Written by
Brendan Dyer
Brendan Dyer holds a Master of Fine Arts in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University and worked previously as a content editor for Regional News Network, a hyper-local TV news station contracted by Verizon FiOS1 News. As a national service volunteer, Brendan exercised a passion for helping underserved communities and demographics through direct, community service. He constantly seeks to apply his expertise as a journalist to the field of personal finance with the goal of helping people navigate the complexities of the credit card industry.
Edited by
Courtney Mihocik
Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar.
Reviewed by
Jason Steele
Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets.
Edited by
Courtney Mihocik
Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar.
Reviewed by
Jason Steele
Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets.
Updated September 04, 2024Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for how we make money and how we rate our cards.
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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Showing 6 results
Add to compareBest for rotating cash back categories
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Add to compare No Credit HistoryInfo Hover to learn more
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Discover 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
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Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Why you'll like this: It effectively doubles your cash back at the end of the first year, making it a good choice if you want to maximize your year one rewards.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details Add to compareBest for intro APR
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Add to compare Recommended credit score: ( 670 - 850 )Info Hover to learn more
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Bank of America 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
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Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Why you'll like this: You can earn cash back on every purchase without worrying about reward categories and gain access to valuable financial education such as Better Money Habits.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details Add to compareBest for travel
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Add to compare Recommended credit score: ( 670 - 850 )Info Hover to learn more
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Bank of America 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
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Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Why you'll like this: You can earn unlimited points for every dollar spent on purchases, which you can redeem for a wide variety of travel expenses without any restrictions.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details Add to compareBest for gas and dining
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Add to compare No Credit HistoryInfo Hover to learn more
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Discover 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
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Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Why you'll like this: It offers cash back on gas stations and restaurants, which makes it a good choice if you’re a student who commutes and dines out frequently.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details Add to compareBest overall student card
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Capital One 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
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8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: If you’re a student who spends mostly on grocery store purchases, restaurants, entertainment and popular streaming services (and what student doesn’t), this card is all you need for earning back on your purchases.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details Add to compareBest for flat-rate cash back
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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Add to compare No Credit HistoryInfo Hover to learn more
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
on Capital One 's secure siteInfo Hover to learn more
Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
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Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024, Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: This card combines unlimited flat-rate cash back on every purchase with access to UberOne membership credits, an asset for any carousing student.
Reward Details What you should know Card Details
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Rotating cash back categories
5% cash back on up to $1,500 per quarter of rotating category purchases (activation required), then 1%
1% cash back on all other purchasesOur writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
on Discover's secure site1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases
on Bank of America's secure site1.5X points on all purchases
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
on Bank of America's secure site2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%)
1% cash back on all other purchases
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
on Discover's secure siteOverall student card
10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)3% cash back on dining, grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services and entertainment
1% cash back on all other purchasesOur writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
on Capital One's secure siteFlat-rate cash back
10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
1.5% cash back on all other purchaseOur writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
on Capital One's secure siteBuilding credit early with a student credit card grants you a crucial financial headstart. You can begin building credit early in your adult life by getting into the routine of using money responsibly while you set yourself up for success in the future. When it comes time to apply for things like car loans, apartments, mortgages and personal loans, you’ll be grateful for the experience.
You’ll learn valuable lessons about budgeting, making timely payments and understanding the impact of debt by managing a credit card. These experiences lay the groundwork for a lifetime of financial decision-making, which is essential for long-term financial stability. Plus, the work you do now can pave the way for future financial opportunities. A strong credit history can translate into lower interest rates, higher credit limits and better loan terms, saving you money in the long run on some of life’s milestones, like:
It can be hard to determine the best way to start building a credit history, especially as a student. When asked if student credit cards were worth getting over a standard unsecured credit card, a Reddit user in the r/CreditCard community says “what matters is that you start your OWN revolving credit history.”
A brief or absent credit history will be a large hurdle for many students applying for unsecured credit cards. According to one user, the “chances are you'd be denied for ‘insufficient revolving credit history’ if you applied [for an unsecured card].” Still, student-specific credit cards have better approval odds if you don’t have much credit history.
