What Is Average Credit Score in America — 2026 Full Breakdown

What Is Average Credit Score in America? The average credit score in America is 713 to 714 as of 2026. Experian's September data puts it at 713, while FICO's Spring 2026 report records 714. Both figures use the FICO Score 8 model  the scoring standard behind more than 90% of U.S. lending decisions and both place the national average squarely in the "Good" range on the credit score scale.

What the headline number alone does not show is the direction of travel: 2026 marks the first annual decline in the national average in over a decade, and the reasons behind it tell a broader story about household finances across the country.

What Scoring Model Is the National Average Based On?

Nearly every published national average — including the 713–714 figure — is based on the FICO Score 8 model. FICO scores are used in over 90% of U.S. credit decisions, making them the standard benchmark for any national comparison.

VantageScore is a separate model offered by some lenders and most free credit monitoring apps. It uses a different formula and different factor weightings, so it can produce a meaningfully different number from FICO for the same person. Whenever a national average is cited in a news article or financial publication, it is almost always FICO-based. Confirming the source of any score you see is always worthwhile.

FICO Credit Score Ranges — Where Does 713 Actually Land?

Understanding the full credit score ranges explained below gives context for where the national average sits — and what it means for borrowers.

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

A score of 713–714 falls in the Good tier — past the midpoint of the 300–850 scale and above the threshold most lenders require for standard credit products. The most competitive mortgage rates, auto loan terms, and credit card offers typically require a score of 740 or higher.

The First Annual Decline Since 2013 — What Is Pulling Scores Down?

For more than a decade, the average U.S. credit score either held steady or slowly climbed. That changed in 2026. The national average fell two points compared to the prior year — the first annual drop recorded since 2013.

Several overlapping pressures drove the decline. Federal student loan repayments resumed after a multi-year pause, and delinquencies began appearing on credit reports for the first time since the pandemic began. Mortgage and auto loan delinquency rates also climbed. Household budgets remained stretched by persistent affordability pressures that did not ease as quickly as expected.

As reported by CNBC, the reinstatement of student loan delinquency reporting to credit bureaus was among the most significant contributors to the national score decline. These pressures did not hit overnight — they compounded gradually, and the credit data now reflects that accumulation.

Despite the dip, the national average remains in the Good tier. Most standard loan products are still accessible to borrowers near 713–714, though the best rates continue to require scores above 740.

Average Credit Score by Age Group in 2026

Age and credit scores follow a consistent pattern. Older consumers score higher the result of longer credit histories, more diverse account types, and fewer missed payments built up over time. Consumers in their 20s carry an average score around 678, while those 60 and over average around 747 a gap that reflects decades of credit-building rather than any innate advantage.

What stands out in 2026 is how unevenly the decline landed across generations. Gen Z dropped three points. Millennials fell two. Baby Boomers actually gained one point. This reflects both the disproportionate impact of student loan repayment resumption on younger borrowers and the fact that older consumers typically have greater financial cushion to absorb economic shocks.

According to research from Fortune, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimated that more than nine million student loan borrowers faced significant drops in their credit standing once delinquencies began hitting credit reports — a shift that landed hardest on younger age groups.

Average Credit Score by Generation (2026)

Generation	Age Range	Average FICO Score	Year-over-Year Change
Gen Z	18–28	678	-3 points
Millennials	29–44	689	-2 points
Gen X	45–60	709	Unchanged
Baby Boomers	61–79	747	+1 point
Silent Generation	80+	760	Unchanged

A 24-year-old with a score of 678 is right at the average for their age group. Comparing yourself to the national average of 713 without adjusting for age creates a misleading benchmark — generational context matters far more for an accurate picture of where you stand.

Average Credit Score by State in 2026

Geographic patterns in U.S. credit scores are consistent and well-established. Stronger averages cluster in the Upper Midwest and New England. Weaker averages are concentrated across the South.

The spread between the highest and lowest state averages in 2026 is approximately 64 points  large enough to affect the interest rates borrowers in those regions are routinely offered on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

States With the Highest Average Credit Scores (2026)

State	Average FICO Score
Minnesota	741
Vermont	737
Wisconsin	737
New Hampshire	735
Washington	734

States With the Lowest Average Credit Scores (2026)

State	Average FICO Score
Mississippi	677
Louisiana	686
Alabama	689
Georgia	692
Oklahoma	693

Average scores fell across most states in 2026. Louisiana and Washington D.C. recorded the steepest declines at four points each. Only Illinois, Maine, and Vermont held steady. No state saw an increase.

How Credit Scores Are Distributed Across America in 2026

Roughly 70% of U.S. consumers hold a Good or better FICO score — meaning 670 or above as of 2026. But the distribution is polarizing. The share of consumers in the Poor range grew noticeably, while the share with Exceptional scores simultaneously hit an all-time high.

Some analysts have described this as a K-shaped credit landscape — a split between consumers who are managing their finances well and those who are falling progressively further behind. The middle is thinning.

