We know that the FICO credit score range starts from 300 and can go up to 800, and generally, a credit rating of 750 is considered good, but what is the average credit score? Here, we have provided the state-wise average credit score and suggestions on how to improve credit score after bankruptcy.
Your financial history determines your credit score, that’s to say, if you have been late in making your payments after having borrowed money, your average credit report score is bound to be low. There are three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) and they have their own interpretation of credit score. The scoring system in each is slightly different from the others and a person may have different scores for all the three bureaus. The Fair Isaac’s FICO scoring system is considered the gold standard in credit scoring and this is the score people generally refer to when they mention credit score.
Obtaining an exact value as the average American’s credit score can be slightly misleading, due to the various foreclosures and bankruptcies that can bring down the value. The number that will give us a better idea of the credit score average for Americans is the median credit score. This value is the exact middle value, meaning 50% of people have a lower score, 50% have a higher score. Now, the FICO median credit score is 723.
Average Credit Score by State
Here, we have broken down the average FICO credit score for each state for the year 2012. FICO scale scores run on a 330 to 830 scale and are subject to change each year.
State | Average Credit Score |
Alabama | 718 |
Alaska | 746 |
Arizona | 717 |
Arkansas | 741 |
California | 720 |
Colorado | 732 |
Connecticut | 727 |
Delaware | 728 |
District Columbia | 703 |
Florida | 716 |
Georgia | 731 |
Hawaii | 726 |
Idaho | 741 |
Illinois | 727 |
Indiana | 742 |
Iowa | 735 |
Kansas | 732 |
Kentucky | 719 |
Louisiana | 733 |
Maine | 735 |
Maryland | 737 |
Massachusetts | 717 |
Michigan | 688 |
Minnesota | 736 |
Mississippi | 719 |
Missouri | 738 |
Montana | 716 |
Nebraska | 750 |
Nevada | 724 |
New Hampshire | 727 |
New Jersey | 717 |
New Mexico | 707 |
New York | 720 |
North Carolina | 727 |
North Dakota | 735 |
Ohio | 720 |
Oklahoma | 742 |
Oregon | 735 |
Pennsylvania | 732 |
Rhode Island | 706 |
South Carolina | 725 |
South Dakota | 744 |
Tennessee | 720 |
Texas | 716 |
Utah | 721 |
Vermont | 721 |
Virginia | 717 |
Washington | 729 |
West Virginia | 719 |
Wisconsin | 730 |
Wyoming | 723 |
Improving Credit Score after Bankruptcy
Sometimes, when faced with insurmountable debt, bankruptcy is the only option. Though filing for bankruptcy will provide respite from surmounting bills and losses, A bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for a decade after you file for it. Repaying your bills is a big part of your credit score and bankruptcy shows there were some bills you never repaid. A direct consequence is that your credit record takes a beating. Thus restricting your ability to obtain credit at a good interest rate. One positive to emerge from the filing for bankruptcy is that as your debt load is reduced, which lands you in a better position to pay off your remaining debts and save money for further emergencies.
Many of you, who have been through bankruptcy, may find companies charging a price in exchange of erasing the bankruptcy from your credit report. I would suggest that you treat such offers with great caution because nothing can take off the bankruptcy from a credit report, as long as the bankruptcy information is accurate.
A perfect credit score is 850, which is most desired, but with a score of 720, you can still get a loan with lower rate of interest. If your score is below, that’s when the interest rate begins to rise. The best way you can improve your ratings is by making monthly payments on time and having as less debt as possible. Moreover, make sure that you don’t apply for too many credit cards so that you can resist the temptation of borrowing money and thereby hampering your chances to rebuild credit score.
The credit scores mentioned above are subject to change every year depending on the financial condition of the people of that state. A general rule of thumb is to not to worry about it. Remember, the higher your score, the more money you will eventually save. Having an above-average score is a vital factor in determining how much you can borrow and what you will pay for loans. Don’t rely on just maintaining a credit record that hovers around the good score mark, because it will get increasingly hard to get your credit score back on track the longer you live with bad credit.