How to Improve Your US Credit Score (2026)
A 90-day action plan with specific steps and expected point gains.
The average US FICO score is 717 (FICO 2025) — up steadily over the past decade thanks to wider credit access and better financial tools. If yours is lower, the path to 720+ is well-trodden: reduce utilization, clean up errors, and be patient. This guide lays out a 90-day plan with specific actions, plus the longer 12-month track for bigger lifts.
The 90-day plan
| Week | Action | Expected impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pull all 3 reports at annualcreditreport.com. Flag every discrepancy. | Baseline |
| 2 | Dispute any errors online with the bureau (fastest). FCRA requires 30-day response. | +5 to +20 points if errors resolved |
| 3–4 | Pay all credit card balances down to under 10% utilization (before statement close). | +15 to +30 points |
| 5 | Set up autopay for minimum payment on every credit line. | Prevents future late-payment damage |
| 6 | Request credit-limit increases on 2–3 oldest cards (soft pull if available). | +5 to +15 points |
| 8 | Send goodwill letters for any 30/60-day lates in the past 24 months. | Possible +10 to +50 if removed |
| 9 | Become authorized user on a household member's oldest, highest-limit card. | +10 to +40 points within 60 days |
| 10–12 | Re-check your score. Continue paying balances under 10% before statement close. | Cumulative gains stabilize |
Longer-term plays (6–18 months)
- 12 months of perfect on-time payments — biggest factor long-term.
- Age out old negative items — 30-day lates, medical collections (now excluded from FICO 8+9 if under $500), old inquiries.
- Add a credit-builder loan — Self, Kikoff, credit unions. Diversifies credit mix.
- Keep oldest cards open — length of history is 15% of your FICO.
- Don't apply for new credit you don't need — inquiries drop you 5 pts each.
Score improvement questions
30–90 days for 20–50 points through utilization reduction and error disputes. 6–18 months for 100+ point improvements through consistent on-time payments and aging of negative items.
Paying down credit card utilization below 10%. Utilization is reported at statement close, not due date — so paying mid-cycle can drop reported utilization by thousands even if you were paying in full. 15–30 point jumps in 30 days are common from this alone.
Revolving debt (credit cards): almost always helps — directly reduces utilization. Installment debt (auto, mortgage): small benefit but not as much. Paying off a credit card in collections may actually not help your score because the negative history remains; negotiate 'pay for delete' in writing first.
Late payments (biggest single factor), high utilization, new credit inquiries, closing old accounts, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies, debt settlement. Identity theft can also lower it — dispute immediately.
Usually no. Closing a card reduces your total credit limit (raising utilization) and can eventually hurt your average age of accounts. Unless the card has an annual fee or tempts you to spend, leave it open with a $5 recurring charge to keep it active.
Sometimes. For an accidental one-off after years of on-time payments, call the creditor and ask for a 'goodwill adjustment.' Have the late removed. Works 20–40% of the time with major issuers if you have good history. Send a written goodwill letter if the phone call doesn't work.
Four paths, fastest first: (1) become an authorized user on an established account (can score you within 30 days); (2) open a secured card with a $200 deposit; (3) take out a credit-builder loan from Self or a credit union; (4) student credit cards if you're in college. Expect an initial FICO within 6 months.
A mortgage lender can request a rapid rescore — accelerating the credit bureau update cycle after you pay down balances or resolve errors. Cost $20–$50 per bureau, paid by the lender. Typically only offered for mortgage applications to push you over a rate threshold.
Usually no. They charge $80–$150/mo to do what you can do for free: dispute errors with bureaus, send goodwill letters, request validation of debts. Sometimes they remove errors; sometimes they temporarily game the system. CFPB has sued multiple major companies in this space. Avoid.
Typical: 12–18 months with consistent effort. 620 usually means a mix of late payments, high utilization, or thin file. Reach 720 by: paying every bill on time for 12+ months, reducing utilization to under 10%, disputing any errors, adding 1–2 new credit lines and managing them well, and not closing old accounts.