Average FICO Score in the U.S.: What the Number Means and How You Compare

The average FICO score in the U.S. is 714 as of early 2026 — a two-point drop from 2024 and the first annual decline since 2013. That still sits in the "good" range (670–739), which means the majority of American borrowers remain reasonably creditworthy in the eyes of most lenders.

What Is the Average FICO Score Right Now?

That's the number, based on FICO Score 8 data — the version used by 90% of top U.S. lenders when making credit decisions. The average VantageScore 3.0, which you'll often see on free monitoring apps, is slightly lower at 698 for the same period.

The two-point dip from 715 in 2024 doesn't sound dramatic. But context matters here: scores had been rising steadily for over a decade before this.

As reported by CNBC, the national average credit score fell for the second consecutive year, driven by increases in credit card utilization, missed payments, and the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting. The decline reflects real economic pressure — not a sudden collapse in how Americans handle credit.

National Average FICO Score Trend (2021–2025)

Year	Average FICO Score 8
2021	714
2022	716
2023	718
2024	715
2025	713–714

Source: Experian and FICO data, September of each year

Is a 714 FICO Score Actually Good?

Technically, yes. 714 lands in the "good" category, which runs from 670 to 739. But "good" has practical limits worth understanding.

At 714, most borrowers qualify for mainstream credit products — auto loans, credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages. What they often don't get is the best available interest rate. That tends to require a score in the "very good" (740–799) or "exceptional" (800–850) range.

What's often overlooked is that 70% of Americans already sit at 670 or above. So being at the national average doesn't mean you're struggling — it means you're in decent company.

FICO Score Ranges, Labels, and Share of U.S. Consumers (2025)

FICO Score Range	Label	Share of U.S. Consumers
300–579	Poor	14.7%
580–669	Fair	14.9%
670–739	Good	20.1%
740–799	Very Good	27.5%
800–850	Exceptional	22.8%

Source: Experian data, September 2025

One thing worth flagging: the exceptional range hit an all-time high of 22.8% in 2025. At the same time, the poor range grew too — from 13.2% to 14.7%. Scores are polarizing at both ends, with the middle thinning out.

Analysts have called this a K-shaped credit pattern, reflecting the broader economic divide between consumers who are financially stable and those who are under sustained pressure.

FICO Score vs. VantageScore — Which One Are You Looking At?

Before going further, this distinction matters. There are two major credit scoring models in the U.S., and they're not interchangeable.

FICO Score 8 is the standard lenders use. When a bank pulls your credit before approving a mortgage or auto loan, this is almost always the version they're looking at. The current average is 714.

VantageScore 3.0 is what most free credit monitoring tools — apps, card portals, and personal finance platforms — display. The average here is 698. It uses different factor weightings and can produce a noticeably different number from your FICO score.

In practice, people are often confused when their "free" score looks different from what a lender tells them. That's usually why. Neither number is wrong — they're just calculated differently.

Feature	FICO Score 8	VantageScore 3.0
Used by lenders	Yes (90% of top U.S.)	Less common
Free monitoring tools	Rarely	Very common
U.S. Average (2026)	714	698
Score range	300–850	300–850

What Does Your FICO Score Mean When You Apply for Credit?

The number itself doesn't automatically unlock or block anything — lenders also weigh income, existing debt load, and loan type. But your score range gives a reasonable sense of where you stand going in.

• Poor (300–579): Limited options. Higher rates, deposit requirements, or secured products are common.
• Fair (580–669): Some approvals, but usually at above-average rates.
• Good (670–739): Qualifies for most mainstream products. Rates are mid-tier.
• Very Good (740–799): Access to competitive rates across most credit categories.
• Exceptional (800–850): Best available rates and highest approval likelihood.

At 714, most borrowers are comfortably in the good zone — but moving into very good territory can meaningfully lower what you pay in interest over the life of a loan. On a 30-year mortgage, even a half-point rate difference adds up to thousands of dollars over time.

Average FICO Score by Age Group

Credit scores tend to rise with age. That's not because older people are inherently more responsible — it's mostly because length of credit history is a significant scoring factor, and that only grows over time.

