It can be hard to figure out how to use credit cards when you’re in college. Because they don’t have much of a credit history, students often have a hard time finding credit cards that not only approve them but also reward them for spending responsibly. But the right student credit card can help you build a good credit history, earn great rewards, and learn good money habits that will last a lifetime.
This article talks about the five best student credit cards that all college students should think about getting. It talks about what each card has to offer, who can get one, the pros and cons of each one, and who each card is best for. We’ll also talk about the most important things to think about when choosing a card, give you expert advice on how to use your card responsibly, and answer common questions to help you make an informed choice. We use reliable sources and clear disclosures to help you reach your financial goals. We follow the EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles throughout.
How We Chose the Top 5: Our Criteria
To find the best student credit cards, we looked at a lot of them and rated them based on the following:
What you need to get approved
- Credit Score: You don’t need a lot of credit history to get most student credit cards. We put cards with average approval scores of 600 or lower at the top of our list.
- Proof of income: You can use money from your job on campus, scholarships, or help from your parents.
Charges and rates
- Annual Fee: None of the top picks have an annual fee, which helps keep costs down for students.
- Interest Rates: Some start with a 0% APR and then go up to 29% APR.
Advantages and Rewards
- Cash Back/Points: Simple flat-rate or rotating categories that match how students spend their money, such as on food, streaming, and gas.
- Intro Offers: Bonuses for signing up, such as statement credits or matched rewards.
- Extra benefits include things like no fees for transactions in other countries, free credit score monitoring, or access to materials that teach you about money.
Things to Help You Build Credit
- You can see your credit score for free with FICO®.
- Automatic Reviews for Credit Line You can raise your limit if you pay on time.
Help and support for people who use it
- With the mobile app and alerts, it’s easy to keep track of when bills are due and how much you spend.
- Educational resources include articles, videos, or coaching that teach people how to use things responsibly.
1. Discover it® Student Cash Back is the best way to get the most out of rotating-category rewards without having to pay yearly fees.
Key Features
- 5% Cash Back on Rotating Purchases: You can get 5% cash back on purchases of up to $1,500 every three months at places like gas stations, restaurants, Amazon.com, and more. You have to activate it first. NerdWallet.
- 1% Cash Back Everywhere: Unlimited 1% on all other purchases NerdWallet.
- Cash Back Match™: At the end of your first year, Discover will automatically match all of the cash back you earned.
- APR: 0% for the first six months on purchases; then NerdWallet says it could be anywhere from 18.24% to 29.24%.
- Cost for the year: $0.
More Good Things:
- There are no fees for doing business with other countries.
- A free FICO® Score every month.
- Access to Discover’s student card education portal.
Good and Bad
| A lot of cash back in categories that people like | Don’t forget to turn on the quarterly categories. |
| For the first year, you get twice as many rewards. | Moderate regular APR after the first period |
| There are no fees for transactions with people from other countries or for the year. | 5% categories capped every three months |
Who It’s for
Students who want to get the most cash back when they eat out, fill up their gas tank, or shop online and like to change their bonus categories.
2. Discover it® Student Chrome
Best for: Simple use and rewards that happen automatically
Key Features
- 2% Cash Back at Restaurants and Gas Stations: You automatically get 2% cash back on gas station and dining purchases, up to $1,000 every three months. NerdWallet.
- 1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases: NerdWallet gives you 1% back on everything else.
- With Cash Back Match™, Discover matches all of your cash back at the end of your first year.
- 0% APR for the first six months, then 18.24% to 29.24% Variable APR.
- Cost per year: $0.
More Good Things:
- You don’t have to activate to keep track of rotating categories.
- Get your FICO® Score for free.
- Learn about credit with the Discover it® Student Portal.
Pros and Cons
| A simple way to give rewards | The reward rate is lower for things other than gas and food. |
| You don’t have to activate it. | Every three months, 2% of the categories are capped. |
| Cash back match for the first year | After the introductory period, APR goes back to normal. |
Who It’s for
Students who want a simple rewards card that they can set up and forget about, especially those who eat out and fill up their gas tanks often.
3. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best way to get a flat rate of cash back on all of your purchases.
Main Points
- You get 1.5% back on every purchase, and you don’t have to keep track of categories.
- You can get your money back as a check, a gift card, or a statement credit.
- APR that changes: 19.24% to 29.24%
- Every year, the fee is $0.
More Good Things:
- You can get CreditWise® credit monitoring.
- Your credit limit will be automatically checked after six months of on-time payments.
