Best Student Credit Cards

Best Student Credit Cards

Finding the right credit card can be a life-changing choice for a student. It helps in building a credit score, managing expenses, and even earning rewards. Here’s a detailed look at some of the best student credit cards available now.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is popular among students for good reason. It offers 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter. These categories include places like grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. There’s a limit of $1,500 in purchases each quarter. After reaching that limit, you get an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

• Rotating categories provide varied rewards
• Good grades reward program gives a $20 statement credit annually for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Intro APR: 0% for 6 months on purchases and 10.99% on balance transfers for six months
• Free credit score access and monitoring
• No annual fee

Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card

The Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card is another solid choice for students looking to build credit and earn rewards. It offers a competitive 1% cash back on all purchases. Plus, there’s a $50 bonus after your first purchase made within the first three months of account opening.

• Earn $20 Good Standing Rewards annually for up to five years
• Access to Chase’s Credit Journey for free credit score tracking
• Intro APR: 0% for 6 months on purchases
• No annual fee

Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One

The Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One Card encourages good financial habits. You earn 1% cash back on all purchases. If you pay on time, your cash back increases to 1.25% for that month.

• No foreign transaction fees
• CreditWise from Capital One for free access to your credit score
• Ability to increase your credit line after making your first five monthly payments on time
• No annual fee

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students offers a customizable rewards program. You earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice. Categories include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Additionally, you earn 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, with a combined cap of $2,500 on 3% and 2% categories each quarter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

• Access to your FICO® Score for free
• Flexible rewards categories to match your spending habits
• Intro APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
• No annual fee

Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is aimed at international students who may not have an SSN. You earn 1% cash back on all purchases. It also comes with a one-year Amazon Prime Membership after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles.

• No international transaction fees
• Free access to your monthly FICO® score
• Cell phone protection up to $600
• No annual fee

State Farm® Student Visa® Credit Card

The State Farm® Student Visa® Credit Card offers a simple rewards program. You earn 1% cash back on all purchases. Additionally, you can participate in the State Farm Loyalty Rewards program, which allows you to accumulate points to redeem for gift cards, travel, and more.

• Ability to earn bonus points through special offers
• Access to Visa Zero Liability protection for unauthorized charges
• No annual fee

Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card

The Wells Fargo Cash Back College® Card offers an introductory offer where you can earn 3% cash back on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first six months, up to $2,500 in spending. After that, you earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.

• Access to your FICO® Credit Score for free
• Intro APR: 0% for 6 months on purchases and balance transfers
• No annual fee

Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card

The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card comes with a unique cash back system. You earn 1% cash back on purchases when you get the card, 1.25% cash back after six on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after twelve on-time payments.

• In-depth mobile app that provides personalized financial guidance
• Higher credit limits than some other student cards
• Zero fees – no annual fee, no late fee, no foreign transaction fee

Discover it® Chrome for Students

The Discover it® Chrome for Students offers a straightforward rewards program. You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. All other purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back. As a bonus, Discover automatically matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

• Good Grades Reward program gives a $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher, for up to 5 years
• Free FICO® Credit Score access
• No annual fee