Best Student Credit Cards of 2024

Best Student Credit Cards Main Takeaways

• A student credit card can help you build your credit history and establish good debt management skills.

• These cards are typically easier to get approved for, even if you have limited or no credit history.

• Some of the best credit cards for students offer rewards for purchases in travel, groceries and takeout.

• They can also provide cellphone insurance and extended warranty protection on select purchases.

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A student credit card can be a convenient financial tool to help you build your credit history and establish good debt management skills.

These cards are typically easier to get approved for, even if you have limited or no credit history. Sometimes all that’s required for approval is proof of enrollment at a college or university and a stable income. They also may offer a high rate of rewards for popular bonus categories like dining, gas and travel.

Read on for our list of the best student credit cards, how they work and how to pick the best one for you.

Best Student Credit Cards Reviews

The companies in our top picks are listed in alphabetical order.

Rewards:

• 3% cash back on a spending category you select each month (you can choose between gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furniture)

• 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, along with 1% back on all other purchases

• 1% back on all other purchases

The 3% and 2% bonus rates are limited to $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter. Once the cap is met, you'll only earn 1% back on your chosen category and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

Why we chose it: Most credit cards either have set bonus categories or quarterly rotating ones. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students, on the other hand, is the only student card that lets you pick your preferred bonus category and change it monthly.

The freedom to pick your bonus category each month can help you maximize your reward earnings throughout the year. For example, you could set gas as your preferred category in June if you’re planning a summer road trip or pick travel in April if you'll be booking a flight and hotel for spring break.

The card also provides some useful perks, including monthly FICO score updates, which can help you better understand your creditworthiness. Most cards offer the VantageScore, a credit score model that lenders don’t use as widely compared to FICO.

However, it lacks some of the benefits included with other student cards, like extended warranty coverage and purchase protection.

All information about Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students has been collected independently by Money.com

Rewards:

• Unlimited 1.5x points for every dollar you spend on qualifying purchases

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is the only travel credit card geared for students who want to earn travel rewards.

The card has a simple earning structure that doesn’t require keeping track of bonus categories or spending caps. It also has flexible redemption options that allow you to use your points as statement credits to cover travel purchases, like flights, hotels, tourist attractions, rideshare services, parkings, tolls and more.

The card doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees, which means you can use it while traveling abroad without incurring any extra charges.

However, this card doesn't offer benefits like travel accident insurance or 24-hour travel assistance services, while other non-travel student credit cards do.

All information about Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Money.com

Rewards:

• 1.5% cash back rate on all qualifying purchases
• 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel

Why we chose it: The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent cash-back credit card for everyday spending. It doesn’t have an annual fee, and it boasts a 1.5% cash back rate on all qualifying purchases — one of the highest base reward rates among student cards.

Many cards without an annual fee offer high rates on bonus categories (like 3% back at restaurants or gas stations). However, they usually earn only 1% on general spending.

This card's 1.5% reward rate is unlimited, which means you'll get 1.5% back on all kinds of eligible purchases — from food, clothes, gas and more — without monthly caps. The Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card also earns 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.

Also, the card includes travel accident insurance and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, making it a suitable option for use during international travel.

Rewards:

• 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®)

• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases

• 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats through 11/14/2024

• 1% on all other qualifying purchases

Why we chose it: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited cash back on dining, grocery stores and other popular bonus categories.

With this card you can earn substantial cash back at restaurants, bars, coffee shops, tourist attractions, supermarkets and more. Additionally, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, which means you can earn rewards while traveling abroad without worrying about extra charges.

In addition to its multiple reward categories, the card comes with travel accident insurance, which is rarely offered by credit cards with no annual fee. Additionally, this card offers extended warranty protection for select items, which lengthens the original manufacturer's warranty by up to two additional years if the original warranty lasts two years or less.

All in all, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a competitive card, featuring some of the top benefits that are usually available only with the best rewards cards.

Rewards:

• 1.5% cash back on all qualifying purchases

Why we chose it: With the Chase Freedom Rise®, you could be considered for a credit limit increase in as little as six months.

Many student credit cards don't offer a credit limit increase until you graduate or earn a higher income — and you have to contact the issuer yourself to request one. With this card, Chase will evaluate your payment history automatically six months after approval. If you’re not carrying a balance and are paying on time, you may qualify for an increase.

