Advertiser Disclosure: Fortunly.com is an independent review site dedicated to providing accurate information about various financial and business-related offers. Fortunly.com remains financially sustainable by participating in a series of affiliate partnerships - it’s visitors’ clicks on links that cover the expenses of running this site.
How and where the offers appear on the site can vary according to the partnership terms. Affiliate partnerships may affect where a particular product is listed within a review, but they don’t affect the review’s content in any way.
Fortunly.com’s in-house writing team writes all the site’s content after in-depth research, and advertisers have no control over the personal opinions expressed by team members, whose job is to stay faithful to the truth and remain objective.
Our pages may include reviews of products or services for which we do not receive commission and are not tied to affiliate partnerships; information included in these reviews has been solely collected by Fortunly.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product or service. Product/service details may vary. Please see the issuer’s website for current information.
The Fortunly.com website does not include reviews of every single company offering loan products, nor does it cover all loan offers or types of financial products and services available.
Best Student Credit Cards
Applying for a student credit card is an important first step in establishing your credit history. Used responsibly, student credit cards can serve as a foundation to help you qualify to buy a house, apartment or finance a car, helping to improve your credit score while you're in school.
Best Credit Cards for Students in December 2024
Petal 2 Visa® Credit Card
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
Petal 2 Visa® Credit Card
- Bonus rewards on all purchases go from 1% cash back to 1.25% after six on-time payment and to 1.5% after 12 timely payments; 2% to 10% in cash back rewards from select merchants
- Auto-rental damage collision waiver and access to emergency roadside dispatch
- The card is issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
Discover it® Student Cash Back
- 5% cash back at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, Amazon.com, and on purchases made using PayPal
- Dollar-for-dollar cashback match in the first year of card membership
- $20 annual credit for a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- No US credit history needed to qualify
- Cardmembers get $59 Amazon Prime Student membership after spending $500 combined during the first three billing cycles
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- 1% cash back on all purchases; the rate increases to a total of 1.25% each month you make a timely payment
- Receive $5 per month for 12 months on select streaming subscriptions when your credit card bill on pay on time
- Potential credit limit increase after six months
Citi® Secured Mastercard
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
Citi® Secured Mastercard
- No annual fees, 22.49% variable APR rate
- Deposit amount, and your credit limit, can range between $200 and $2,500
- Excellent set of tools for credit building, such as a free FICO score, account alerts, and online bill pay
BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Apply Now
BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
- No annual fees, plus no APR on purchases and transfers for 18 months
- $100 statement credit bonus (for $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening the account)
- Monthly FICO score updates for effortless credit score tracking
Top 5 Student Credit Cards of 2024 - Our Picks:
- Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card - Best for avoiding fees.
- Discover it® Student Cash Back - Best for high cashback rewards.
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students - Best for international travel.
- Journey Student Rewards from Capital One - Best for rewards.
- Citi® Secured Mastercard - Best for poor or no credit score
How We Evaluate Credit Cards for College Students
Student cards generally don't offer the same rewards and premium benefits as "regular" credit cards - and that's fine. The main reason to apply for a credit card as a student is to start building your credit history so you can qualify for better cards and other financial products in the future.
Think of them as training wheels for bettering your credit score during your important education years. Look for a credit cards that reports to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), rewards on-time payments, has favorable terms and saves you money through cashback programs and other benefits.
However, most companies required that you have a job and some revenue to show, but there are ways to open co-accounts with your parents or other family members and start building a healthy credit score on time even with no personal income of your own.
Introductory and Ongoing APR
Cards designed for consumers who are new to the credit world tend to have higher-than-average interest rates. Staying responsible when it comes to your personal finance and paying your bill in full each month is the only way to avoid high interest charges, and that's exactly what we suggest you do.
Still, some student credit cards offer an introductory 0% APR period for six months or a year. We recommend these cards if you have big upcoming purchases you'll need more than a month to pay off.
Fees
When you're on a student budget, the last thing you need is high fees on credit cards. While it's ideal to avoid these charges altogether, no-fee credit cards are very rare.
However, there are options that will give you a chance to keep your costs low. Most credit cards for students don't have annual membership charges. If you decide to open a no-annual-fee card, you'll be able to keep the account open for a long time and improve your credit score as a result.
