Best student credit cards for August 2022

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If you’re in college, a student credit card can be an important step in your financial journey. Even non-traditional and international students can take advantage of these credit-building tools to grow their credit scores and practice good credit habits. Building credit with a student card can make it easier for you to take out low-cost loans, rent an apartment and even land a job. And you may even get to enjoy select credit card perks like cash back rewards or free access to your credit score and credit report.

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BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Reward rate
5

5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.

3

5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.

-1

1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

1

1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

$200 bonus

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.74% - 26.74% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is packed full of bonus rewards categories. It will take more than a little effort to track them all, but people who don’t mind strategizing to earn high rewards for all their purchases will enjoy having this card in their collection.
Pros
  • Multiple rotating and fixed bonus categories, which can make it easier to earn rewards quickly
  • The $200 sign-up bonus (after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account opening) increases the card’s first-year value
Cons
  • The $2,000 combined spending cap each quarter for your chosen 5% categories limits your ability to rake in rewards
  • Having to track and enroll in rotating categories can be a hassle for some
  • New! $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
  • 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
  • 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 16.74% – 26.74%
  • No Annual Fee
  • Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.

Balance transfer intro APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.

BEST FOR PERSONAL LOAN ALTERNATIVE

Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

Reward rate
2.2

Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment

Intro offer

$200

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

8.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

If you value having an incentive for making your credit card payments, you will find a lot to love with this card option. You’ll earn a competitive rate of 2.2 percent cash back on your purchases each time you make a payment. The card is also fairly affordable, skipping the annual fee, foreign transaction fees and many other common maintenance fees.
Pros
  • You won’t need to use your reward earnings to offset any maintenance fees.
  • You’ll earn a bonus after you open a Rewards Checking account and make three purchases with the card in your first 60 days.
Cons
  • The high end APR range is well above average. That could prove costly if you don’t have the credit needed to qualify for the lower range and you end up carrying a balance.
  • You won’t get a break on interest if you carry a balance since there are no intro APR offers on purchases or balance transfers.
  • $200 bonus on your Upgrade Card after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions within 60 days.*
  • New Feature: Pay your balance in full early each month and avoid interest with EarlyPay.
  • Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
  • See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score
  • No Fees – $0 annual fees, $0 activation fees, $0 maintenance fees
  • Combine the flexibility of a card with the low cost and predictability of a loan
  • Access to a virtual card, so you can start earning while you wait for your card to arrive in the mail.
  • Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Pay™
  • Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
  • *To qualify for the $200 welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Upgrade Rewards Checking Account and make 3 debit card transactions within 60 days of your Upgrade Card account opening. The bonus credit will be posted to your Upgrade Card as a rewards credit within 1-2 billing periods following the third debit transaction on your Rewards Checking account. Your Upgrade Card must be in good standing to receive the bonus.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
N/A

Balance transfer intro APR
N/A

BEST FOR GROCERIES

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Reward rate
6

6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).

1

6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.

3

3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations

0

3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations

1

1% Cash Back on other purchases

Intro offer

$350

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

16.24%-26.24% Variable

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

With generous rewards rates in family-friendly categories including purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, on-the-go families will have a hard time finding a more rewarding credit card.
Pros
  • The base reward program is uber-lucrative, making this card a good choice for people looking for long-term value.
  • You don’t have to keep track of rotating spending categories or enrollment deadlines.
Cons
  • There is no intro APR offer on balance transfers.
  • You won’t earn the extra rewards for grocery shopping at major superstores and wholesale clubs, as those don’t count as U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.24% to 26.24%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% on purchases for 12 months

Balance transfer intro APR
N/A

BEST FOR ROTATING CASH BACK CATEGORIES

Discover it® Cash Back

Reward rate
5

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

1

Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Intro offer

Cashback Match™

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

13.49% - 24.49% Variable

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

The Discover it Cash Back is a popular choice for cash back rewards because of the rotating bonus categories. It’s an exciting way to earn cash back quarter by quarter and all year-round without committing to a set rewards category.
Pros
  • Discover will match the cash back you earn at the end of the first year.
  • There are a few cash back redemption options, including credit to your account and donations.
Cons
  • You must enroll to take advantage of the bonus categories each quarter.
  • There is a spending limit on your highest cash back category each quarter ($1,500 in combined purchases per quarter).
  • Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
  • New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
  • Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
  • New Intro APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% to 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% for 15 months

