The best student credit cards set you on a path to building strong credit if you want to finance a car, buy a house or qualify for the best credit card offers.
Your credit can even affect your job prospects and your ability to rent an apartment. Many college student credit cards are specifically designed for those new to credit, but simply being a student doesn’t guarantee aprroval. Other options include secured credit cards and cards that build your credit with baby steps.
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee: $0 Rewards Rate: 1% – 8% cash back
Intro Offer: Earn $50 cash back when you spend $100 within the first three months
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery purchases.
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores.
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Pros:
This card earns high cash-back rates in popular student spending categories like dining, entertainment, streaming and groceries — all with no annual fee and a low spending threshold ($100) for its $50 bonus.
Cons:
Superstores like Walmart and Target don’t qualify for the 3% grocery rate, and there are no student-specific perks like a good-grade reward.
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee: $0 Rewards Rate: 1.5% – 5% cash back
Intro Offer: Earn $50 cash back when you spend $100 within the first three months
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
Card Details:
Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
Pros:
With no annual fee and a low $100 spending requirement for its $50 bonus, this card offers a simple 1.5% cash back on all purchases — great for students who want easy rewards.
Cons:
It lacks bonus categories beyond travel and Uber, and there are no student-centric incentives like grade-based rewards.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee:$0 Rewards Rate: 1% – 5% cash back
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards Breakdown:
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.
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Card Details:
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
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.
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — automatically.
No credit score required to apply.
Pros:
This card’s first-year cash-back match is a standout perk, doubling your earnings, and it offers 5% back in rotating categories (with activation) — all with no annual fee or credit score requirement.
Cons:
You must activate the 5% categories quarterly, and the credit limit might be low, which could limit spending flexibility.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee: $0 Rewards Rate: 1% – 3% cash back
Intro Offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (gas/EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings).
Earn automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The 3% and 2% cash back applies to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category and at grocery stores/wholesale clubs; then earn 1%.
Card Details:
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (gas/EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings), automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
The 3% and 2% cash back applies to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category and at grocery stores/wholesale clubs; then earn 1%.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR).
Pros:
A $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in 90 days is generous, and the customizable 3% category plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs offers flexibility — all with no annual fee.
Cons:
The $2,500 quarterly cap on bonus categories limits rewards potential, and it charges a foreign transaction fee, which isn’t ideal for study abroad.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee: $0 Rewards Rate: 1.5x points
Intro Offer: 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
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time with no expiration on points as long as your account remains open.
Card Details:
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.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time with no expiration on points as long as your account remains open.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR).
Pros:
The 25,000-point bonus ($250 in travel) after spending $1,000 in 90 days is solid, and unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees suits students who travel.
Cons:
It lacks bonus categories for everyday spending like dining or groceries, and redemption options are mostly travel-focused, limiting flexibility.
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Rating: 4.0 NerdWallet rating Annual Fee: $0 Rewards Rate: 1.5% cash back
Intro Offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Card Details:
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR).
Pros:
A $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in 90 days and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee make this a simple, rewarding choice for students.
Cons:
It has no bonus categories for common student expenses like dining or gas, and a foreign transaction fee makes it less ideal for travel.