Other costs to watch out for include foreign transaction fees, balance transfer charges, cash advance fees, and penalties. Our advice is that you apply for a card that won't incur a surcharge each time you make a purchase outside the country.
Credit Limit
Much like the credit cards issued to applicants with fair credit, student cards and those targeted at young adults generally have low credit limits. Given that the maximum amount a credit card issuer will let you borrow depends on your creditworthiness, we suggest you choose a card that guarantees periodic reviews of your account and offers credit-line increases in less than a year.
Rewards
If you think your perfect card should earn you cash back or bonus points, look for a card that comes with a rewards rate of at least 1%. Although there are more generous student credit cards out there, we consider this a good starter rate.
You may get more value if you choose a card that offers higher rewards on purchases in specific spending categories - restaurants and travel arrangements, for example.
However, such cards won't do you any good if they don't align with your consumer habits.
International Acceptance
If you're planning to study abroad for a semester or longer, you need to consider whether you'll be able to use your card internationally. The option for you is likely to be one of the cards that are widely accepted worldwide.
Detailed Reviews of Student Credit Cards
The Petal 2 Visa credit card helps you build your credit, lets you earn cashback rewards, doesn't require a security deposit, and doesn't charge any type of fees. The Petal 2 is also relatively easy to qualify for, as WebBank - the card's issuing bank - doesn't rely solely on credit scores when determining creditworthiness.
APR and Fees
The Petal 2 Visa doesn't offer a lower introductory APR. The standard APR is variable between 18.24% - 32.24%.
As you have probably deduced from its name, this card charges no fees at all. Cardmembers don't have to worry about annual membership costs, foreign transaction charges, or late fees.
You also won't be assigned a penalty APR if you don't pay your credit card bill on time. Bear in mind, however, that late payments may affect your credit score. To keep your credit profile in good shape and avoid interest charges, it is our recommendation that you pay your bill in full each month.
Rewards Policy
Petal 2 has a unique cashback program that encourages you to make consistent on-time payments.
As a new Petal 2 cardholder, you'll start by earning 1% cash back on all purchases. If you make six on-time monthly payments in a row, the rate will increase to 1.25%. After paying your monthly bill on time for the 12th time, you'll qualify for the 1.5% cash back rate. This card also allows you to earn 2% to 10% in cash back rewards from select merchants.
The Petal 2 Visa makes redemption pretty simple. Provided that your account is in good standing, you can redeem your rewards as a credit anytime - or wait until you've accrued at least $20 and request a check.
Your rewards won't expire as long as you keep your account open. But you can't redeem your rewards when your payment is overdue.
Reasons to Choose the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card
Even if you have just started the clock on your credit history, you'll probably be able to qualify.
Instead of looking only at an applicant's FICO credit score, the card's issuing bank employs its own proprietary algorithm when determining eligibility. Information about your income, spending, and savings will be assessed during your application process.
Considering that it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees (or any other administrative or penalty fees), the Petal 2 is one of the most convenient credit cards for international students or those who frequently make transactions with foreign merchants. Additionally, because this is a Visa card, it's widely accepted internationally.
The Petal 2 Visa comes with a limit of up to $10,000. Not everyone gets a $10,000 credit limit, of course. It is your creditworthiness that will determine your credit limit.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
If you're new to credit, as most students are, building your credit profile should be more important to you than earning cash rewards.
However, reward-earning programs are still a factor, and good credit cards for students should offer them.
The rewards policy of the Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa is quite basic - you earn 1%-1.5% on everything. While flat-rate cards are popular for minimal effort, a card that offers higher rewards in certain categories may be a better fit for your spending habits. Another rewards-related drawback of the Petal 2 is that it doesn't come with a welcome offer.
While holders of this Petal 2 Visa card don't have any fees to worry about, there's a potentially high APR to consider. You should also keep in mind that you can't draw a cash advance against this card.
Available to applicants with limited or no credit history, the Discover it® Student Cash Back card allows you to build your credit profile while delivering cashback rewards of up to 5%.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is well known for offering a 0% introductory APR for six months and not charging an annual fee.
APR and Fees
This Discover card comes with a lower introductory APR for both purchases and balance transfers. New cardmembers are welcomed with a 0% APR on purchases for the first six months and a 10.99% APR on balance transfers for six months counting from the date of the first transfer.
After the promotional period on this card expires, your APR will be 12.99% to 21.99% (variable) for purchases and balance transfers and 24.99% (variable) for cash advances.