Balance transfer intro APR
0% for 15 months

BEST FOR UP TO 2% CASH BACK

Citi® Double Cash Card

Reward rate
2

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Intro offer

$200 Cash Back

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.24% - 26.24% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

If you make your payments on time each month, it’ll be tough to find a better cash back card than the Citi Double Cash Card. With healthy financial habits, this card effectively becomes a 2 percent flat-rate cash back card (1 percent when you make purchases and another 1 percent when you pay your bill), a rare find in the cash back market.
Pros
  • You can convert your cash back earnings to Citi ThankYou points when paired with a card like the Citi Premier® Card, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards and more.
  • There are no spending category restrictions or rotating categories
Cons
  • Your rewards can expire with this card if you don’t use it for a year.
  • The sign-up bonus spending requirement is higher than you’ll find on many no-annual-fee cash back cards.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% – 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
N/A

Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers

A closer look at the best credit cards for students

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment

  • What we love about the Capital One SavorOne: It’s rare for a no annual fee card to earn such robust rewards rates in these particular categories in dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store categories.
  • Who this card is good for: Socialites and social butterflies who will make the most out of the SavorOne’s very generous dining rewards.
  • Alternatives: The Discover it Chrome card is another card that offers competitive rewards rates on dining. It also tacks on gas rewards which is great for people who are often on the go, something that the SavorOne falls a bit short on.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best overall cash back for families

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: The rewards categories on this card are some of the most popular spending categories for most consumers so if you play your cards right (pun intended), you’ll have a nice stack of rewards in your cash back match in your first year.
  • Who this card is good for: On-the-go people who spend a fair amount of money at gas stations and restaurants. You can earn 2 percent in those categories on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1 percent.
  • Alternatives: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card outpaces the Discover it Chrome by a lot if your main squeeze is getting the most out of dining rewards.

Citi Rewards+ Card: Best for rewards on small purchases

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: Thanks to the Citi Rewards+ Round Up feature, every purchase you make will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points. For example, a $4 coffee would be worth 10 points.
  • Who this card is good for: Frequent supermarket and gas station shoppers who want to earn cash back rewards easily without big spending habits.
  • Alternatives: If you want to expand beyond the Citi ThankYou® Points program, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card offers unlimited flat-rate rewards on all purchases, casting a wide net on your earning opportunities outside of a designated points program.

What are student credit cards and how do they work?

If you’re enrolled in college and have little or no credit history, a student credit card can help. Like traditional credit cards, student cards give you access to a line of credit you can use to make purchases. How you use the card is then reported to one or more of the three major credit bureaus.

If you pay your bills on time and don’t use too much of your available credit, you can begin to build up a positive credit history and grow your credit score. This will go a long way toward showing creditors that you know how to use credit responsibly. Once you graduate, the hard work you’ve put in building and maintaining good credit can pay off in a number of ways, as you’ll likely qualify for more rewarding credit cards and have an easier time financing a car loan or mortgage at an affordable rate.

Why building credit is important for a college student

A credit card is one of the best ways to build credit, but it can be hard to get approved for one if you have limited or no credit history. Without access to credit, you’re more likely to face numerous financial challenges.

Student credit cards give you a chance to get a head start on building credit, which can help you overcome some of these obstacles. Here are the benefits that come with using a student card:

A student credit card gives you access to a line of credit you can use to make purchases. And as long as you pay off those purchases in full by your card’s due date, you’ll avoid interest charges. This can be especially useful when returning back to school in the fall or in case of an emergency like your car or computer needing repairs.

If you start to build good credit as a college student, you’ll have an easier time borrowing money later in life. Having a long history of good credit not only improves your chances of getting approved for large loans like a mortgage or auto loan, but also unlocks better interest rates that can help save you a lot of money over time.

When you use your student credit card responsibly, you’re practicing the good credit habits that show creditors you can be trusted to pay back the money you borrow. Many student cards also come with features that can improve your financial literacy skills.

The good credit habits you practice now can boost your credit score, which will make it easier to rent an apartment in the future. Landlords perform credit checks to see if you have a good credit history, which helps determine how likely you are to make on-time payments.

Employers perform credit inquiries, looking at a modified version of your credit report that shows some of your financial data, including outstanding balances, any bankruptcies and available credit. Depending on the job you apply for, late payments and signs of financial distress could impact your chances of being hired.

A poor credit score could lead to you paying thousands of dollars more in insurance costs than people with stellar credit. According to 2022 rate data from Quadrant Information Services, you’ll pay an average of $3,002 per year for full insurance coverage if you have a poor credit history — 93% more than drivers with excellent credit. And it gets worse if you’re a homeowner with a poor credit history: You’re likely to pay 150% more for homeowners insurance than someone with excellent credit.

