Average FICO Score in the U.S. (2025–2026): What the Numbers Actually Mean

The average FICO score in the U.S. is 713 as of 2025 — a two-point drop from 2024 and the first annual decline in over a decade. For most borrowers, 713 sits in the "good" range. What that number means for your finances, though, depends entirely on context.

What Is the Average FICO Score Right Now?

According to Experian's September 2025 data, the national average FICO Score is 713. FICO's own March 2026 figures put it at 714 — essentially the same reading, taken at slightly different points in time.

That single detail — first decline since 2013 — is what makes 2025 significant. For over a decade, the national average climbed steadily. Not dramatically, but consistently. That streak ended.

Still, 713 is far from alarming. About 70% of U.S. consumers hold a score of 670 or above, which FICO classifies as good or better. The share of consumers in the exceptional range (800–850) actually hit an all-time high of 22.8% in 2025. What's happening is a gradual split — more consumers rising to the top, and more slipping toward the bottom. The middle is thinning out slowly.

Year	National Average FICO Score
2020	711
2021	714
2022	714
2023	715
2024	715
2025	713

Source: Experian annual data, September of each year

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

Worth clarifying early: not all credit score averages refer to the same model.

The national FICO 8 average sits at 713–714. The national VantageScore 3.0 average is around 698. That's a 15–16 point gap — and both numbers are accurate. They just come from different models.

Both use the same 300–850 scale, but they weigh factors differently and apply different thresholds to generate a score. VantageScore, for instance, can score consumers with a shorter credit history than FICO requires. That pulls its average slightly lower.

In practice, most mortgage lenders and auto lenders pull FICO scores when making decisions. Many free credit monitoring tools — including apps from banks and personal finance platforms — show VantageScore. If you've ever noticed your free score looks different from what a lender mentioned, that's the most likely explanation.

Average FICO Score by Age and Generation

Why Scores Rise With Age

Age itself is not a direct input into your FICO score. No model calculates your birthdate into the formula. What age does affect is credit history length and the variety of credit types you've accumulated — both of which scoring models reward.

Older adults have had more time to build a payment record, add different account types, and let their oldest accounts mature. Younger adults often have thin credit files — fewer accounts, shorter histories, less data for models to evaluate. That's not a flaw in the system; it's simply a reflection of time.

That said, length of history alone won't protect a score from a missed payment. Payment behavior still dominates.

Average FICO Score by Age Group and Generation (2025–2026)

Age Group	Average FICO 8 Score	Generation	Average VantageScore 3.0
18–29	676	Gen Z (1997+)	668
30–39	686	Millennials (1981–1996)	679
40–49	702	Gen X (1965–1980)	702
50–59	718	Baby Boomers (1946–1964)	743
60+	752	Silent (1928–1945)	750

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

Only adults 50 and older have an average credit score by age that exceeds the national average of 713–714. A 35-year-old at 686 isn't behind — they're exactly where most 35-year-olds are. Responsible habits now build toward the higher ranges over time.

Average FICO Score by State (2025)

State-level averages vary more than most people expect — a 64-point gap separates Minnesota (741) from Mississippi (677). Local unemployment levels, housing costs, median income, and regional economic conditions all feed into that difference.

In 2025, no state saw its average credit score increase. Three states — Illinois, Maine, and Vermont — held steady. The largest drops were in Louisiana and Washington D.C., each down four points.

Highest Averages (2025)	Score	Lowest Averages (2025)	Score
Minnesota	741	Mississippi	677
Vermont	737	Louisiana	686
Wisconsin	737	Alabama	689
New Hampshire	735	Georgia	692
Washington	734	Arkansas	693

Source: Experian, September 2025

The short-term picture is a broad, shallow decline. The longer view is more reassuring — nearly every state's credit score by state average is still higher than it was in 2020.

How Americans Are Distributed Across FICO Score Ranges

The Five FICO Score Ranges

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

Where Most U.S. Consumers Actually Fall (2024 vs. 2025)

FICO Score Range	2024 Share	2025 Share
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%

Source: Experian, September of each year

The most notable shift: the poor FICO score range grew by 1.5 percentage points in a single year. At the same time, the exceptional range hit a record high. The middle tiers shrank modestly. It's a slow polarization — not a crisis signal, but a pattern worth watching year over year.

What the Average FICO Score Means for Borrowing

A 713 score generally clears the threshold for most standard credit products. But getting approved and getting a good rate are two different things.