One of the most significant advantages of the Discover it® Student Cash Back card is that it doesn't have an annual membership fee. However, you'll be charged 3% of the amount of each balance transfer during the introductory APR period and 5% of the amount of each transfer after that.
There's also a cash advance fee of $10 or 5%. Returned payment and late payment fees can go up to $40, while the latter is waived the first time you don't pay your bill on time.
Rewards Policy
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card allows students to earn cashback rewards while helping them practice responsible credit habits.
Cardmembers earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases in categories that are disclosed each quarter. To maximize your rewards, you'll need to be aware of the qualifying purchase types.
Options include shopping at Amazon; making transactions at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants; using services provided by Uber and Lyft; and making payments via PayPal.
Keep in mind that the rewards on this credit card are high but limited: There's a $1,500 quarterly maximum. But you'll still get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Another great thing about the Discover it® Student Cash Back card is that it offers an unlimited dollar-for-dollar cashback match on the rewards you earn before your account's first anniversary. There are no minimum spending requirements or other strings attached.
Redemption options include direct deposits, statement credits, gift cards, and donations. You get $5 extra if you redeem your rewards for a gift card.
Reasons to Choose the Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card
The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers 5% cash back on eligible categories and 1% on all other purchases. Moreover, there's a good grades rewards program that lasts up to five years. It gives you a $20 credit as long as your GPA is 3.0 or higher.
There are no annual charges, foreign transaction fees, or penalty APRs, and the card offers a low introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.
As a Discover cardmember, you can use the "Freeze it" feature, which works as an on-off switch for your account and helps you prevent unauthorized activity if you misplace your card.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
While the unlimited 1% cashback rewards are earned automatically, you won't receive the 5% rewards unless you activate the bonus categories every three months. Not only can this be a hassle for those who are just getting started with credit cards, but some of the purchase categories may not be a good fit for a student's spending habits.
You should also keep in mind that while this credit card doesn't come with a foreign transaction fee, Discover isn't widely accepted outside the United States. If you are studying abroad, we suggest you explore other options.
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is a solid choice for those who lack typical application requirements. Its underwriting system is based on alternative criteria, so you can get approved even if you don't have a Social Security number or a US credit history.
As it doesn't require a security deposit or a cosigner, the Deserve card is also a good option for young consumers with limited credit. To top it off, the Deserve EDU Mastercard doesn't have an annual fee and it offers 1% cash back on every purchase.
APR and Fees
This credit card doesn't have an introductory APR. The ongoing APR for purchases is 18.74% (variable), which is slightly higher than the average rate. There are no annual percentage rates for balance transfers and cash advances, as Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students doesn't allow these transactions.
This card doesn't have an annual membership fee or foreign transaction charges. There are, however, penalty costs - late-payment fees can go up to $25 per item, while returned payments could set you back up to $37 per incident.
Rewards Policy
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students offers 1% cash back on all purchases. Compared to the bigger rewards and welcome offers promised by competitors, this card's policy may seem fairly bare-bones. On the plus side, you won't have to worry about activating bonus categories or reaching a certain threshold to qualify for rewards.
When it comes to redemption, the deal is simple. Once you have accrued a minimum of $25 in cash back, the rewards are redeemed for statement credit automatically.
Reasons to Choose the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
This card comes with a long list of valuable perks, which is quite unusual given the consumer group it targets. If you pay for your mobile phone using your Deserve card, you get up to $600 in insurance coverage should your device be damaged or stolen.
New Deserve EDU card members receive 12 months of Amazon Prime Student membership after making their first purchases. Students also get a $100 subscription discount for Feather, a furniture rental service, and a $10 statement credit for Lemonade, a homeowners/renters insurance provider.
This credit card also offers standard benefits such as roadside assistance, price protection, and extended warranty protection.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
While the eligibility requirements for the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students are easy to meet, the APR is quite high. Moreover, there isn't an introductory purchase APR and the card doesn't allow cash advances or balance transfers.
While a 1% cashback reward on every purchase is quite generous, redeeming the rewards comes with a catch. You'll need to earn at least $25 in rewards to meet the redemption minimum, and that could take a while.
While the Deserve® Edu Mastercard for Students may be a good card to use as your history builds and your credit score improves, we suggest you also explore other options with higher rewards.
