakdown by decade-of-life shows a similar pattern:

• 20s: 662
• 30s: 672
• 40s: 684
• 50s: 706
• 60+: 749

Also Read: Blippi Net Worth

Why Credit Scores Generally Rise With Age

A few reasons. Older consumers usually have longer credit histories, a wider mix of account types, and more time to recover from past financial mistakes.

Many have also paid down or paid off large debts like mortgages. Younger consumers, by contrast, are often still building their files from scratch, which limits how high their scores can go regardless of behaviour.

Distribution of Credit Scores Across the U.S.

National averages can hide a lot. Looking at how scores are actually distributed gives a clearer picture of where most Americans fall.

FICO Score Range	2024	2025
Poor (300–579)	13.2%	14.7%
Fair (580–669)	15.5%	14.9%
Good (670–739)	21.0%	20.1%
Very Good (740–799)	27.8%	27.5%
Exceptional (800–850)	22.5%	22.8%

Key Distribution Trends

Around 70% of Americans sit in the "Good" range or above. At the same time, the share with "Exceptional" scores has hit an all-time high of 22.8%. The poor range has also grown from 13.2% to 14.7% in a single year.

In other words, the middle is thinning while both ends grow. Industry observers have started describing this pattern as a kind of "K-shaped" credit landscape.

The shift has been partly tied to the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting, as reported by CNBC, which began appearing on credit files in early 2025.

Also Read: Adrian Portelli Wikipedia

How Credit Scores Are Calculated

Most U.S. lending decisions rely on FICO. VantageScore is the main alternative.

FICO Score Factors

Factor	Weight
Payment history	35%
Amounts owed	30%
Length of credit history	15%
Credit mix	10%
New credit	10%

VantageScore Factors

VantageScore weighs things slightly differently payment history accounts for 40%, age and type of credit 21%, percent of credit used 20%, total balances 11%, recent credit behaviour 5%, and available credit 3%.

In practice, both models reward the same underlying behaviours: paying on time, not maxing out credit lines, and keeping accounts open long enough to build history.

Credit Utilization: What the Averages Show

Credit utilization how much of your available credit you're actually using is the second-largest factor in your FICO score. The national average has held steady at 29% for two consecutive years.

Score Range	Average Utilization
Poor (300–579)	79%
Fair (580–669)	61%
Good (670–739)	39%
Very Good (740–799)	15%
Exceptional (800–850)	7%

The pattern is hard to miss. Consumers with exceptional scores typically use less than 10% of their available credit.

Those in the poor range are often near maxed out. Industry practice generally treats anything above 30% as a drag on your score.

Delinquency Trends Affecting Average Scores

Delinquencies payments more than 30 days late quietly shape national averages.

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	3.89%	3.86%	3.76%

Mortgages and auto loans are trending in the wrong direction. Credit cards and personal loans have held more or less steady, with longer-term tracking data from FRED showing credit card delinquency rates still well below their Great Recession peaks.

Teams in the lending space commonly report that delinquency shifts of this size tend to precede broader credit score movements by a year or two.

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What the Average Credit Score Means for You

A national average is useful, but only if you can place yourself against it.

If Your Score Is Above the Average

You're likely to qualify for competitive interest rates on most consumer loans and credit cards. Lenders generally view you as low risk.

If Your Score Is Near the Average

You'll get approved for most mainstream financial products, though not always at the lowest advertised rates. Borrowers in this range are typically treated as acceptable but not preferred risks.

If Your Score Is Below the Average

Options narrow. You may face higher rates, lower credit limits, or larger required deposits. The good news is that the levers to improve are well known and within reach.

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How to Improve Your Credit Score

There's no shortcut. Improvement usually comes from a handful of slow, consistent habits.

Make on-time payments. Payment history is the single largest factor in your score. Even one missed payment can leave a mark for years.

Keep utilization low. Stay under 30% of your credit limit. The strongest scores tend to sit under 10%.

Don't close old accounts. The age of your oldest account contributes to your overall credit history length.

Limit new applications. Each hard inquiry causes a small, temporary dip.Check your credit regularly. Reviewing your own report doesn't lower your score, and catching errors early can save real points.

Conclusion

The average credit score in America sits at 713–714 in 2026 firmly in the "Good" range but down for the first time in over a decade. State, age, and score-range data show a credit landscape that's slowly polarizing.

Knowing where you stand against these benchmarks helps you make better-informed financial decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average credit score in America right now?

The U.S. average credit score is 713–714 in 2026, based on Experian and FICO data. It falls within the "Good" credit range and reflects a 1–2 point drop from the previous year.

What is considered a good credit score in the U.S.?

A FICO score of 670 or higher is considered "Good." Scores from 740–799 are "Very Good," and 800 and above are "Exceptional." Most lenders treat 670+ as the threshold for favourable terms.

Which state has the highest and lowest average credit scores?

Minnesota leads with an average score of 741. Mississippi has the lowest state average at 677. The gap between the two is roughly 64 points.

Which age group has the highest average credit score?

The Silent Generation (80+) holds the highest average at 760, followed by Baby Boomers at 747. Generation Z has the lowest, at 678.

Does checking my credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries from lender applications can cause a small, temporary dip.