Pros and cons of student credit cards

  • Less strict credit requirements— Student credit cards are designed for those who are just starting out, so a lack of credit history is less likely to prevent you from approval.
  • Student-centric rewards—While some credit cards with lower credit requirements are lacking in the rewards department, plenty of student cards offer cash back or points in popular student spending categories.
  • Specialized benefits—Student credit cards often feature perks designed to appeal to credit beginners, like lenient late fee policies, automatic review for a credit line increase, and credit education tools.
  • Low cost—Many students want to avoid credit cards that cost money to carry. Luckily, many of the top student credit cards are free of annual fees.
  • Less robust rewards programs—While plenty of student credit cards offer modest rewards, the highest-earning rewards cards generally require good-to-excellent credit.
  • Potential for high interest rates—In general, lower credit requirements tend to mean higher interest rates.
  • Lower credit limits—Students are often considered a higher-risk borrower for lenders and these lenders may offer lower credit limits until student borrowers prove creditworthiness with responsible card use.
  • Borrowed funds—Remember that money on a credit card is borrowed and must be repaid, so it’s important to carefully monitor credit card spending.

How to choose the best student credit card

Picking the right credit card as a college student isn’t always an easy task. When evaluating different student credit cards, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Credit cards have a minimum age requirement. You have to be at least 18 to get your own credit card, but your chances of getting one before you’re 21 are slim unless you have a cosigner or can show a steady income as a student (note that this could include income from grants and scholarships, but not from loans). Student credit cards are also typically reserved for people in college who have little or no credit history. If you have a history of making late payments or have defaulted on a credit card in the past, your best option may be a credit card for bad credit.

Your credit score does more than show lenders your creditworthiness. It also shows you the credit cards you are qualified for. Knowing your credit score can help you avoid applying for a credit card you have little chance of getting approved for or a card you’re overqualified for and isn’t worth your time.

If you’re new to credit cards, you should know the difference between secured and unsecured credit cards. If you can’t qualify for an unsecured credit card, you may have to settle for a secured card, which requires a refundable security deposit. This deposit acts as your credit limit, though you can’t use it to make payments. Instead, issuers hold on to it in case you are unable to pay off your debt (and will return it to you when you close your account or upgrade to an unsecured card).

Your student card can do more for you than help you build credit. For example, some will have student card perks like free credit score access or the chance to earn cash back on your purchases. Or if you plan to study or travel abroad, you might like a credit card that charges no foreign transaction fees.

Each credit card will come with its own set of credit card fees. It may be impossible to avoid all of them, but picking the right card for you and using it responsibly can help you avoid many of these charges. Typical fees to watch out for include annual fees, late fees, cash advance fees and balance transfer fees.

How students can avoid credit card debt

The average American holds over $5,000 in credit card debt. To make matters worse, once you’ve fallen into debt, it’s not easy getting out. You may not be able to control all the factors that get people into debt, but there are some moves you can make that can help you avoid it or be ready to manage it efficiently. Here are five tips to help you with credit card debt.

  • Choose the right card for you. Your credit history, finances and lifestyle will all play a role in helping you narrow down your choices for a student credit card. If possible, pick a card that has a low ongoing APR in case you end up needing to carry a balance.
  • Have a budget. If you know how to budget, you can avoid some of the common missteps that lead to debt.
  • Pay on time. Late payments wind up as negative marks on your credit report and can come with late fees as well as trigger penalty APRs, which could lead to more debt.
  • Pay off your balance in full whenever possible. Paying more than the minimum payment due and even trying to pay in full each month will help you avoid excessive interest charges that push people deep into credit card debt.
  • Try to avoid cash advances. A cash advance creates an unnecessary burden on your finances, thanks to excessively high interest rates that begin to add on to your debt the moment you withdraw funds.
Creditcard's Insight

It’s best to not use your credit card to pay for tuition, but some schools will allow you to do it. However, be aware that you may be charged a convenience fee, and interest will stack up quickly if you don’t pay it off right away.

Alternatives to student credit cards

Whether you struggle to gain access to credit or don’t want to deal with the disadvantages of using a credit card, there are a number of alternative options out there that can help.