Age itself is not a direct input into FICO calculations. But the accounts you've built, the payment history you've accumulated, and the variety of credit types you've managed — all of those improve naturally as years pass.

Average FICO 8 Score and VantageScore 3.0 by Age Group (2026)

Age Group	Avg FICO Score 8	Avg VantageScore 3.0
18–29	676	668 (Gen Z)
30–39	686	679 (Millennials)
40–49	702	702 (Gen X)
50–59	718	—
60+	752	743–750 (Boomers / Silent)

Source: FICO data (January 2026), VantageScore data (February 2026)

Only adults in the two oldest age groups have average scores above the national average of 714. That's expected — not a sign that younger borrowers are doing anything wrong.

Why Gen Z Scores Are Under More Pressure

Gen Z saw the steepest average score drop of any age group in 2025 — down three points year over year. A few factors explain this.

First, 34% of younger consumers carry student loans, compared to 17% of the total population. With the SAVE income-based repayment plan ending in 2025, monthly payments rose for roughly 8 million borrowers, and student loan delinquency data resumed reporting to credit bureaus.

As reported by The Washington Post, credit scores dropped by more than 100 points for 2.2 million delinquent student loan borrowers in the first three months of 2025 alone — a level of damage comparable to what follows a personal bankruptcy filing.

Second, nearly half of Gen Z (48%) reported relying on credit cards or Buy Now, Pay Later loans to cover basic expenses after income disruption. That kind of usage tends to push utilization rates up and, in some cases, leads to missed payments.

What's also notable: Gen Z shows a higher rate of 50-plus point score swings than any other generation — reflecting genuine financial volatility, not just gradual movement in either direction.

How Are FICO Scores Distributed Across U.S. States?

State-level averages vary more than you might expect.

The highest-scoring states in 2025 include Minnesota (741), Vermont (737), Wisconsin (737), and New Hampshire (735). At the lower end, Mississippi sits at 677, Louisiana at 686, and West Virginia at 699.

State FICO Score Averages — Highest, Lowest, and Biggest Declines (2025)

Category	State	Average FICO Score	Change (2024–2025)
Highest	Minnesota	741	−1
Highest	Vermont	737	0
Highest	Wisconsin	737	−1
Lowest	Mississippi	677	−3
Lowest	Louisiana	686	−4
Lowest	West Virginia	699	−3
Biggest decline	Louisiana	686	−4
Biggest decline	Washington D.C.	711	−4

Source: Experian data, September 2025

No state saw its average score increase in 2025. Three states — Illinois, Maine, and Vermont — held steady. Every other state recorded a decline. That kind of uniform downward movement across geography points to national-level economic forces rather than regional ones.

Why Did the Average FICO Score Drop in 2025?

The short answer: a combination of economic strain, rising delinquencies, and specific policy changes affecting millions of borrowers. None of it happened overnight.

Economic Pressures on Consumers

Housing costs, transportation expenses, and everyday goods remained expensive through 2025. Unemployment, while still relatively low historically, ticked upward. Consumer confidence fell to notable lows.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that more consumers than ever expected to miss a payment in the coming months — a forward-looking signal that tends to precede actual score declines.

Student Loan Repayment Resumed

The end of the SAVE repayment plan affected roughly 8 million federal student loan borrowers. Interest began accruing again, monthly payments increased, and student loan delinquency data — which had been paused during forbearance periods — resumed reporting to credit bureaus. For younger borrowers especially, this had a direct and measurable effect on scores.

Delinquency Rates by Account Type

Not all credit products deteriorated equally. Auto loan and mortgage delinquencies climbed, while credit card and personal loan delinquencies were slightly more stable — in part because lenders tightened underwriting on newer personal loan originations.

Delinquency Rate Trends by Account Type (2023–2025)

Account Type	2023	2024	2025
Credit cards	2.45%	2.40%	2.31%
Mortgages	1.88%	2.24%	2.45%
Auto loans	3.51%	3.68%	3.78%
Personal loans	3.89%	3.86%	3.76%

Source: Experian data, September of each year

Interestingly, auto loan delinquencies have risen 24% since 2021. Mortgage delinquencies are up 58% over the same period — though still below pre-pandemic levels, which provides some useful context for how much they had compressed during the low-rate era.

