Where Data Tells the Story
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The FICO average credit score for U.S. adults dropped by two points from 717 in 2024 to 715 in 2025. The decline was more pronounced among Gen Z adults, whose average credit score fell by three points to 676. This drop is partly attributed to the resumption of student loan collections after Covid-era protections ended, leading to increased delinquencies. FICO credit scores are measured on a scale of 300-850, with scores ranging from 300 to 578 considered poor and 800 to 850 exceptional. Credit scores affect whether individuals can qualify for a credit card, borrow loans for a car or home and can lower interest rates.
The student loan repayment pause, which was initially granted during the pandemic and extended under the Biden administration, officially ended on April 12, 2025. By law, government agencies are required to notify borrowers at least 60 days in advance before offsetting tax refunds. However, CNBC reports that multiple Americans did not receive these notices, with lawmakers raising concern that some 10 million student borrowers could be at risk of having tax refunds seized without proper warning.
Student loan debt remains a significant issue, with nearly 43 million U.S. adults - about one in six Americans - carrying federal student loan debt. According to the Federal Reserve, the total federal student loan portfolio has now surpassed $1.8 trillion, having more than tripled over the past 15 years. This makes student loans the second largest category of household debt in the United States, following housing debt, while auto loans rank third.