Share of U.S. Consumers by FICO Score Tier (2026)

Score Range	Rating	% of Consumers	Change vs. Prior Year
300 – 579	Poor	14.7%	+1.5%
580 – 669	Fair	14.9%	-0.6%
670 – 739	Good	20.1%	-0.9%
740 – 799	Very Good	27.5%	-0.3%
800 – 850	Exceptional	22.8%	+0.3%

The simultaneous rise in both the Poor and Exceptional categories suggests that economic pressures are sorting consumers more sharply than before. That pattern is worth monitoring if affordability challenges persist further into 2026.

What Makes Up a Credit Score? The Five FICO Factors

Knowing what is average credit score in America is useful. Understanding what drives your individual score is more actionable.FICO scores are calculated from five weighted factors. Payment history carries the largest single influence.

Credit utilization — how much of your available credit you are currently using — is the second-largest driver. The remaining weight is split across the age of your accounts, the variety of account types you hold, and how recently you have applied for new credit.

Nationally, average credit utilization held steady at 29% in 2026 — just under the commonly cited 30% threshold. This indicates that overuse of existing credit was not the primary cause of the overall score decline.

FICO Score Components and Their Weightings

Factor	Weight	What It Measures
Payment History	35%	On-time vs. missed payments
Amounts Owed	30%	Credit utilization across all accounts
Length of Credit History	15%	Age of oldest, newest, and average accounts
Credit Mix	10%	Variety of credit types held
New Credit	10%	Recent applications and hard inquiries

Average Credit Utilization by FICO Score Tier (2026)

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

Payment history and amounts owed together account for nearly two-thirds of any FICO score. For anyone actively working to improve their number, these two factors move the needle fastest and most reliably.

Delinquency Rates by Account Type in 2026

Not all debt types are trending in the same direction. Mortgage and auto loan delinquency rates increased in 2026 compared to the prior year. Credit card and personal loan delinquencies came in flat to slightly lower — a sign that revolving debt management has stabilized even as installment debt pressure has grown.

Percent of Accounts Considered Delinquent by Debt Type

Account Type	2024	2025
Credit Card	2.40%	2.31%
Mortgage	2.24%	2.45%
Auto Loans	3.68%	3.78%
Personal Loans	3.86%	3.76%

The rise in mortgage delinquency is particularly notable — it suggests some homeowners are still feeling the squeeze from elevated borrowing costs and housing expenses that have not meaningfully eased.

How to Improve Your Credit Score From Where You Stand

Regardless of where your score sits today, there are concrete steps that move it in the right direction. None of them require special programs or paid services.

Pay every bill on time. Payment history is 35% of your FICO score — the single largest factor. Even one missed payment can leave a mark that stays on your report for seven years. Setting up autopay removes the risk of forgetting.

Keep your credit utilization below 30%. Ideally below 10% if you want to reach the Very Good or Exceptional tiers. Paying your balance in full each month, or making multiple smaller payments throughout the month, keeps your reported utilization low.

Do not close old accounts unnecessarily. Closing a card you no longer use can shorten your average account age and reduce your total available credit — both of which can lower your score. Keeping the account open with occasional small purchases is usually the better move.

Limit new credit applications. Each hard inquiry from a new credit application causes a small, temporary dip. Applying for several new accounts in a short window compounds that effect. Space out applications and only apply when you genuinely need to.

Check your credit report for errors. Mistakes on credit reports are more common than most people expect. Disputing and correcting errors — a wrong balance, an account that is not yours, a payment incorrectly marked late — can produce fast improvements with no other changes required.

How to Check Your Own Credit Score for Free

Every U.S. consumer is entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com. Experian also provides access to your FICO Score directly through its platform at no charge.

Checking your own score does not affect it. This is a soft inquiry, not a hard one. Monitoring your score regularly is one of the lowest-effort, highest-value habits in personal finance.

Conclusion

What is average credit score in America right now? It is 713–714 in 2026 — technically Good, but declining for the first time in more than a decade. Younger borrowers are absorbing the heaviest pressure.

The majority of Americans still fall in the Good tier or above, but the share in the Poor category is growing and the divide in credit health is widening. Where you sit relative to your age group, your state, and your utilization ratio matters as much as the national number — and all three are within your control to improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is average credit score in America in 2026?

The average credit score in America is 713 per Experian's September data and 714 per FICO's Spring 2026 report. Both use the FICO Score 8 model. The slight difference reflects different measurement periods and data sources.

What is a good credit score in the US?

A FICO score of 670 or above is broadly considered Good. Scores of 740 and above qualify as Very Good. Most competitive loan and mortgage rates are available to borrowers in the 740–850 range.

What percentage of Americans have an exceptional credit score?

As of 2026, 22.8% of U.S. consumers hold a FICO score between 800 and 850 — the Exceptional tier. That is an all-time high according to Experian's tracking data.

Which state has the highest average credit score?

Minnesota leads all states with an average FICO score of 741 in 2026. Mississippi sits at the other end at 677, creating a 64-point spread between the top and bottom states.

Why did the average U.S. credit score fall in 2026?

The decline is tied to student loan delinquencies resuming after a multi-year pause, rising mortgage and auto loan delinquency rates, and sustained affordability pressure on household budgets. It marks the first annual drop in the national FICO average since 2013.

How do I check my credit score for free?

You can access one free credit report per bureau per year at AnnualCreditReport.com. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion each also offer free score access through their own platforms. Checking your own score has no impact on it whatsoever.