The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One allows you to begin your credit-building journey as a college student while earning flat-rate cashback rewards - no spending category acrobatics required. Offering bonus rewards to those who pay their bills on time, this card makes it easy to establish and maintain a good credit history.
APR and Fees
The Capital One Journey Student Rewards card doesn't offer a lower introductory annual percentage rate. And the regular APR is quite high - 26.99% (variable) for all uses, including purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. A late payment won't increase your APR, but that's small consolation when you're paying an interest rate that high.
If you are thinking about applying for this card, you'll be happy to hear that you won't face annual membership or foreign transaction fees. Still, keep in mind that you'll be charged either $10 or 3% for cash advances and up to $40 for late payments.
Rewards Policy
The card's starting rewards rate is 1% cash back on every purchase. However, that's just the beginning with this card's rewards program. Each billing cycle, cardmembers are presented with an opportunity to boost their rate by 25% (for a total of 1.25% cash back) if they pay their bills on time.
The Journey Student Rewards incentivizes on-time payments and helps you save even more.
Redemptions are very flexible. You can redeem any amount of the accrued cash back in the form of a statement credit, checks, or gift cards at any time.
Reasons to Choose the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
One of the best things about this card is that you can automatically be considered for a higher credit limit in six months, provided that you haven't missed a payment due date.
Moreover, you get free access to CreditWise, a Capital One credit-monitoring app for iOS and Android devices. Use the app to keep track of your credit score and you'll get notified of any changes to your profile - and possible threats to your personal data.
The Capital One card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. It offers multiple travel- and retail-related benefits, including rental car insurance, travel accident coverage, 24-hour travel assistance services, and extended warranty protection.
In addition to the rewards program, the Journey Student Rewards card allows you to earn a $5 credit every month toward streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. The credits are awarded for 12 months, each time you make an on-time payment.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
The Journey Student Rewards card from Capital One offers a good deal, but it may not be the right credit card for all college students. Some of its biggest drawbacks include below-average reward rates and above-average interest rates.
Moreover, if you lack a US credit history, a Social Security number, or both, you'll be better off with a credit card whose issuer won't make you meet traditional credit score requirements.
Although the Journey Student Rewards card is meant for young consumers who have just started their credit-building journey, you'll still need at least a fair credit score to qualify.
Typically, secured cards are the way to go if you're only beginning to manage your finances and have no credit score yet. With this type of card, which is easy to obtain, you get a credit limit equal to your deposit and a set of excellent tools to help you keep track of your progress.
APR and Fees
This card won't burden you with high APR rates and fees. On the contrary, it comes with no annual fees. On top of that, it offers a decent variable APR rate of $22.49% for purchases and transactions.
Customers would probably welcome a lower or zero introductory APR, but still, cards that do offer such benefits generally have much higher APR rates once the introductory period is over, so it balances out.
Rewards Policy
Unfortunately, this card doesn't offer much in terms of rewards. The only benefits are those that always come with having a Mastercard.
Reasons to Choose the Citi® Secured Mastercard
The main reason you should go with this card is that you can get approved for it easily, even with a poor or nonexistent credit score. It's an excellent first step toward becoming an expert in managing your finances responsibly.
To help you achieve just that, this card offers an excellent selection of tools. Not only can you make payments on time with the help of an excellent notification system, but this card will report each of your payments to all three major credit bureaus.
You can effortlessly track your FICO score online, which is bound to further motivate you, and besides, it protects you and your credit score from identity theft.
Other interesting benefits you get with this card are account alerts and the opportunity to choose your due date. You can set up custom alerts to keep track of your balance and due payments more effectively. The opportunity to choose a due date allows for certain flexibility and helps you organize your budget better.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
Unlike some other cards on this list, the Citi® Secured Mastercard offers no particular perks, such as rewards or cashback deals. Piling up rewards on credit cards is an excellent way to stash up for a major purchase, and with this card, it's not an option.
Furthermore, with this card, your credit is limited to $2,500 and requires a security deposit in the same amount, meaning you won't be able to spend any money you don't already have. In case you need to borrow money for a large purchase, you're better off with some of the personal loans available.
There is no such requirement with other credit cards on this list - something our readers should consider if they already have a fair credit score.
The BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students is an excellent way to start building your credit score and prepare for life after college. The main benefit of using this credit card is the introductory 0% APR for purchases and transfers, bound to help you kickstart your journey to a stellar credit score without worrying about interest.
