What Is a Good Credit Score for Your Age? (2025 Averages by Generation)
Last updated 04/16/2026 by
Ante Mazalin
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
A good credit score is one that’s above the average for your age group — but what “above average” means shifts significantly depending on your generation, since credit history length is one of the strongest drivers of your FICO score.
The national average across all ages was 715 in 2025, according to Experian.
- Gen Z (18–28): The average score in 2025 was 678 — any score above 680 puts you ahead of your peers, and 700 or above is genuinely strong for this age group.
- Millennials (29–44): The average was 689 — scores above 700 are solidly above average, and 740+ puts you in excellent territory.
- Gen X and older: Averages rise steadily with age — Gen X averages 709, Baby Boomers 747, and the Silent Generation 760 — largely because of longer credit histories.
Comparing your credit score to a national average without accounting for age gives you an incomplete picture. A 680 at 21 represents strong credit management; the same score at 55 suggests room for improvement. Knowing where you stand relative to your peers is a more useful benchmark.
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Average credit score by age group
Experian’s 2025 data — drawn from September credit bureau records — shows how average FICO scores break down across generations. Scores generally rise with age because older consumers have longer credit histories, more established credit lines, and fewer recent delinquencies.
| Generation | Age Range (2025) | Average FICO Score (2025) | Change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z | 18–28 | 678 | -3 points |
| Millennials | 29–44 | 689 | -2 points |
| Generation X | 45–60 | 709 | Unchanged |
| Baby Boomers | 61–79 | 747 | +1 point |
| Silent Generation | 80+ | 760 | Unchanged |
Source: Experian, September 2025. The national average FICO score across all ages was 715.
Gen Z and Millennials both saw slight declines in 2025, partly driven by the end of the SAVE student loan repayment program, which increased monthly debt obligations for millions of younger borrowers. Older generations held steady or improved — Baby Boomers reached a new high of 747.
What’s a good credit score for a 20-year-old?
For a 20-year-old, the relevant benchmark is the Gen Z average of 678. Any score above that puts you ahead of most people your age.
On the FICO scale, 670 is where “good credit” officially begins. For a 20-year-old, hitting 670 to 700 in your early twenties is strong — most people that age are either just starting to build credit or working with a thin file.
| Score at Age 20 | How It Compares to Gen Z Peers | What It Opens Up |
|---|---|---|
| Below 620 | Below average | Limited options — secured cards, credit-builder products |
| 620–669 | Near average | Some unsecured cards, basic auto financing |
| 670–699 | Above average | Good approval odds for most entry-level credit cards |
| 700–739 | Well above average | Strong card approval odds, competitive auto loan rates |
| 740+ | Exceptional for age | Best rates across most credit products |
The most important thing at 20 isn’t the score itself — it’s the trajectory. A 700 at 20 built on one year of responsible credit use is a stronger signal than a 700 at 20 built on a parent’s authorized user account with no independent history.
What’s a good credit score for a college student?
Most college students are between 18 and 22, which places them squarely in the Gen Z bracket. The average score for that group is 678 — but many college students have no score at all, because they haven’t yet opened a credit account in their own name.
For a college student, the goal isn’t an arbitrary number — it’s to build an independent credit file. A score of any kind above 670 while still in school puts you in a genuinely strong position by the time you graduate.
The challenge for most students isn’t bad credit — it’s thin credit. A thin file means the scoring model doesn’t have enough data to generate a reliable score, or generates a lower score simply due to limited history. The fix is opening a starter account and using it responsibly, not chasing a specific number.
Pro tip: If you’re a student with no credit history, becoming an authorized user on a parent or family member’s credit card is the fastest way to inherit a credit history — as long as that account has a long history, low utilization, and no late payments. You don’t need to use the card; just being listed as an authorized user puts that account’s history on your report.
How to build a strong credit score faster
These steps are ranked by speed of impact:
- Open a credit card and use it lightly. A student credit card or secured card used for small recurring purchases — and paid in full each month — builds positive payment history and keeps utilization low. Both are the two largest factors in your FICO score.
- Become an authorized user. If a family member has a long-standing account with low utilization and no late payments, being added as an authorized user can add years of positive history to your report within one billing cycle.
- Keep utilization below 10%. If your credit limit is $500, charge no more than $50 per month. Low utilization signals to lenders that you’re not dependent on credit — which is exactly what a high score communicates.
- Pay the full balance every month. Paying in full avoids interest charges and ensures your utilization resets to near zero before the statement closes. You build the same credit history whether you carry a balance or pay it off — but carrying a balance costs money and doesn’t help your score.
- Add a credit-builder loan. A credit-builder loan adds an installment account to your credit mix — a different account type from a credit card — which helps round out your profile and can add meaningful points once the account has six or more months of history.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 700 credit score good for a 25-year-old?
Yes. A 700 at 25 is well above the Millennial average of 689 and qualifies you for good rates on most credit products. At that score and age, you’re in a strong position — the focus should shift to protecting what you’ve built rather than aggressively chasing more points.
Why is my credit score lower than someone older with the same habits?
Length of credit history accounts for roughly 15% of your FICO score. Someone who opened their first credit card 20 years ago simply has more history on file than someone who opened theirs 2 years ago, even if both have perfect payment records. This gap closes naturally over time — there’s no shortcut to aging your accounts.
Can a college student get a credit score above 750?
It’s possible but uncommon. Getting to 750 typically requires several years of positive history, a mix of account types, and low utilization maintained consistently. Most students can reach 700–730 by graduation if they start building credit in their first year and manage it carefully.
Does being added as an authorized user help your credit score?
Yes, as long as the primary account has a positive history. The account’s payment history, credit limit, and age all transfer to your credit report. If the primary cardholder has missed payments or carries high balances, being an authorized user on that account can hurt rather than help your score.
What’s the fastest way to improve a credit score in your 20s?
Paying down revolving balances is the fastest lever — it can move your score within a single billing cycle. After that, becoming an authorized user on a well-managed account is the next fastest option. Both work because they immediately improve your two highest-weighted score factors: utilization and payment history.
Key takeaways
- The national average FICO score was 715 in 2025, per Experian — but the relevant benchmark is your generation’s average, not the national number.
- Gen Z (18–28) averaged 678 in 2025 — a score above 680 puts you ahead of your peers; 700+ is genuinely strong for the age group.
- Millennials (29–44) averaged 689 — scores above 700 are above average; 740+ is excellent for the cohort.
- For college students, the goal is building an independent credit file — any score above 670 while still in school is a strong foundation for post-graduation life.
- Credit scores rise naturally with age due to longer credit histories — the most important thing at any age is consistent on-time payments and low utilization.
If you’re building credit from scratch, compare student and no-credit credit cards at SuperMoney’s credit card comparison to find a starter card that matches your profile.
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