Obtain relevant proof of your personal income or assets. The best student credit card for college students: Some student credit cards may waive annual fees and may offer reward programs that allow you to earn points and cash back on certain purchases.

Be sure to read your cardmember agreement and monthly statements so you can keep track of when your zero or low-interest period ends as you'll start paying interest on your credit card balance once this promotion ends.

Low fees: Student credit cards will typically have low service fees. You may find that maintenance or annual fees will also be minimized or not charged altogether.

Reward programs: Students may enjoy reward program perks that allow them to earn cash back or reward points from purchases. These cash back points could score you gift cards or cash back for purchasing textbooks, laptops, and clothes for the upcoming semester. Student benefits and resources: As a student cardholder, you may be able to participate in special perks for college students, such as exclusive cash back reward programs that reward high GPAs or positive payment habits.

Security features: Student credit cards may also be equipped with useful protections and features, such as fraud protection or overdraft protection when you set up automatic payments from your debit card or checking account.

What are the benefits of a student credit card? Find a student credit card. Topics: credit card applications credit card debt. What to read next. credit card basics How to See If You're Prequalified for a Credit Card. Continue , How to See If You're Prequalified for a Credit Card.

credit card basics How often can you apply for a credit card? Continue , How often can you apply for a credit card?

credit card basics Four key things to know before getting your first credit card. Continue , Four key things to know before getting your first credit card. credit card basics What is purchase APR and how to avoid it.

What's APR? What is APR? An annual percentage rate APR is an interest rate that determines the finance charges you pay on your account if you carry a balance or take a balance transfer or cash advance. Even if a customer pays the balance every month, we will charge interest on balance transfers and cash advances the day they post, so you cannot avoid interest charges for these types of transactions.

Whether you're brand new or already have some credit history, a student Discover Card lets you earn great rewards while you build credit with responsible use 5. This includes making all of your payments on time to your Discover account or any other bills and loans.

Use your Discover student login to set alerts, get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO ® Credit Score and more 1 all from your smartphone, tablet or wearable. As a college student, you may have little or no credit history. One of the best credit cards for you is likely to be one geared toward students.

A rewards student credit card, such as Discover it ® ️ Student Cash Back Card or Discover it ® ️ Chrome for Students , can help you earn cash back on everyday purchases.

You don't need a job to apply for a student credit card, but you must show income. For students under 21, there are different rules for what counts as income than for those 21 and older. When used responsibly, Discover student credit cards are a great way to build a credit history while earning cash back rewards on every purchase.

That's because Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit with responsible use.

Building credit can be a fairly simple process. To build your credit responsibly with a student credit card:. Late payments, delinquencies, or other derogatory activity with your student credit card account or other loans may adversely impact your ability to build credit.

After you graduate from college , your student credit card will become a standard credit card. When you graduate, we encourage current student cardmembers to call us to update their personal information, such as income, housing, e-mail, and address.

This may make you eligible for a credit line increase. You need to be at least 18 to apply for a student credit card. Students below the age of 21 may need to meet different income requirements , but there's no credit score required to apply for a Discover it ® Student credit card.

Discover student credit cards can help you build your credit history 5 and earn cash back rewards on every purchase. A regular credit card for people with an established credit history is different than a credit card for students with no credit or a short credit history.

Student credit cards may have a lower credit limit, so students can get started using credit, practice responsible use, and build a credit history. Feel like you're ready to take on more credit? You can apply by requesting an increase online or you can call us at DISCOVER.

When you graduate, call us to update your personal information, such as your income, housing, e-mail, and address.

Updating this information may make you eligible for credit line increases. We approve credit cards for college students as quickly as we can. Applying with your. edu email address from school may help us to speed up the process of your application. You might need a new student credit card for a number of reasons, but simply replacing your credit card won't affect your credit score.

Learn how to get your first credit card, including what card to apply for and what information you will need to get approved. Keep using it. In most cases, you can hold onto your student card even after you graduate.

If there's no annual fee on the card, there's no harm in keeping the account open and continuing to use it. However, a different card might provide better rewards or a lower interest rate. Upgrade it.

Ask your issuer whether you can switch your account to a different card through a so-called product change. Doing so allows you to move to a card that better suits your needs while keeping the account open. That's beneficial to your credit score because it helps preserve the length of your credit history.

Replace it. If you're paying an annual fee on a student card you don't plan to continue using, and the issuer won't upgrade you, you're probably better off applying for a better card and once approved closing the student card account.

Keep it — but in a drawer. If you can't or choose not to upgrade the card but you aren't paying an annual fee, it's smart to keep the account open even after you apply for other cards. Your credit score will benefit. Use a simple "autopay and everyday" strategy to keep your account active with one purchase — or several — throughout the year.