- Travel insurance and help with travel 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pros and cons
| Income that is steady and easy | A lower rate than switching between 5% categories |
| No fee every year, and no time with a low APR | |
| Automatic review of credit limits | No bonus groups |
Who It’s for
Students who like rewards that are simple to understand and don’t need a lot of work to keep up.
4. The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best card for getting rewards for eating out and having fun.
The Most Important Parts
- 3% Cash Back on Food and Fun: Get 3% back on purchases at restaurants, streaming services, and other fun things.
- You can get 1% back on all other purchases, and you can get 1% back on as many purchases as you want.
- Welcome Bonus: If you spend $300 in the first three months, you get a $100 bonus.
- APR: 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR.
- Every year, there is a fee of $0.
More Benefits:
- No fees for sending money to other countries.
- You can use CreditWise® for free.
Pros and cons
| You can get a lot of money for eating out and having fun, but you won’t get as much money elsewhere. | |
| Easy to get welcome bonus | Higher range of APR |
| No fees for transactions made outside the US or yearly fees | Not many bonus categories |
Who It’s for
Social students who spend a lot of money on streaming services, going out to eat, and going to concerts.
5. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Best for: picking your own category and getting a bonus when you sign up
Key Features
- 3% Cash Back in Selected Category: Pick from gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement and furnishings.
- You can get 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, up to $2,500 every three months, plus your 3% category.
- 1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases: No Limits.
- Welcome Bonus: If you spend $1,000 online in the first 90 days, Intuit Credit Karma will give you $200 in cash.
- APR: 18.74% to 28.74%, depending on the rate.
- The fee for the year is $0.
More Benefits:
- No charge every year.
- You can get up to 75% more cash back with the Preferred Rewards banking tier.
- Tools for banking online and on the go.
Good and bad points
| Choose a group that has a lot of money. | You need to pick 3% of the categories ahead of time. |
| A good welcome bonus | Grocery/wholesale cap plus 3% group |
| Possible bonus through banking relationship; high APR |
Who It’s for
Students who want to pick their own bonus category and have a good reason to sign up.
How to use credit cards wisely and build credit
- Always pay on time. If you pay late, you may have to pay fees and have a lower credit score. Set up automatic payments for at least the amount you owe.
- Use Less Don’t go over 30% of your credit limit each month.
- Look at Your Credit You can use free tools like Discover’s FICO® Score or Capital One’s CreditWise® to keep track of how you’re doing.
- Use Your Card Like Money You should only charge what you can pay off in full every month.
- Take Advantage of Student Benefits Many cards let you access educational materials, tools for budgeting, and information about your credit score.
- Request more credit lines Ask for a higher limit to raise your utilization ratio after making payments on time for at least six months.
A lot of people ask these questions
Q1: What is the lowest credit score you can have and still get a student credit card?
A FICO® score of around 600 is a good place to start for most student cards. They don’t need much or any credit history. People with no score at all might be able to apply for secured student cards.
Q2: Will having a student credit card hurt my credit score?
When you apply, a hard inquiry is made, which could lower your score by a few points for a short time. You shouldn’t apply for too many cards at once, and you should only apply for cards that you think you can get based on the issuer’s rules.
Question 3: Are credit cards for students safe?
There are both types. To get a secured card, which is easier to get, you have to pay a security deposit that you can get back. You usually don’t have to pay a deposit for an unsecured student card, but you do have to show proof of income or enrollment.
Q4: What do I need to do to change my student card into a regular card?
Pay on time for at least 12 months. Issuers often check accounts to see if they can offer higher limits on consumer or rewards cards.
Q5: What will happen if I don’t pay?
If you don’t pay on time, you could get late fees, penalty APRs, and bad marks on your credit report. Call your issuer right away; some may not charge you a fee the first time you miss a payment.
The end
Picking the right student credit card is a very important first step in building a good credit history and getting rewards for everyday purchases. The five best options we found have low approval requirements, no annual fees, and rewards that are useful for students. You’ll be better off financially after you graduate if you use credit wisely, which means paying on time, keeping your balances low, and checking your score.
Start your credit journey off right, use the benefits of these cards, and watch your credit score and financial confidence grow at the same time.
References
- Discover it® Student Cash Back — NerdWallet. Retrieved July 2025, from
- Discover it® Student Chrome — NerdWallet. Retrieved July 2025, from
- Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards — NerdWallet. Retrieved July 2025, from
- Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards — NerdWallet. Retrieved July 2025, from NerdWallet
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students — Credit Karma. Retrieved July 2025, from Intuit Credit Karma