Getting a credit limit increase can help lower your credit utilization ratio, which measures how much of your available credit you’re using. Generally speaking, the lower your utilization ratio, the better for your credit score.

It's also worth mentioning that the Chase Freedom Rise® is one of the few no-annual-fee cards that includes trip cancellation insurance.

However, beyond its 1.5% flat cash-back rate, it doesn't offer any bonus categories. Also, it charges foreign transaction fees, so it's not ideal if you plan to study abroad or travel internationally.

Rewards:

• 2% Cashback Bonus® at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter

• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Student Chrome offers solid rewards for gas and restaurant purchases.

Most other student credit cards tend to offer enhanced rewards for either gas or dining purchases, rarely for both simultaneously. Additionally, these bonus categories are often limited to one quarter per year.

This card also features one of the best welcome bonus offers around: Discover automatically matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first card membership year. So, if you earn $200 cash back, Discover will double it to $400. There’s no minimum spending requirements to qualify for this offer.

However, the card’s $1,000 quarterly cap on its bonus categories can be somewhat limiting if you spend heavily on gas and dining.

All information about the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Money.com.

Rewards:

• 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories, like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more up to $1,500 per quarter (1% cash back thereafter)

• 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Student Cash Back earns an outstanding 5% cash back on popular rotating categories.

The categories offered by this card change every three months, and may include grocery stores, restaurants, drugstores and more. For example, during the second quarter of 2024 (April through July) you can earn 5% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging stations, home improvement stores and public transit.

Keep in mind that cardmembers must activate bonus categories before each quarter begins. If they don't, they'll fail to earn bonus rewards until the next quarter.

This card also features access to Discover® Identity Alerts, which includes daily monitoring of your Experian report and Social Security number monitoring. You also get an unlimited cash-back match at the end of your first year as a cardmember — so if you earn $100 in cash back from your purchases, Discover will double it for a total of $200.

All information about the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Rewards:

• 4x points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery

• 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations and EV charging stations

• 1x point on all other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® offers high rewards and is an excellent credit card for students with no credit history or those who don't meet the usual eligibility requirements of student cards.

Although they tend to have more lenient requirements than traditional credit cards, student card issuers typically still run a credit check. So, if you have a limited credit history or no credit score, you might have better approval odds with a secured credit card, which requires a deposit in order for you to open an account.

Secured credit cards usually offer little in the way of rewards. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa®, on the other hand, offers high rewards on dining and streaming services and at grocery stores and gas stations. You also get a $15 streaming service credit after 11 monthly payments for an eligible streaming service, such as Spotify or Netflix

Note that this card requires a minimum security deposit of $300, which will also serve as your credit limit. To get your deposit back, you must make a series of on-time payments, usually for six months or more. This could lead to an upgrade to a regular, unsecured card.

All information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® has been collected independently by Money.com.

Student Credit Cards Guide

The best credit cards for college students can help you establish personal finance habits early on and allow you to build up your credit score — which can pay off later when getting a car loan, renting an apartment or buying a house.

Before applying, check out our guide on how these cards work and how to use them responsibly.

• What is a student credit card?
• How do student credit cards work
• How to get a student credit card
• Should college students have credit cards?
• Student credit cards pros and cons
• How to choose a student credit card

What is a student credit card?

Student cards are designed for people who are just starting to build their credit history; therefore, they usually have less stringent requirements than traditional cards.

These cards generally have lower credit limits and fewer perks than traditional ones. However, some include valuable features, like travel or cellphone insurance and extended warranty protection on select purchases. They also offer high reward rates for purchases like takeout, groceries, gas, and more.

Once you graduate, your issuer might upgrade your card to a non-student version with better features, as long as your credit report shows a history of timely payments.

How do student credit cards work?

Student cards are not that different from standard ones. They give you access to a line of credit, which means you can borrow up to a set amount and are expected to pay it back each monthly billing cycle.

To avoid interest charges and late fees, you should pay your bill in full on time every month. If you can’t pay the full amount, you should at least meet the card's minimum payment to avoid late payment fees of up to around $40.