Lenders typically tier their pricing by score range. Borrowers in the good range (670–739) usually qualify, but they often pay higher interest rates than someone in the very good or exceptional range. On a 30-year mortgage or a multi-year auto loan, that difference adds up.

What's often overlooked is that the national average isn't a goal worth targeting — it's just a

benchmark. If your score sits at 713 and you're working toward 750 or higher, you're in a position to meaningfully reduce future borrowing costs. Being average, in credit terms, leaves real money on the table over time.

Average Credit Utilization — And Why It Matters

The national average credit utilization ratio held steady at 29% in 2025 — unchanged from 2023 and 2024.

That's notable because utilization is the second-largest factor in your FICO score (30% weight), and 29% sits right at the threshold most credit guidance cites as the upper limit. In practice, consumers with the highest scores run much lower — often under 10%.

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, September 2025

The pattern is direct: lower utilization consistently correlates with higher scores. The national average of 29% is holding at a reasonable level, which suggests overextended credit card use isn't the primary driver of the recent score decline.

The Five Factors That Determine Your FICO Score

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

Payment history is the single heaviest lever. One missed payment can set a score back noticeably, while months of consistent payments build it gradually. Utilization moves faster — it resets as balances change each month. The remaining three factors shift slowly over time and reward patience more than any single action.

Why Did the Average FICO Score Drop in 2025?

Several pressures converged. As reported by Bloomberg, the average FICO score's decline in 2025 was the steepest single-year drop since the global financial crisis — driven by rising delinquencies and sustained affordability pressures across housing and transportation.

Unemployment rose from historically low levels, though it remained relatively moderate. The end of the SAVE student loan repayment plan also played a direct role: according to CNBC, millions of borrowers enrolled in SAVE were required to select a new repayment plan after the program was permanently ended by a federal court ruling in March 2026, with interest having already accrued since August 2025.

That change hit Gen Z and Millennials hardest — their average scores fell 3 and 2 points respectively in 2025.

Credit application rejection rates also reached record highs in 2024–2025. Mortgage and auto loan delinquencies ticked upward. None of these data points signal a systemic credit collapse, but together they explain why the decade-long upward trend finally reversed.

The broader context matters: average scores are still above 2020 levels in nearly every state. The 2025 dip is a correction from a historically elevated baseline — not a return to the credit stress of the post-2008 era.

How to Improve Your FICO Score — And How Long It Realistically Takes

Core Actions That Move the Score

• Pay on time, consistently. Payment history carries the most weight and is entirely in your control.
• Lower your utilization. Paying down balances before your statement date — rather than waiting for the due date — can move the needle faster than most people expect.
• Keep old accounts open. Closing a long-held account reduces your available credit and can shorten your effective credit history.
• Space out new applications. Every hard inquiry has a small negative effect. Waiting at least six months between credit applications keeps that impact manageable.
• Review your credit report for errors. Inaccurate negative items appear more often than most people assume. Disputing them costs nothing and can produce quick results.

Realistic Timeline Expectations

Small gains — 20 to 30 points — are achievable within three to six months of consistent payment behavior and reduced utilization. Moving from fair to good, or good to very good, typically takes 12 to 24 months. Reaching the exceptional range from a mid-range starting point is a multi-year process. There are no reliable shortcuts that hold up long-term.

Conclusion

The average FICO score in the U.S. is 713 — still "good," but modestly declining. Scores vary meaningfully by age, state, and credit habits. Comparing your number against your age group gives more useful context than the national average alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 713 FICO score good?

Yes. A 713 falls in FICO's "good" range (670–739) and qualifies for most standard credit products. Borrowers in the "very good" or "exceptional" ranges typically access better interest rates, so 713 is a solid but not optimal position.

What is the average FICO score by age?

Adults aged 18–29 average 676; 30–39 average 686; 40–49 average 702; 50–59 average 718; and those 60 and older average 752. Scores rise with age primarily because of longer credit histories and broader credit mix.

Why is my VantageScore different from my FICO score?

The two models use the same 300–850 scale but weigh factors differently. The national VantageScore 3.0 average is around 698 versus 713–714 for FICO 8. Both are valid — but most lenders use FICO for credit decisions.

Does checking my own FICO score lower it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and has zero impact on your credit. Only hard inquiries — triggered when a lender reviews your credit for a new application — can cause a small, temporary dip.

How long does it take to improve a FICO score by 50 points?

Typically 12 to 24 months with consistent on-time payments and lower utilization. Minor gains of 20–30 points can appear within three to six months if credit card balances drop significantly relative to available limits.