U.S. Financial Literacy Scores Lag as Youth Struggle to Meet Basic Benchmarks — National Financial Educators Council

Event summary

National Financial Literacy Test average score remains at 67.4%, below the 70% passing benchmark since 2014.
Youth aged 15-18 score 64.39% on average, with less than 49% passing the test.
107,141 participants have taken the test, with 61,502 being youth aged 15-18.
NFEC offers three additional free tests: Financial Foundation, Advanced Financial Education, and Student Loan Test.
NFEC is a Certified B Corporation and IACET-accredited provider of financial education.

The big picture

The persistent gap in financial literacy underscores a broader systemic challenge in preparing the next generation for economic independence. With youth scores stagnating below 65%, the data highlights a critical need for scalable, effective financial education solutions. The NFEC's role as an accredited provider positions it at the forefront of addressing this growing market demand for empirical financial wellness initiatives.

What we're watching

Educational Impact: How sustained low literacy scores will influence policy and corporate investment in financial education programs.
Youth Preparedness: Whether targeted interventions can significantly improve financial literacy among 15-18-year-olds.
Industry Response: The pace at which financial institutions adopt youth-focused financial literacy initiatives.