This opinion is shared in the r/PersonalFinance community, too, where another user writes, “You should open your own credit card to start building independent credit history if you ever need to take yourself off as an [authorized user] on your parents' card.” Several reasons can cause your time as an authorized user to end. However, if you open your own card as soon as possible, you can still establish a lengthy credit history without relying on someone else's account.
Overall, many people seem to agree that student credit cards can help you achieve financial independence. Although you may not be able to open a decent credit card right away, a student card can be a gateway to better rewards and higher credit limits. If you’re interested in exploring your options, check which ones you’re a potential match for by using tools like Bankrate’s CardMatch™.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Here are some tips to help you narrow down your options and pick the right student credit card for you:
Former Bankrate editor Ashley Parks was reluctant to apply for her first credit card. But she’s grateful for her student card because it enabled her to start building credit early — and she’s still reaping the benefits today.
“I didn’t put a lot of thought into choosing my student card when I was younger because I was afraid of credit cards and lacked a lot of knowledge about these products at the time. As a result, I missed out on some perks, but I still see some benefits from building my credit early. Thanks to my long credit history and track record of responsible habits, it's been easier to apply and get approved for credit cards with higher credit limits and better reward rates.
I also inadvertently picked a student card with a graduated version. I easily made the transition from the Discover it® Student Chrome to the Discover it® Chrome, which came with better reward rates and a much higher credit limit. I’m glad I faced my fears and got my student card. I’m still seeing the choice pay off seven years later.”
— Ashley Parks, editor, Bankrate
Students can have busy schedules that make strategizing and maximizing credit card rewards feel like another extracurricular. We analyzed our proprietary data to determine if Bankrate users who viewed student credit cards on our site in 2023 wanted flat-rate or rotating-category student credit cards. Are students more drawn to cards that earn boosted cash back rates in certain categories like the Discover it® Student Cash Back or do they want straightforward cash back like what the Capital One Quicksilver Student card offers?
The top three most popular student cards on our site in 2023 — the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students — all have flat-rate rewards.
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which users were 16.3 percent less likely to be interested in, has four bonus categories to take advantage of — but this may make it less appealing to busy students.
Still deciding if a student credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.
Using your student credit card to its full potential could set you up for success on your credit journey. Pair responsible habits with some of the following tips and you’ll be off to a great start on your credit-building journey.
Credit PoorStudents typically have less experience with credit cards, so issuers tend to offer them lower starting credit limits. A low credit limit could make it easy to use a lot of your available credit and this could hurt your credit score. A budget will help you track how much you’re spending on your credit card so you can keep your credit utilization ratio below 30 percent, which will help your score.
Credit Card TimeRemember that you’re borrowing money on a credit card and you must pay that money back. Do your best to avoid using your card for big purchases and only spend what you can afford to pay back immediately. You should always aim to pay your balance in full every month to avoid interest charges. If you have to carry a balance, try to make more than the minimum payment to reduce interest costs. Your payment history also has the greatest influence on your credit score, so paying your credit card bill on time as a student affects how your credit profile looks in the future.
While many student cards earn rewards on your spending, earning rewards shouldn’t be your priority. Managing your credit responsibly over time is what ultimately leads to a more rewarding financial future. By focusing on responsible credit habits first, you can reap the benefits of the best rewards rates, interest rates and other perks without worrying about hurting your score.
The length of your credit history is another big contributor to your credit score. Closing your card could reduce your credit age and limit the benefits of building credit early. Even if you end up not using your student card, keeping the account open could be a helpful way to keep your score in a good place. You would also benefit from the extra available credit the card would provide.
Some schools may allow you to pay tuition using a credit card, but it’s not recommended. Your institution may charge a convenience fee for paying with a credit card, and interest will stack up quickly if you wait to pay it off.
College is a great time to try new things and take (reasonable) risks, but that’s not an ideal approach to finances. Some students may feel credit cards are too overwhelming or they aren’t eligible for the card that they want just yet.
Whether you need help gaining access to credit or want to avoid dealing with the disadvantages of using a credit card, you have several alternatives that can help. Some of the most common alternatives to student credit cards are:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Student credit cards tend to have lighter credit application requirements than other unsecured credit cards, so students with little to no credit history may have better approval odds. Remember that you’ll often have to prove school enrollment to apply.
