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Your college years are not only about hitting the books, but also about building credit for future financial milestones like landing your dream job or renting your ideal apartment. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best student credit card for your needs and preferences without paying high fees and interest rates?
What We'll Cover
Here's the secret: responsibly using a student credit card can pave the way to a solid credit foundation, while also helping you build your credit score and earn rewards. While these cards may not have sky-high credit limits or all the bells and whistles, their primary purpose is to help you establish a strong credit history. Our comprehensive guide highlights the top student credit card offers, diving into their features, rewards programs, eligibility requirements, pros, cons, and fees to help you make an informed decision, and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
So, are you ready to embark on your financial journey? Jump into the world of student credit cards and take the first step today! Discover the potential of these top offers and begin building a robust credit foundation that will serve you well into the future.
Chase Freedom® Student credit card
The Chase Freedom® Student credit card is a simple and straightforward card that offers cash back on every purchase, a $50 bonus after your first purchase, and a $20 annual reward for good grades. It also has no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases.
Card Features
- Earn 1% cash back on all purchases
- Get a $50 bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of account opening
- Get a $20 annual reward when your account is in good standing and you meet the credit criteria. For up to 5 years, following each account anniversary
- Get access to Chase Credit Journey, a free tool that helps you monitor your credit score and report
- Enjoy benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty, fraud protection, and more
Rewards Program
- Redeem your cash back for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or shop with points at Amazon.com
- Your cash back does not expire as long as your account is open
- There is no minimum to redeem your cash back
Fees and Rates
- No annual fee
- 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases, then a variable APR of 19.99%
- Through March 31, 2025, receive 5% cash back on Lyft rides.
Pros and Cons
- Easy to earn and redeem cash back
- No annual fee and low interest rate for the first 15 months
- Bonus rewards for good grades and first purchase
- Free credit monitoring tool
- No bonus categories or rotating rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Cash advance fee
Reasons to Get this Card | Reasons not to Get this Card |
•You want a simple and reliable card that rewards you for every purchase. •You want to build your credit score and track your progress. •You want to enjoy some extra perks like purchase protection and extended warranty. |
•You want to earn more cash back on specific categories or with rotating offers. •You travel abroad frequently and want to avoid foreign transaction fees. •You need to transfer a balance or get a cash advance. |
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card that offers generous cash back on dining, entertainment, and groceries. It offers 3% cash back on dining and entertainment and 1% cash back on everything else. It also has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
Card Features
- Earn 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- Through November 14, 2024, customers will receive 10% cash back on all purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats.
- Earn 1% cash back on everything else
- Referring friends and family who are approved for a Capital One credit card can earn you up to $500 annually.
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
- Get access to CreditWise, a free tool that helps you monitor your credit score and report
- Enjoy benefits like auto rental collision damage waiver, travel accident insurance, fraud protection, and more
Rewards Program
- Redeem your cash back for statement credits, gift cards, or check
- Your cash back does not expire as long as your account is open
- There is no minimum to redeem your cash back
Fees and Rates
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Variable APR of 19.99% - 29.99%
- No balance transfer fee for any non-promotionary transfer APR, else 3% if vice versa
- Either $3 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Up to $40 late payment fee
Pros and Cons
- High cash back on dining, entertainment, and groceries
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
- Bonus rewards for spending $500 in the first 3 months and increasing your credit line
- High interest rate
- No introductory APR offer
- Cash advance fee
Reasons to Get this Card | Reasons not to Get this Card |
• This card is ideal for individuals who frequently spend substantial amounts on dining, entertainment, and groceries, as it offers the opportunity to earn higher cash back rates in these specific categories. | • Limited utility for balance transfers and cash advances |
Deserve® EDU Mastercard® for Students
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard® for Students is a card that offers unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases, a one-year subscription to Amazon Prime Student (worth $59), and a $30 statement credit for referring a friend. It also has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no credit history required.
Card Features
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
- Get a one-year subscription to Amazon Prime Student (worth $59) after spending $500 in the first 3 billing cycles
- Get a $30 statement credit for each friend you refer who gets approved for the card
- Get access to Mastercard Platinum benefits like cell phone protection, ID theft protection, extended warranty, and more
Rewards Program
- Redeem your cash back for statement credits
- Your cash back does not expire as long as your account is open
- There is no minimum to redeem your cash back
Fees and Rates
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Variable APR of 22.99%
- No balance transfer fee
- $25 or 5% cash advance fee, whichever is greater
- Up to $25 late payment fee
Pros and Cons
- Unlimited cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
- Free Amazon Prime Student subscription and referral bonus
- No credit history required
- Moderate interest rate
- No introductory APR offer
- Cash advance fee
Reasons to Get this Card | Reasons not to Get this Card |
•You want a simple and unlimited cash back card that does not require a credit history. •You shop frequently on Amazon and want to enjoy the benefits of Prime Student. •You have friends who are interested in getting a student credit card and want to earn some extra cash. |
•You want to earn more cash back on specific categories or with rotating offers. •You want to take advantage of a low or zero interest rate offer for balance transfers or purchases. |
Conclusion
Choosing the best credit card for students can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. Depending on your spending habits, preferences, and goals, you can find a card that suits your needs and helps you build your credit history.
As you can see, there are many credit cards for students to choose from, each with its own features, rewards, fees, rates, pros and cons. The best one for you depends on your spending habits, preferences, and goals. Remember to read the terms and conditions carefully before applying for any card.
We reviewed some of the best credit cards for students in 2024, based on their features, rewards, fees, rates, pros and cons. We also gave you some reasons to get or not to get each card, so you can make an informed decision.
The cards we covered are:
- Chase Freedom® Student credit card: A good option for students who want to build their credit history and earn cash back on every purchase.
- Journey Student Rewards from Capital One: A good choice for students who want to earn rewards and improve their credit habits.
- Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: A great option for students who love food and entertainment.
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard® for Students: A unique card that is designed for students who are new to credit or have limited credit history.
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: A card that offers students a lot of flexibility and variety in earning and redeeming cash back.
We hope this article helped you find the best credit card for you. Happy swiping!
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
To find all the details about the terms and conditions of an offer, check the online credit card application. We put a lot of effort to present you accurate and up-to-date information; however, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all credit card information presented.
Editorial Disclosure: All reviews/opinions expressed here are author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser included within our content. The information presented on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned below may have expired. Check the issuer's website for the most recent information.
Advertiser Disclosure: SuperOffers.com has partnered with various providers to offer a wide range of credit card products on our website. Both our website and our partners may receive commissions from card issuers. As part of an affiliate sales network, SuperOffers.com receives compensation for directing traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.
The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.