Young Americans' credit scores rise 17 points since 2019, FICO finds
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Americans aged 18 to 29 have seen their average FICO credit scores climb 17 points since 2019, the largest increase of any age group, according to FICO research shared with CNN. The gains were concentrated during the pandemic-era student loan payment pause. Overall FICO scores fell slightly between April 2025 and April 2026, but Gen Z scores rose one point over that period.
Key Facts
- The average FICO credit score for Americans aged 18 to 29 rose 17 points between 2019 and 2026, the largest increase among all age groups measured by FICO.
- The second-largest increase over that period was for the 30-to-44 cohort, known as Millennials.
- Most of the credit score gains occurred during the initial stages of the Covid-19 health emergency when student loan payments were paused.
- Overall FICO scores fell slightly between April 2025 and April 2026, but Gen Z scores rose one point over that timeframe.
- Roughly half of Gen Z borrowers have a FICO score of 700 or above, which FICO considers very strong.
Credit Score Gains
FICO research shared first with CNN shows Americans aged 18 to 29 have higher credit scores today than they did just before Covid-19. That youngest generation's 17-point increase in average credit scores since 2019 is the biggest among any age group FICO measured. The second biggest increase over that timeframe was for the 30-to-44 cohort, otherwise known as Millennials. Most of the gains occurred during the initial stages of the health emergency when student loan payments were paused.
Gen Z Credit Trends
Overall FICO scores fell slightly between April 2025 and April 2026. However, credit scores for Gen Z are up by one point over that timeframe and roughly half have a very strong FICO score of 700 or above. Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, said Gen Z is pretty savvy about credit and more aware of credit scores, in part because there have been so many economic headwinds during their lives.
Financial Education Impact
Kelly Klein, a 31-year-old loan officer in Nashville, Tennessee, graduated with $100,000 in student loans and is now debt-free with a pristine credit score. Klein said she learned valuable lessons about finance and investing from experts on social media and joined a free webinar on opening a brokerage account. FICO said it does not take age into consideration when scoring borrowers, but it does evaluate how long someone has been able to successfully make payments on time.
1 source
Young Americans' credit scores rise 17 points since 2019, FICO finds