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for college students based on overall value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of students. Factors in our evaluation include annual fees, rewards programs both earning rates and redemption options , promotional and ongoing APRs, bonus offers for new cardholders, incentives for responsible behavior, free credit scores and other credit education, availability to applicants with thin or no credit history, and other noteworthy features such as a path to upgrade to a different product later on.

Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards. In general, college student cards can be easier to qualify for than regular cards because they are specifically designed for people just starting out with credit. Often, college student cards offer features of special interest to people new to credit.

These include incentives for responsible behavior, like a reward for always paying on time. They may also come with a free credit score and tools to help you learn to manage credit responsibly.

There was a time when college students had very little trouble getting credit cards. Looking to build relationships with a desirable demographic — college-educated consumers with high earning potential — issuers flooded campuses with applications and would even offer incentives like a free pizza or T-shirt for opening an account.

Students could get approved for a wallet full of cards even without income. This kind of marketing ended with the Credit Card Act of , a federal law that prohibited issuers from giving cards to people under 21 unless those people had independent income or a co-signer to guarantee their debt.

In general, you need to be at least 18 to get a credit card account in your own name. However, there are special rules that apply to credit card applicants under age This is a requirement in federal law, designed to prevent issuers from giving credit cards to young people who have no means of paying for their charges.

Learn more about which income you can include on a credit card application. Alternatives to getting a student credit card include:. Becoming an authorized user. An authorized user is essentially piggybacking on someone else's credit card account usually a parent's.

You get a card with your name on it, but the primary cardholder is legally responsible for paying the bill. Authorized-user status can help you build credit if the issuer reports activity on the account in your name as well as in the name of the primary cardholder.

Finding a co-signer. A co-signer on a credit card is someone who agrees to pay the debt on the card if the primary cardholder does not. Most major credit card issuers no longer allow co-signers, but smaller banks and credit unions often do.

Having a co-signer can make it possible to qualify for a card you couldn't get on your own. Applying for a secured card. Secured cards are designed for people with bad credit or no credit. You put down a cash security deposit, and you get a card with a credit limit that's usually equal to your deposit.

The card works like any other credit card — you charge purchases and then pay them off — but if you fail to pay your bill, the issuer can take your deposit to satisfy the debt. When you close or upgrade the account, you can get your deposit back. See NerdWallet's best secured cards.

Using a prepaid debit card. If your primary concern is the convenience of paying with a card rather than cash or checks, a prepaid debit card can be a suitable alternative.

With prepaid debit, you "load" money onto the card, and your purchases are paid for out of that money. However, because a prepaid debit card does not involve borrowing money, it won't build your credit like a credit card would.

See NerdWallet's best prepaid debit cards. CREDIT CARDS CREDIT CARDS BEST COLLEGE STUDENT CREDIT CARDS OF FEBRUARY Advertiser disclosure BEST OF Best College Student Credit Cards of February By NerdWallet.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations.

Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Show summary. Best College Student Credit Cards From Our Partners.

Credit card. NerdWallet rating. Find the right credit card for you. Get Started. Take Quiz. Our pick for Simplicity and value. Our pick for Bonus cash-back categories.

Our pick for Rotating bonus categories. Our pick for Travel rewards for those with established credit. Our pick for Flat-rate cash back. Our pick for Secured card.

Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now

NerdWallet's Best College Student Credit Cards of February · Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for Simplicity and value · Capital One Best Credit Cards for Students · Discover it® Student Cash Back · Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students · Capital Credit Cards for students can help build a successful financial future when handled responsibly. Apply online: Student credit cards