You should consider getting a credit card when you can manage it responsibly. However, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 restricts credit card issuers from granting new accounts to people younger than 21. You could get a credit card earlier if you can demonstrate that you have a reliable source of independent income or have a cosigner, but it depends on the issuer.
Yes, you can apply for a credit card as an international student, though you’ll still need to meet some requirements. Applying for a credit card as an international student can be daunting, but some card issuers do permit students to apply with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number (SSN).
You can still use your student credit card after you graduate. However, if you’ve used your credit responsibly over the years and have a decent credit score, you might consider applying for a more traditional credit card with better rewards rates on more spending categories. If you want to maintain your credit history, consider keeping your student card open or upgrading to the more rewarding version of the card.
No, you are not required to have a job to get a credit card, although most issuers will request some proof of income to cover your credit card bill.
Credit Card Reviews
perks evaluatedWhen evaluating the best cards for students, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.
We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for students and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.
Here’s a look at how our rating methodology breaks down for student credit cards:
Rating: 5 stars out of 5 Overall Score Ongoing cost 45% Introductory offer 10% Customer experience 10%A credit-building card’s cost has a large influence on its overall score and our decision to include it in our best cards list. This is because cards in this category tend to be much pricier than traditional credit cards designed for people with a good or better credit score. We compare a card’s total cost, including any annual fees, account activation fees, monthly fees and more against the total cost of other cards in the credit-building category and assign each card a score based on its affordability. We also factor rewards-earning potential into our assessment of a credit-building card’s total cost, subtracting expected earnings from the sum of its fees. To get a sense of a credit-building card’s rewards-earning potential, we estimate its average annual rewards rate and average annual earnings based on the most popular spending categories (as covered in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer spending report). However, we use a slightly lower spending assumption ($300 per month or $3,600 per year) to estimate average earnings, assuming credit-builders will start out with a lower credit limit, will want to keep credit utilization low and will focus primarily on small purchases they can easily pay off. While low-cost credit-building cards will always be at a major advantage in our scoring system and will likely earn a higher spot on our best cards list, no-annual-fee credit-building cards can be hard to come by, especially if you’re looking for an unsecured card. With this in mind, we may include unsecured cards with high fees in our list if they offer other benefits for credit-builders, like a high starting credit limit or useful perks. A card’s APR is also a major factor in its credit-building score. Each card’s average APR is compared against the average APR of other cards in the category, and the cards with lower-than-average APRs receive a higher rating. Given the many costs students face — from textbooks to laptops — the presence of an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers also plays a role in a student card’s score and its inclusion on our list. Though high APRs are hard to avoid when you’re just starting out or working on your score, credit-builders and students should strive for as low an APR as possible since they’re likely to either be new to managing cards or trying to establish better financial habits and avoid falling into debt.
Along with a credit-building card’s cost, we consider how easy the card makes it to build credit. To assess this, we evaluate its credit limit potential and minimum deposit requirement. Unsecured cards with a high starting credit limit and secured cards that let you put down a large deposit and get a matching high credit limit will score the highest according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric and are more likely to appear on our list. This is because a high credit limit can make it much easier to keep your credit utilization low, a primary credit-building factor that makes up 30 percent of your FICO credit score. Secured cards have a slight advantage in this category since the maximum credit limit on a secured card tends to be much higher than the typical starting credit limit on an unsecured card that’s available with a bad or fair credit score. However, unsecured credit-building cards have the upper hand in another key aspect of building credit: accessibility. Cards that carry no or a low deposit requirement can also receive a high score according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric since these cards offer a lower barrier to entry than secured cards that require you to put up hundreds of dollars in an upfront deposit. Indeed, some users may prefer to pay a non-refundable $50 annual fee while they work on their credit score than tie up hundreds in a refundable security deposit.
We evaluate a student or credit-building card’s benefits based on how useful they are for someone looking to build a positive credit history or save money on everyday spending. We consider the inclusion of a rewards program, student-centric perks, access to your credit score or a credit monitoring service of prime importance, along with the ability to prequalify for the card with only a soft credit pull and a clear path to increase your credit limit or graduate to an unsecured or full-fledged rewards card. Cards that include these benefits are likely to score higher according to our credit-building card and student card scoring rubrics and are more likely to earn a place in our list.