Secured credit cards

If you’re searching for a way to build your credit with a lower barrier to entry, secured credit cards provide a good alternative. The best secured credit cards have much more lenient requirements. Some don’t require you to even have a credit score when you apply

Credit-builder loans

For some, a credit-builder loan is one of the best ways to build credit without a credit card. Since you’ll have to pay off the amount of the loan before you actually get to use the loan amount, you not only build credit but also put money aside in savings. Credit-builder loans are accessible to many people, even those with bad credit. According to a study done by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, this alternative is best for people with limited or no credit history.

Authorized user

When you’re an authorized user on the account of a parent, partner or trusted friend, their credit habits can impact your credit profile. If the primary account holder has a long history of good credit behavior, their credit history can help improve a thin credit file, while their credit limit can help improve your credit utilization. Each of these factors can help boost your credit score.

Checking account

A checking account won’t help you grow your credit score, but how you use it will go a long way to preparing you to manage funds efficiently. And once you’re a pro at handling your own finances, you’ll be ready for a credit card. Your bank may even have its own line of credit products. If so, your loyalty and good financial habits could make it easier to gain access to credit.

How to apply for a student credit card

If you’ve picked out the credit card that best suits your student lifestyle, then the next step is to get it. When you’re ready, here’s how to apply for a student credit card.

  1. Check your credit score. Determining your credit score will let you know which cards you are likely to be approved for.
  2. Go to the issuer’s website and find the card’s application. Once you know what card you like, simply head to the issuer’s website and find the application for that card. You may be able to check if you prequalify for the card before you apply (with no impact to your credit score), which can give you some extra peace of mind about submitting an application.
  3. Fill out the application. Be sure to have all of your application information ready before getting started. Besides your name, address and identifying information, you’ll need to state your income, which can be more than what you earn at a job if you are over 21. This includes a partner’s income or any allowance, as long as you have reasonable access to the funds.
  4. Receive the application decision. Sometimes issuers will send out an instant decision, but it could also take a few days. If your application is denied, the issuer is legally required to send a letter explaining the reason for denial.
  5. Have your budget and repayment plan ready. Responsible credit use starts with a stable budget and a concrete plan to repay what you spend. Make note of your payment due date and your minimum payment amount so you can always pay on time.
    Bankrate ins
Creditcard's Insight

Want to know which credit cards you may prequalify for and unlock special offers from our partners? Use our CardMatch™ tool to find your personalized matches in 60 seconds or less with no impact on your credit score.

How to apply for a student credit card

Back-to-school shopping isn’t just for parents. Whether it’s your first or last year of college, you’ll have to prepare for the upcoming school year. But your needs go a lot further than notebooks and Sharpies.

As a college student, you’ll face a number of expenses beyond classroom staples like textbooks and a laptop. You may also have to think about dorm life, and that means having to buy bath and bedding supplies, laundry bags, and other essentials. All of this can get pretty expensive, and if your parents aren’t footing the bill, these costs could make it harder to manage your money.

Make sure to map out your finances before you start shopping and take advantage of any opportunities to save money. This includes keeping an eye out for the back-to-school shopping sales and student discounts. Cash back apps like Rakuten and Capital One Shopping can make it easy to shop around and find the best deals. And a student credit card like the Discover it Student Chrome can help thanks to an intro APR offer that gives you a limited time to pay for any big-ticket items without having to deal with interest charges.

How we chose our top American Express credit cards

Creditcard’s personal finance experts have evaluated the top American Express cards according to our 5-point rating system. The list of criteria for rating credit cards includes:
Credit requirements

The typical person shopping for a student credit card might not have excellent credit or even much credit history at all. Most of the cards on our list are open to new-credit, fair-credit or limited-credit applicants.

Fees

If you don’t yet have a full-time career, obviously you would be better served by a credit card that goes easy on the fees and charges. Annual fees, foreign transaction fees and other charges make the card more expensive to own, especially if it doesn’t have a rewards program that helps offset those costs.

Rewards

Some of our top student credit cards have rewards programs that earn cash back for gas, groceries and other everyday purchases. Rewards offer a surefire way to get more value from your card.

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for excellent credit scores

Applying for a credit card as an international student can be an intimidating process. In some cases. card issuers allow students to apply with an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) instead of an SSN.

According to the Federal Reserve’s May 2021 Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, the average credit card debt for those who completed some college was $6,210.

You must be 21 years old to be a primary cardholder for a credit card, or show proof that you can independently pay your bills or have a willing co-signer if you’re at least 18.

It is not a requirement to be employed to get a credit card, though most issuers will request proof that you will be able to pay your credit card bill.

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Financing.credit is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Financing.credit receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants’ credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. Financing.credit does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.

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