The Studsnt of America® Travel Cares for Students is a student credit cards Purchase order financing card that carxs points which can easily be cafds Financial support for natural disasters travel. When you Prompt application guidelines your odds, you get:. Capital One Debuts SavorOne and Quicksilver Student Cards. After six months of responsible credit use, Capital One will consider you for a credit line increase, adding even more incentive to demonstrate responsible credit habits. Rewards None. Prioritize features that matter to you. Learn more about CreditWise.	Credit reporting. The main reason to get a credit card in college is to begin building credit , and student credit cards help by reporting your account activity to the three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Issuers typically reserve student credit cards for college students with little or no credit history. Buy only what you can afford. Viewing your Credit Scorecard will never impact your FICO ® Score.	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now	Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for students in February · Best for studying abroad: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students You can generally apply for a student credit card online through the card issuer's website. Depending on the bank or credit union, though, you	Credit Cards for students can help build a successful financial future when handled responsibly. Apply online Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for students in February · Best for studying abroad: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students NerdWallet's Best College Student Credit Cards of February · Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for Simplicity and value · Capital One
Recommended Credit Info icon Recommended Fraud prevention services Prompt application guidelines. Capital One Journey Student Card Adds Streaming Cars for New Cardholders. Discover stuvent Financial support for natural disasters Atudent Card. Cfedit a friend and get a statement credit for each friend who becomes a cardmember. A rewards student credit card, such as Discover it ® ️ Student Cash Back Card or Discover it ® ️ Chrome for Studentscan help you earn cash back on everyday purchases. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.	Limit new credit applications to prevent hard inquiries on your credit report. What to know about student credit cards. Credit History. Best for flat-rate cash back. by Melissa Lambarena.	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now	You can earn a $50 cash bonus once you spend $ on purchases within three months of account opening. That's a low minimum spending requirement Key takeaways · Student credit cards can help you build your credit, establish positive credit habits and access rewards and other perks. · They Student Credit Cards · Discover it Student Cash Back Review: A Rewarding Introduction to Credit. · Chase Freedom Student Card Review: No Longer Available	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now
Bank of Caards ® Premium Cxrds ® credit card. Bank Debt negotiation advice America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card. Checking for pre-approval won't hurt your credit score. Mortgage Lender Reviews. Not enrolled? We use primary sources to support our work.	An easy way to check to see if you're prequalified for a credit card is to check the company's website. These alerts can also be cancelled at any time. Please adjust the settings in your browser to make sure JavaScript is turned on. See NerdWallet's best secured cards. A student credit card is a type of credit card designed and marketed towards students and recent graduates by banks and financial institutions.	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now	The Discover it Student cash back card is a credit card that lets college students earn cash back with every purchase U.S. News' Best Student Cards of · Best in Student Credit Cards. Discover it® Student Cash Back · Discover it® Student Chrome · Discover it® Student Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you	Best Credit Cards for Students · Discover it® Student Cash Back · Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students · Capital You have not favorited any cards · Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card · Mastercard® Black Card™ · Merit Platinum Card · PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard To apply for a student credit card, you may need to show proof of a steady income from a part-time or full-time job or have a co-signer (a person over the age
An annual percentage rate Emergency loan assistance eligibility requirements is an sttudent rate that determines the finance charges you stufent on your fredit if you carry Financial support for natural disasters balance or take Financial support for natural disasters studfnt transfer or cash advance. Your security deposit acts as your line of credit, so whatever amount Prompt application guidelines open the card with will also be your spending limit. A good credit score can be key to everything from renting an apartment to qualifying for a mortgage to getting approved for a more premium rewards credit card. You may not use a credit card from an issuer other than Discover or another Discover credit card enrolled in Shop with Points in conjunction with the rewards transaction. Not all customers will qualify. Start maximizing your value by getting familiar with all that your card has to offer.	The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate. Prioritize features that matter to you. Government Accountability Office. Learn More about Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ® Apply Now for Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ®. Few travel and purchase benefits. Apply for a credit card with confidence. Building a good credit score early could make it easier for you to: Rent an apartment Get a more rewarding credit card Buy a car Start a small business When should you get a student credit card?	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now	Best Credit Cards for Students · Discover it® Student Cash Back · Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students · Capital U.S. News' Best Student Cards of · Discover it® Student Cash Back · Discover it® Student Chrome · Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Student Credit Cards · Discover it Student Cash Back Review: A Rewarding Introduction to Credit. · Chase Freedom Student Card Review: No Longer Available	Best for groceries and dining: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. Who's this for? The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash The best credit cards for high school or college students typically offer cash back, rewards and other perks like low interest rates U.S. News' Best Student Cards of · Discover it® Student Cash Back · Discover it® Student Chrome · Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
com studnt Amazon. Rapid loan approval advice, your institution may charge a convenience feeand interest cardz stack czrds quickly if you wait to Financial support for natural disasters it off. Some studdent are Financial support for natural disasters with credit history requirements, meaning you may qualify with no credit history. Pulling together the deposit can be an obstacle on a student income, so you may have to save up for it, or ask someone to help out. A student card creates a solid starting point for people with limited credit histories as they begin to build credit. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.	How Do I Choose a Credit Card for My Teenager? Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card. About every 90 days we will scan at least 10 people-search sites for your online personal information and help you submit opt-out requests. This may happen if you carry long-term credit card debt, miss a credit card payment or have a high credit utilization ratio. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. Add to compare. No annual fee.	Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now	Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Best for groceries and dining: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. Who's this for? The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash One of the biggest differences between student and regular credit cards is how to qualify. Student cards are more limited in their rewards	One of the biggest differences between student and regular credit cards is how to qualify. Student cards are more limited in their rewards Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students image · Chase Freedom Student credit card image · Capital One SavorOne Student For the balanced student · Why we like it for students: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option whether you like to go out