Do note that if you choose to pay the minimum amount, your remaining balance will still accrue interest at your card's annual percentage rate (APR). Most student cards have a variable APR between 16% and 26%, which can change because of late payments made by the cardholder or even general economic conditions in the U.S.

Even so, paying the minimum amount is better than nothing at all. Creditors will report your account to the credit bureaus if you miss a payment for 30 days or more, which will damage your credit record and lower your score. If your payment is delayed for 60 days or more, lenders could charge a penalty APR of up to 30%, which can make credit card debt even harder to pay off.

How to get a student credit card

The general requirements to apply for a student credit card are:

• College enrollment. Most card issuers state that you must be a part-time or full-time student at a college or university to be eligible.

• Age. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for any card.

• Income. If you're under 21, you must show proof of personal income from a job or financial aid. If you're over 21, you may list additional income sources, such as earnings from a spouse.

• Social Security number (SSN). You need a SSN to apply for most cards. Some lenders also let you use a tax identification number (TIN) instead of a SSN. However, some cards (like the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students) don't require either and only ask for a U.S. bank account, student visa and passport.

• Credit check. If you have other credit accounts, lenders will verify that they’re in good standing before you’re approved.

What to put as income on student credit card application

You may list personal income from full-time, part-time or freelance employment. You can also include regular allowances (from family or others), scholarships and grants — provided that you can show proof of that income with a bank statement or other verifiable document.

Note that if you're over 21, you can include a spouse or domestic partner's income if you have regular access to it.

Should college students have credit cards?

Getting your first credit card during college and using it responsibly can help you establish strong credit early on. Having a long track record of responsible credit usage increases your odds of getting better terms on loans and insurance policies long after you graduate. Even many landlords run credit checks nowadays on potential renters.

A long record of on-time payments shows you have experience managing debt and are trustworthy. In fact, one of the main factors used to calculate your credit score is the length of your credit history, with most experts agreeing that a substantial credit file is at least seven years old.

Student credit cards pros and cons

How to choose a student credit card?

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing a credit card for students:

Fees

Most student cards don't have annual fees. However, some charge foreign transaction fees, which can be a hassle if you're a frequent flier or will be studying abroad. You should also compare late payment fees. Although you should avoid missing bill due dates at all costs, it's good to know you'll get charged as little as possible if the situation arises. Some issuers might even not charge late fees the first time you slip up.

Credit bureau reporting

Most major credit card issuers report your payment activity to all three major bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. However, if you open a credit card account with a regional bank or credit union, you should make sure they do as well. This will be an important step in building your credit history.

Bonus rewards

Consider your everyday spending habits and pick a card with bonus categories that can help you maximize your rewards. Some cards give cardholders extra rewards for spending on restaurants, supermarkets, streaming services, gas and more.

Ongoing benefits

Student cards don't usually offer outstanding benefits, but some do include handy perks like extended warranty and price protection coverage.

Credit health

If you've missed payments on other cards or loans, you might be better off getting a secured credit card or becoming an authorized user on someone's account (usually a parent).

How We Chose the Best Student Credit Cards

Our research methodology consisted of evaluating dozens of cards based on their bonus categories, ongoing benefits, fees and redemption options.

Rewards program. We preferred cards with bonus points or cash back on popular spending categories like dining, gas or groceries.

Ongoing benefits. Welcome bonuses and introductory 0% interest periods are attractive. However, we preferred cards with long-term perks like extended warranties and travel accident coverage, to name a few.

Fees. We compared annual, foreign transaction, cash advance and balance transfer fees. We also considered the cards' annual percentage rate (APR), although most issuers have similar rates (between 16% and 26% based on your creditworthiness).

Redemption flexibility. We favored cards that let you redeem your rewards in more ways than a statement credit or a direct deposit to your bank account. Some of our picks also allow you to use your points during Amazon or Paypal checkout, for example.

Summary of Money’s Best Student Credit Cards

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students: Best for Customizable Bonus Categories
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best Travel Credit Card For Students
• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back
• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Dining and Grocery Store Purchases
• Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card: Best for Credit Limit Increase
• Discover it® Student Chrome: Best For Gas Rewards
• Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for Rotating Bonus Categories
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa®: Best Secured Credit Card