Furthermore, you don't have to cover any annual fees with this card - you can put this money to better use instead.
APR and Fees
Many similar cards don't offer introductory APR. This is where the BankAmericard®'s Credit Card for Students stands out with its 0% APR for purchases and transfers for the first 18 months. Even after the introductory period is over, its APR rates are significantly lower than the ones offered by the competition - the variable rate ranges between 12.99% and 22.99%.
Another bonus point for this card is that it doesn't come with any annual fees. On the other hand, it does carry a 3% balance transfer fee for transferring $10 or more and a 3% foreign transaction fee. Furthermore, you'll most certainly be motivated to pay everything on time because of its $40 late payment fee.
Rewards Policy
This card's rewards fall short in comparison with some of the competing offers on our list. The only reward you could earn is the $100 statement credit online bonus. However, to earn this bonus, which will be used automatically toward your next bill, you'll have to spend $1,000 over the course of the next 90 days.
Reasons to Choose the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
This card enables you to get started with the vital task of building your credit score without taking a big chunk of your income in fees and APR. Since you don't have to calculate these fees, you'll be able to focus on building responsible and healthy spending habits and, ultimately, your credit score.
Furthermore, this Bank of America's credit card also has a $100 statement credit online bonus that you can earn if you make payments worth $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the card. Since you don't have significant fees or interest to pay back, if you achieve this bonus, it's likely you won't be stressing out about paying your monthly bill either.
This credit card also comes with an excellent mobile app which could also be beneficial for managing your finances and keeping track of your spending.
It gives you all the benefits of digital wallet technology, for example, shopping in-store and in-app with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. You can use it to set up account alerts, to help you keep track of your balances and remind you of due dates, and also to make payments and transfers.
Through the same app, you can effortlessly check your FICO score, which is updated monthly. Monitoring your credit score could motivate you to stay on track with your financial goals.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
Even though it relieves you of the burden of paying the APR (for the first 18 months) and annual fees, we would like to see more rewards for students. A cashback program or travel rewards would really spice this offer up and make it more attractive.
Now that we've mentioned travelling, it's not the best solution for that either. Once you get down to reading its terms and conditions and the general guidelines, you'll find out that this card incurs steep foreign transaction fees.
Why You Should You Start Building Your Credit History Now
Amid the hustle and bustle of studying, exams, buying books, and socializing with interesting strangers, establishing your credit history may not seem like a top priority. But when it comes to credit, the sooner you start, the better.
Someday, when you're looking to take out a loan to buy an apartment, house or a car, you'll be glad that you started making small monthly payments when you were young. Adults with years of responsible use make companies trust them more which qualifies them for more loans with lower collateral requirements and at lower interest rates.
In order to apply you need to meet relevant requirements for the card of your choice, however, general guidelines require you to be above 18 years of age, have a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number and you need to have some form of income to show.
There are exceptions to this and the exact requirements vary greatly form card to card.
Who will be impressed by your long credit history?
Banks and other lenders know that the best way to assess an applicant's creditworthiness is to look at how the applicant has handled money in the past. During their evaluation your credit history can impress the loan officers who decide if you get the money for a home, car, or other big purchase - and what interest rate they'll extend to you. A student credit card can help you build a positive history so future lenders will know you can be trusted.
When you start job searching it is important that you have a healthy credit score because employers sometimes run credit checks as part of their background investigations of potential employees. A good credit rating could help guide you towards getting that dream job.
Investors and business lenders may look at your history with other people's money before deciding whether to support a project you are working on.
Before renting out their property, a landlord will want to learn about your credit history as much as any financial expert. A poor credit rating prevents access to important purchases in life and can make things unnecessarily difficult.
FAQ
Should I get a student credit card or a regular credit card?
That depends on your credit profile and your goals. Regular credit cards can offer a valuable rewards rate, but they require higher credit scores and established credit histories. On the other hand, you can apply for a student card and use it to build your financial identity. Have a look at all of the competing offers to find the card that suits your spending habits and way of life.
Can a student with no income get a credit card?
If you don't have any form of income, you won't be able to apply for a credit card on your own. However, you can still open a credit card account in your name by having a parent or family member co-sign.
A joint account is very useful in this regard and it can help establish your credit profile, while also giving you access to all the benefits that a student credit card provides.