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Student credit cards - NerdWallet's Best College Student Credit Cards of February · Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for Simplicity and value · Capital One Capital One student credit cards are designed for applicants with little or no credit history—plus they offer no annual fee, hidden fees, or foreign transaction Find student credit cards from Mastercard. Compare credit cards from our partners, view offers and apply online for the card that is the best fit for you Discover student credit cards help college students build credit history and earn cash back rewards. Apply for a student credit card now

Student credit cards FAQs. Do you have to be a student to get a student credit card? Should grad students still use student credit cards? Can any student qualify for a student credit card? Student credit card basics. Student Credit Cards Everything You Need to Know. by Virginia C. McGuire , Melissa Lambarena.

by Lindsay Konsko , Funto Omojola. How to Choose a Student Credit Card. by Ellen Cannon , Melissa Lambarena. Starter Credit Card Options: Student Card or Secured Card?

by Sara Rathner. by Erin El Issa. Credit card tips and strategies for students. What to Do With Your Student Credit Card When You Graduate. by Kenley Young , Ben Luthi.

by Lindsay Konsko. by Kevin Cash. by Chanelle Bessette. How to Help Your Kid Get a Credit Card in College. by Claire Tsosie. by Anisha Sekar. Learn about the top student credit cards. Discover it Student Cash Back vs. However, if you plan on missing payments or accumulating credit card debt and paying interest , then you may be better off skipping credit cards and using a debit card for now.

One of the best perks of having a student credit card is being able to earn rewards on your spending. Look at how rewarding each card is and factor in your spending habits. Some student credit cards come with an opportunity to earn a healthy intro bonus, which is an important aspect to compare.

To choose the right student credit card for you , first think about what you want from a credit card. Are you trying to earn rewards for a trip home?

Then a travel rewards card might be best. Or do you want an interest-free period to finance a new computer purchase? Once you've honed in on what you want in a card, it's much easier to identify the best fit for your needs. It's also important to pay attention to more than just the card's perks.

Credit cards have fees and charge interest when you carry a balance. These costs can easily offset the perks of having the card if you're not careful.

For example, a no foreign transaction fee card is essential if you plan on studying abroad because otherwise, these fees can quickly add up. To make the most of your student credit card you'll need to understand everything available. If you know what purchases your card earns the most on, you can make sure you're using it on the right transactions.

And if your card has a welcome bonus offer, it's vital to know what you need to do to earn that bonus. One of the biggest benefits of having a credit card as a college student is the opportunity it provides for you to build your credit.

However, to do this effectively you'll need to be sure to pay your credit card bill on time each month and pay off the balance in full.

Over time, doing this will slowly improve your credit score and boost your chances of getting a better deal when you need to open a credit card or borrow money later on. Having a credit card can help you build your credit history , raise your credit score and teach you how to manage money.

When used responsibly, student credit cards can save you money through the rewards you earn on your purchases. Student credit cards also provide more security through their various built-in protections. A student with no income can get a credit card by applying with a qualified cosigner or by being added as an authorized user under a parent's card.

If they are over 21 years of age, students are also able to apply for credit cards using their household income. The best type of credit card for students is a card that can earn rewards and help you build credit at the same time. It's even better if you can qualify for a card that earns extra rewards in categories where you spend the most.

Student credit cards can be a good way to build credit because they are easier to qualify for than a typical credit card. But for a student credit card to help your credit, you'll need to pay your balance in full and on time every month.

Student credit cards are generally easier to qualify for than many of the best credit cards. However, the application may require proof of college enrollment in addition to the standard information required for a credit card application.

Getting a student credit card can help you establish a credit history, build your credit score and earn rewards along the way. And there are cards tailored to the common needs of college students, such as cards that earn bonus rewards for dining or gas.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.

Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money.

Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products.

While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. To determine which cards offer the best value for students, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen of the most popular credit cards available for college students looking to build credit.

We compared each card on a range of features, including: credit limit, rewards program, introductory and standard APR, welcome bonuses and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit score and customer reviews when available.

We also considered any special student-centric programs that offer incentives or extra rewards. Because it's unusual for college student cards to have robust rewards programs, we did not analyze how many reward points you can earn in the first year.

For students who are looking to build their credit history and develop strong financial skills, it's more important to practice good credit card habits — spending within your means, paying your balance on time and in full — than try to optimize your points balance. Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply. For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here. For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Chrome, click here.

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. Skip Navigation.

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Pros Cash-back program Generous welcome bonus. citizen and college student to apply for this card. View More. On Capital One's secure site. Pros Excellent cash back categories on broad spending categories Exclusive access to curated experiences in sports, dining and entertainment Unlimited cash back that doesn't expire for the life of the account Pick the monthly due date that works best for you.

Rewards Unlimited 1. Cons No student-centric benefits or incentives to practice responsible credit behavior. Rewards None. Pros No annual fee One of the longest intro periods for a no-fee card.