 TITLE: What Is the Average Credit Score in the U.S.? CONTENT: Average Credit Scores by State\n------------------------------\nAcross the country, consumers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., saw their average FICO® Score increase since 2019. Compared with last year's growth—which only saw 42 states increase their scores—2020's average score improvement can be seen in all states. Minnesota remained the state with the highest average score in 2020, at 739.\nSource: Experian. Table compares annually representative samples from 2019 and October 2020.\nHow to Increase Your Credit Score\n---------------------------------\nImproving your FICO® Score can be helpful before applying for a new line of credit such as a credit card, mortgage or personal loan. A higher score can help you secure better terms and lower interest rates available. Here are some actions that can help improve your FICO® Score:\n*   **Pay all of your bills on time.** This will help ensure your payment history is unblemished and shows lenders that you have a history of paying on time.\n*   **Pay down credit card balances.** Keeping balances on your credit cards low will help keep your credit utilization at a good level.\n*   **Apply for credit only when you really need it.**\n*   **Enroll in Experian Boost™† .** Adding your positive cellphone, utility and streaming service payment could help boost your credit scores instantly.\nKnow your financial profile to understand what lenders see when they look at your credit report so you can make sure to get the best interest rates and terms on loans and credit cards. END