What is the Average Credit Score in America (2026): What the Numbers Actually Tell You

What is the average credit score in America? As of Spring 2026, it stands at 714, according to FICO's latest Credit Insights report released March 24, 2026.

That's down from 715 in mid-2025 and 717 in 2024 a third consecutive year of decline. The national average still sits in the "Good" tier, but the downward trend is now firmly established.

The Current National Average — Where America Stands Right Now

So, what is the average credit score in America today? As of Spring 2026, it sits at 714, according to FICO's latest Credit Insights report published on March 24, 2026.

That's a one-point slide from 715 in mid-2025 and down from 717 in 2024 marking a third straight year of decline. Despite the dip, the national average remains in the "Good" tier, which spans 670 to 739 on the standard FICO scale.

Most lenders will approve applications at this level, though the most competitive rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards typically kick in at 740–799 the "Very Good" range or above.

What makes today's picture particularly striking is the divide running through it. Even as the average continues to slide, a record 48.1% of U.S. consumers now hold FICO scores of 750 or higher up from just 43.3% in 2019.

The mean is being dragged down by a segment of financially stretched borrowers, while a large portion of the population is sitting in stronger shape than ever before.

This is the K-shaped credit market in practical terms: gains at the top, strain at the bottom, and the middle steadily thinning out.

Understanding Credit Scores: What Is the Average Credit Score in America and How Is It Calculated?

A credit score is a three-digit figure running from 300 to 850 that summarizes how consistently a person has handled borrowed money. Lenders use it as a fast risk signal when reviewing loan applications, setting interest rates, or deciding how much credit to extend.

FICO Score vs. VantageScore — Knowing Which Number Matters

Two scoring systems dominate the American credit landscape.FICO Score is the one that drives more than 90% of U.S. lending decisions. When a lender mentions "your credit score," they're almost always referring to some version of your FICO Score.

The national average figures in this article are based on FICO Score 8 — the most widely referenced version in use today.

VantageScore is a competing model developed jointly by the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

It uses the same 300–850 scale but applies different weighting to factors and draws slightly different tier boundaries. As of March 2026, the average VantageScore 4.0 was 701 a separate measurement not directly comparable to the FICO figure.

Many consumer-facing apps display VantageScore, which explains why your score can look different depending on where you check it. For the purposes of national averages and lending benchmarks, FICO is the one that counts.

Credit Score Tiers — What Each Band Means for Real Borrowers

FICO Score Range	Rating	What It Means for Borrowers
300–579	Poor	Likely to face denial or very high rates
580–669	Fair	May qualify but with unfavorable terms
670–739	Good	Approved for most products; rates are average
740–799	Very Good	Qualifies for better rates and terms
800–850	Exceptional	Best available rates; easiest approvals

At 714, the national average sits near the midpoint of the "Good" tier comfortably above "Fair," but not yet into "Very Good" territory.

In practice, most lenders treat 670 as a meaningful floor. Crossing 740 is where borrowers typically begin to see meaningfully better loan pricing.

How the National Average Has Shifted Over the Past Decade

For most of the 2010s and through the pandemic years, the trend in American credit scores was upward. That changed in 2024 and hasn't reversed since.

As reported by Bloomberg, the initial decline was the first in a decade before the drop extended across multiple consecutive years.

Period	Average FICO	Key Context
2013	~686	Post-recession low point
2014–2019	Rising to 703	Steady economic recovery, rising incomes
2020–2021	Rising to 716–718	Stimulus payments, reduced spending, low defaults
2022–2023	Peaked at 718	Inflation rising, rate hikes beginning
2024	717	First confirmed annual drop; student loan reporting resumes
2025	715	Continued decline; Gen Z and Millennials hardest hit
2026 (Spring)	714	Third consecutive year of decline; stabilization beginning

The pandemic-era gains were, in part, artificial. Stimulus payments reduced outstanding balances, forbearance programs paused delinquency reporting, and consumer spending patterns shifted sharply. As those supports unwound, scores began correcting.

The encouraging note from FICO's Spring 2026 report: delinquency rates on auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans have leveled off or improved. The slide isn't accelerating it's stabilizing.

Credit Score Breakdown by Generation (2025–2026)

Older Americans consistently outscore younger ones, and the reason is structural rather than behavioral. Credit scoring rewards time a longer track record of on-time payments, a broader mix of credit types, and lower overall utilization all accumulate across decades.

A 25-year-old simply doesn't have enough history to build that profile yet, regardless of how responsible they've been.

The figures below are from Experian's September 2025 report the most current granular generational breakdown available as of May 2026.

Generation	Age Range	2024 Avg	2025 Avg	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

The FICO Spring 2026 report confirms that Gen Z continued to experience outsized score declines into 2026, with 14% of consumers aged 18–29 seeing drops of 50 points or more between 2024 and 2025 double the rate of the broader population.

Why Younger Borrowers Are Falling Further Behind

Gen Z and Millennials absorbed the steepest losses, and the causes are concrete. Student loan debt is the central driver.