How FICO Scores Are Calculated

Five factors determine your FICO Score 8. Their relative weights are publicly documented by FICO and widely cited by lenders.

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

Payment history carries the most weight — by a significant margin. One missed payment can affect your score more than months of responsible usage. Amounts owed, particularly credit card utilization, is the second biggest lever and one of the more actionable ones since balances can change month to month.

What's often misunderstood is that FICO Score 8 is not the only FICO version. Lenders in auto lending or mortgage underwriting may use industry-specific FICO models such as FICO Auto Score or FICO Score 2, 4, or 5. The factors are similar, but the weightings and score outcomes can differ.

Average Credit Utilization and What It Signals

Despite the overall score decline, average credit card utilization held steady at 29% nationally in 2025 — unchanged for two consecutive years. That tells us utilization was not the primary driver of the score drop. Missed payments and delinquencies played a larger role.

That said, utilization is tightly correlated with score range. Consumers with poor scores carry an average utilization of 79%. Exceptional scorers average just 7%.

 Average Credit Utilization by FICO Score Range (2025)

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

Source: Experian data, September 2025

Industry guidance generally treats 30% as the threshold above which utilization starts to noticeably drag on scores. In practice, most financial professionals suggest keeping it under 10% if the goal is to push into the very good or exceptional range.

How to Improve Your Average FICO Score

Pay Every Bill On Time

Payment history drives 35% of your score. A single missed payment — especially on a mortgage or credit card — can drop your score by 50 to 100 points depending on your starting position. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum payment removes the risk of accidental lapses.

Keep Utilization Low

The target most commonly cited is below 30%. But if you're aiming for a score above 740, below 10% is closer to the mark. Paying down balances before your statement closes — not just before the due date — can help, since that's when most issuers report balances to the bureaus.

Don't Close Old Accounts Unnecessarily

Closing a long-standing account reduces your average credit age and your total available credit — both of which can nudge your score downward. Keeping a zero-balance card open is often better than closing it.

Space Out New Credit Applications

Each hard inquiry knocks a few points off temporarily. Most credit professionals suggest waiting at least six months between applications unless there's a specific need. Multiple applications in a short window can signal financial stress to lenders.

Review Your Credit Report for Errors

Errors on credit reports are more common than people expect. Incorrect late payments, accounts that aren't yours, or duplicate entries can all suppress your score without you knowing. Checking your report and disputing errors with the relevant bureau is one of the few ways to improve your score without changing any financial behavior.

How Quickly Does a FICO Score Change?

Faster than most people realize — in both directions.

Most creditors report account activity to the major bureaus once a month. That means a large paydown of a credit card balance could show up in your score within 30 to 45 days. A missed payment can hit just as quickly.

Negative items — late payments, collections, charge-offs — stay on your credit report for up to seven years. Hard inquiries from new credit applications remain for two years, though their scoring impact fades significantly after about 12 months.

For borrowers actively working to improve their scores, the most noticeable gains typically come from reducing utilization (fast-acting) and establishing a consistent on-time payment record (slower but more durable).

Conclusion

The average FICO score of 714 reflects where most Americans stand — creditworthy, but not immune to economic strain. The 2025 dip is real, but it follows over a decade of gains. Payment history and utilization remain the most controllable factors for anyone looking to move the needle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average FICO score in the U.S.?

The average FICO Score 8 is 714 as of early 2026, based on data from FICO and Experian. This places the national average in the "good" range (670–739).

What is a good FICO score?

FICO defines "good" as 670–739. Scores of 740–799 are "very good" and 800–850 are "exceptional." A higher score generally means better loan terms and lower interest rates.

Does age affect your FICO score?

Not directly. Age is not a scoring input. But older consumers tend to have longer credit histories and more credit types — both of which positively affect scores over time.

What is the difference between FICO and VantageScore?

FICO Score 8 is used by most lenders; VantageScore 3.0 appears on most free monitoring tools. Their averages differ — 714 vs. 698 — because they use different factor weightings.

Why did average FICO scores drop in 2025?

Resumed student loan delinquency reporting, rising auto and mortgage delinquencies, and broader economic affordability pressures combined to push the national average down two points from 2024.