Reviews

Best College Student Credit Cards

Building Credit Early: A guide to student-friendly cards that can help build credit, offer rewards, and don't require a credit history.

Mar 23, 2024 — 5 min read

Features

APR: For purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, there is a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles, followed by a Variable APR of 18.24%—28.24%.
Annual Fee: $0, making it budget-friendly for students.
Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on all purchases, allowing flexible earning without categories.
Sign-up Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 purchases within the first 90 days, equivalent to a $250 statement credit for travel purchases.

Features

Cash Back: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, simplifying rewards without category restrictions.
Early Spend Bonus: A quick win with a $50 bonus after spending $100 in the first three months.
Uber Benefits: Enhanced rewards with 10% cash back on Uber & Uber Eats purchases, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
APR: Variable APR of 19.99%-29.99% on purchases, positioning it as a competitive option for students.

Features

Cash Back: Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, grocery stores (excluding big-box retailers like Walmart and Target), plus 1% on all other purchases.
Early Spend Bonus: Many students aspire to earn a $50 bonus after spending $100 within the first three months.
Uber & Uber Eats Benefits: Enjoy 10% cash back on these services and complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024, catering to the student lifestyle.
APR: A variable APR of 19.99%-29.99%, the standard for student cards, emphasizing the importance of responsible spending.

Features

Annual Fee: $0, eliminating the worry of recurring charges.
APR: 26.99% Variable APR, emphasizing the importance of paying balances in full.
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases, offering a straightforward way to earn rewards.
Credit Score Range: Ideal for individuals with good to excellent credit scores (690-850).

Features

Annual Fee: $0, ensuring students can focus on building credit without extra costs.
APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, followed by a variable APR of 18.24%-27.24%.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, plus an unlimited 1% back on all other purchases.
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match from Discover, doubling all the cash back you earn in your first year.

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it cost-effective for students.
APR: Offers 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, transitioning to a Variable APR of 18.24%-27.24%.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, up to $1,500 in purchases, plus unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Sign-Up Bonus: INTRO OFFER doubles all the cash back earned at the end of the first year, with no minimum or maximum limit.

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it budget-friendly for students.
APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, then a Variable APR of 18.24%-27.24%.
Rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, plus unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Intro Offer: Discover's Cashback Match™ doubles all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.

Read more