What Is the Average Credit Score in America in 2026?

What Is the Average Credit Score in America in 2026?The average credit score in America sits at 713 to 714 as of 2026. Experian recorded 713 in its September data, while FICO's Spring 2026 report places the figure at 714.

Both are derived from the FICO Score 8 model — the same model used in more than 90% of U.S. lending decisions — and both place the national average firmly in the "Good" tier of the standard credit scoring scale.

What neither number captures on its own is the broader story: this marks the first annual decline in the national average in over a decade, and the forces behind it reveal a great deal about where American household finances currently stand.

A Decade of Progress — Followed by the First Reversal

For most of the past ten years, the average U.S. credit score moved in one direction: up. That changed in 2026. The national average dropped two points compared to the prior year — the first annual decrease recorded since 2013.

Two points may seem negligible. But the direction carries weight. Credit analysts have tied the decline to a combination of compounding pressures: the resumption of federal student loan repayments after an extended pause, growing delinquency rates on mortgages and auto loans, and sustained affordability strain on household budgets that did not ease as quickly as anticipated.

As reported by CNBC, the reactivation of student loan delinquency reporting to credit bureaus was among the most significant contributors to the national score decline. These were not sudden shocks — they layered over time, and the score data now reflects that accumulation.

That said, the national average remains in the "Good" range despite the dip. Most conventional loan products are still accessible to borrowers near the 713–714 mark, though the most competitive interest rates typically require scores of 740 or above.

Which Credit Scoring Model Does the National Average Use?

Nearly every published national average — including the 713–714 figure — is based on the FICO Score 8 model. FICO scores influence over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, which is why they serve as the standard reference point for this kind of reporting.

VantageScore is a separate model used by certain lenders and widely available through free credit monitoring tools. It applies a different formula and weights factors differently, so it can produce a meaningfully different number from FICO even for the same individual.

When a national average appears in the news or a financial publication, it is almost always FICO-based. Verifying the source is always worth a moment.

Credit Score Ranges — What Each Tier Actually Means

Understanding where 713–714 falls within the full credit score ranges explained below provides useful context for borrowers at any stage.

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

A score of 713–714 lands in the Good tier — past the midpoint of the scale and well above the threshold most lenders require for standard credit products. It is not the top tier, but it represents a functional position in the credit landscape for the average American borrower.

How Credit Scores Vary Across Age Groups in 2026

Age and credit scores follow a fairly predictable pattern. Older consumers tend to score higher — a result of longer credit histories, more diverse account types, and generally fewer missed payments accumulated over time.

What stands out in 2026 is how unevenly the score decline landed across generations. Younger borrowers absorbed the steepest drops. Gen Z fell three points. Millennials declined two. Baby Boomers, by contrast, actually gained one point.

This reflects both the outsized impact of student loan repayment resumption on younger demographics and the fact that older consumers tend to have greater financial buffers when economic conditions tighten.

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 appearing on credit reports — a shift that hit younger borrowers hardest.

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 22-year-old with a score of 680 is actually tracking close to the average for their age group. Comparing your score to the national average of 713 without accounting for age can paint a misleading picture — generational benchmarks provide far more useful context.

Regional Differences — Credit Scores Across All 50 States

Geographic patterns in U.S. credit scores are consistent and notable. Higher averages cluster in the Upper Midwest and New England. Lower averages are more prevalent across the South. The gap between the highest and lowest state averages in 2026 is approximately 64 points  wide enough to meaningfully affect the interest rates borrowers in those regions are typically offered.

States With the Strongest Average Credit Scores

State	Average FICO Score (2026)
Minnesota	741
Vermont	737
Wisconsin	737
New Hampshire	735
Washington	734

States With the Weakest Average Credit Scores

State	Average FICO Score (2026)
Mississippi	677
Louisiana	686
Alabama	689
Georgia	692
Oklahoma	693

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

Where American Borrowers Fall on the Credit Score Spectrum

As of 2026, roughly 70% of U.S. consumers hold a Good or better credit score — meaning a FICO score of 670 or above. But the overall picture is increasingly split. The share of consumers in the Poor range grew noticeably, while the share with Exceptional scores reached an all-time high simultaneously.

According to the national FICO average has been monitored since 2005. The 2026 data represents a clear break from the long upward trend. Some analysts have described the emerging pattern as a "K-shaped" credit score distribution in the United States — a divergence between consumers who are managing their finances effectively and those who are falling progressively further behind.

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 the middle of the distribution is under pressure. That is a pattern worth watching, particularly if economic headwinds persist further into 2026.

The Five Factors Behind Every FICO Score

Knowing what is the average credit score in America is one question. Understanding what drives individual scores is another — and the more actionable one.FICO scores are built from five weighted factors. Payment history carries the greatest influence by a significant margin. Credit utilization — the percentage of available credit currently in use — is the second-largest component.

The remaining weight is distributed across the age of the credit accounts, the variety of account types held, and the frequency of new credit applications.Nationally, average credit utilization held at 29% in 2026 — just under the commonly cited 30% threshold. This suggests that overreliance on existing credit lines was not the primary force behind the score decline.

FICO Score Components and Their Weightings

Factor	Weight	What It Measures
Payment History	35%	On-time versus 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

In practice, payment history and amounts owed together account for nearly two-thirds of a FICO score. These two factors tend to move the needle most quickly for anyone actively working to raise their number.

How to Access Your Own Credit Score at No Cost

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. Each bureau also provides ways to view your FICO or VantageScore directly through its own platform, typically at no charge.

Checking your own score does not affect it. This type of inquiry is classified as a soft pull, not a hard inquiry.

Conclusion

The average credit score in America stands at 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 or above range, but the share in the Poor category is expanding — and that divergence appears likely to continue as long as the underlying economic pressures remain unresolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as 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 rates are available to borrowers in the 740–850 range.

What is the average credit score in America in 2026?

The average credit score in America is 713 according to Experian's data and 714 per FICO's Spring 2026 report. The slight difference reflects different data sources and measurement periods — both figures are based on the FICO model.

What share of Americans carry 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 represents an all-time high according to Experian's tracking data.

Which state leads the country in average credit score?

Minnesota holds the top position with an average FICO score of 741. Mississippi sits at the other end at 677, creating roughly a 64-point spread between the highest and lowest state averages.

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

The decline is tied to the resumption of student loan repayments, rising delinquencies on mortgages and auto loans, and sustained affordability pressure on households. It marks the first annual drop in the national average FICO score since 2013.