As reported by Fortune, nearly 7.9 million student loan borrowers had a new delinquency reported in the first three quarters of 2025, causing an average 57-point drop among those affected.

Payments resumed, many borrowers couldn't keep up, and credit reports reflected the gap almost immediately.

Beyond student loans, younger consumers tend to have fewer financial buffers no home equity to fall back on, thinner savings, less margin for unexpected expenses. When a surprise bill hits, the credit card takes it, utilization rises, and scores slip.

Why Baby Boomers Continue to Strengthen

Baby Boomers, now averaging 747, gained a point in 2025. Their credit profiles look structurally different: mortgages that are paid off or close to it, household expenses that have contracted as children have grown, and decades of payment history reinforcing their scores.

They're also opening fewer new accounts which means fewer hard inquiries pulling their numbers down.

H3: Is There a Target Credit Score for Your Age Group?

Straightforward answer: no. Lenders apply the same score thresholds regardless of whether you're 25 or 65. The generational averages above are useful benchmarks for context, not goals in themselves. What actually matters is where your score lands relative to the FICO tier thresholds outlined above.

Average Credit Score by State The Full 2025–2026 Picture

Geography plays a bigger role than most borrowers expect. The gap between the highest and lowest state averages is 66 points wide enough to move a borrower from the "Fair" tier all the way to "Very Good."

The figures below come from Experian's September 2025 data, the most detailed state-level breakdown currently available.

FICO's Spring 2026 report confirms the same regional pattern: Upper Midwest and New England states continue to lead, while Southern states remain at the lower end.

States With the Highest Average Credit Scores

Rank	State	2025 Average
1	Minnesota	741
2	Vermont	737
3	Wisconsin	737
4	New Hampshire	735
5	Washington	734

States With the Lowest Average Credit Scores

Rank	State	2025 Average
1	Mississippi	677
2	Louisiana	686
3	Alabama	689
4	Georgia	692
5	Texas	692

Full State-by-State FICO Score Comparison — 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

What Drives the Score Gap Between States?

No single factor fully explains a 66-point spread, but several consistently appear. States with lower median incomes tend to carry higher rates of missed payments and revolving debt.

Elevated unemployment makes staying current on bills harder. States with older median populations Vermont, Maine benefit from longer average credit histories across the entire population.

What's often overlooked is that these rankings aren't static. Louisiana and Washington D.C. each dropped four points in 2025 alone the steepest declines of any region. Illinois, Maine, and Vermont, by contrast, held flat. Local economic conditions move these numbers year over year.

The Five Factors Behind Your FICO Score

Understanding what goes into a FICO score explains both the national average and your own number.

Factor	Weight	What It Measures
Payment History	35%	On-time vs. late or missed payments
Amounts Owed (Utilization)	30%	How much of available credit you're using
Length of Credit History	15%	Age of oldest, newest, and average accounts
Credit Mix	10%	Variety of credit types (cards, loans, etc.)
New Credit	10%	Recent applications and hard inquiries

Payment History — The Most Consequential Factor

Payment history carries the heaviest weight at 35%. A single missed payment even just 30 days late can push a score down significantly, especially for borrowers who were in higher tiers.

In 2026, nearly one in four Americans (24%) reported missing or underpaying at least one credit obligation in the past 12 months due to inflation, signaling that payment pressure is both widespread and ongoing.

Credit Utilization Rate The Hidden Score Driver

Utilization how much of your available credit you're actively carrying accounts for 30% of your score.

The national average utilization rate held steady at 29% through 2025, right at the threshold where it begins to matter.

FICO 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 unmistakable: borrowers with exceptional scores carry very little revolving balance relative to their limits. A 29% national average means the country, as a whole, is hovering near the edge of where utilization starts to suppress scores.

Length of Credit History The Factor You Can't Rush

Time is the one variable you simply cannot shortcut. Older accounts help, which is why closing a card you've had for 10 years — even one you no longer use can quietly lower your score.

Credit Mix and New Credit Inquiries

These factors carry less weight, but they still matter. Holding a mix of credit types mortgage, auto loan, credit card signals that you can manage different kinds of debt responsibly.

New credit applications trigger a hard inquiry, typically causing a small, temporary dip of a few points.

Notably, 77% of consumers in 2026 say they factor current interest rates into the timing of their applications a sign that borrowers are becoming more deliberate about when and whether to apply.

Delinquency Rates The Forward Indicator for Where Scores Are Heading

Delinquency rates measure the percentage of accounts where borrowers have fallen behind on payments. They are among the clearest leading signals for where credit scores are moving.

Account Type	2023	2024	2025	2026 Trend
Credit Card	2.45%	2.40%	2.31%	Stabilizing
Mortgage	1.88%	2.24%	2.45%	Still rising
Auto Loans	3.51%	3.68%	3.78%	Leveling off
Personal Loans	3.89%	3.86%	3.76%	Stabilizing
Student Loans	Near 0% (paused)	Reporting resumed	Sharp rise	Growth slowing

FICO's Spring 2026 report confirms that delinquency rates on auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans have leveled off or improved.

Student loan delinquency growth has slowed considerably after the sharp surge in early 2025 rising only marginally between April and October of that year.

Mortgage delinquencies remain the one category still trending upward, continuing their move toward pre-pandemic levels.

In practical terms: the sharpest credit pressure from student loan reporting appears to be passing. Mortgage stress is the remaining open question.

Why Credit Scores Have Been Declining Since 2024

The three-year slide wasn't caused by one thing. Several pressures converged at the same time.

The resumption of student loan delinquency reporting after a multi-year pandemic pause triggered the most abrupt single impact. More than 7 million student loan borrowers had a new delinquency reported in 2025, causing an average 62-point drop among those affected.

For borrowers already financially stretched, that pushed many into the Fair or Poor tiers.

Elevated shelter costs persisted throughout 2025 and into 2026, consuming a larger share of household budgets and leaving less margin for everything else.

Mortgage delinquencies continued rising, reflecting the sustained weight of high borrowing costs on homeowners.

Inflation kept everyday expenses elevated nearly one in four Americans skipped or underpaid a credit obligation in the past 12 months specifically because of cost-of-living pressure, according to the FICO Spring 2026 consumer survey.

What did not drive the decline: runaway credit utilization. Despite all the above, the national average utilization held steady. This is fundamentally an income and affordability problem, not a spending-beyond-means problem for most borrowers.

What a 714 Credit Score Actually Means for Borrowers in 2026

A 714 score means you're likely to get approved for most standard financial products credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and mortgages. But "approved" and "best available terms" are two different things.

At 714, most borrowers won't qualify for the lowest offered interest rates. That tier typically begins around 740–760, depending on the lender and product.

In a still-elevated rate environment, the difference between a 714 and a 760 translates to real dollars particularly on mortgage and auto loan payments stretched over years.

One additional note: lenders don't all use FICO Score 8. Mortgage lenders often rely on older FICO versions FICO 2, 4, or 5 and some use industry-specific scoring models.

Your FICO Score 8 provides a useful directional read, but your actual mortgage score may vary by several points in either direction.

One data point reflecting where consumers are mentally: 29% of Americans in 2026 say they won't apply for credit unless rates fall to a level they consider acceptable.

People are being deliberate, which by itself reduces new inquiry volume and softens hard inquiry drag on scores.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Credit Score in 2026

No shortcuts exist here. Credit improvement is mostly slow, consistent work but some actions carry significantly more weight than others.

Pay On Time, Every Time

Payment history is 35% of your score. One missed payment can cause more damage than months of disciplined behavior can repair. Automatic minimum payment setups eliminate the human error element entirely.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Rate Low

The national average sits at 29% right at the edge of where utilization starts dragging scores down.

Consumers with exceptional scores (800+) average just 7% utilization. You don't need a zero balance, but keeping your balances well below your limits signals financial stability to lenders.

Leave Old Accounts Open

Closing a card you don't actively use might feel like good housekeeping. In credit terms, it usually works against you it reduces total available credit (which raises utilization) and can shorten your average account age. Both hurt.

Be Strategic About Credit Applications

Every credit application triggers a hard inquiry. A handful over time is normal and has minimal impact. But applying for multiple new accounts in a short window can noticeably drag your score down.

This matters particularly for founders and business owners managing personal credit carefully is usually the foundation before seeking business financing.

Review Your Credit Report for Errors

Reporting mistakes are more common than most people realize. An incorrectly flagged late payment or an account that doesn't belong to you can silently suppress your score for months or years.

All three bureaus are required to provide free annual reports reviewing them costs nothing and can catch problems before they compound.

Wrapping Up

The average credit score in America is 714 as of Spring 2026 still "Good," but part of a third consecutive year of decline.

Student loan pressure is stabilizing, mortgage stress and inflation continue to squeeze many borrowers, and a record share of consumers now score 750 or above while another growing segment falls further behind. The K-shaped credit market isn't a temporary phenomenon it's the new baseline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 714 a good credit score in 2026?

Yes. A 714 falls solidly within the "Good" range (670–739) on the FICO scale. Most lenders will approve borrowers at this level, but the best available rates typically require 740 or higher.

What percentage of Americans have a good credit score?

Approximately 71% of U.S. consumers hold a FICO score of 670 or higher. A record 48.1% now score 750 or above, according to FICO's Spring 2026 report.

Which state has the highest average credit score?

Minnesota leads at 741. Vermont and Wisconsin follow at 737 each, based on the most recent Experian state-level data.

Why have credit scores been declining since 2024?

The primary driver is the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting after pandemic-era forbearance ended. Elevated housing costs and persistent inflation have added further sustained pressure.

What is the difference between a FICO Score and a VantageScore?

FICO is used in more than 90% of lending decisions and is the basis for national averages. VantageScore uses the same 300–850 scale but applies a different methodology — the two figures are not directly comparable.