Best Student Credit Cards

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The Discover it® Student Cash Back is one of the best student cards you can get. For starters, you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases within rotating categories when you activate them each quarter. These categories may include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, rideshare purchases and online shopping at certain retailers. On all other purchases, cardholders will earn 1% cash back automatically. The card also does not have an annual fee.

In addition to these benefits, Discover will match all the cash back you earn during your first year with the card. Furthermore, students who earn at least a 3.0 GPA will receive a $20 good grade bonus reward every year for up to five years.

Why We Like It

The Discover it® Student Cash Back boasts a fantastic rewards program, but it’s also a great card for students with fair or unestablished credit. Not many cards work on both of these fronts, making it a really solid choice.

Through Discover’s mobile app and website, you’ll be able to view your card’s balance, payment due dates, cash back accruals and other important information like your credit score. Discover will also waive the late fee for your first late payment, though up to a $40 fee will follow thereafter. The lack of an annual fee coupled with a great lineup of benefits makes this card perfect for young students.

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The Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students is a great option for college students, but its perks are what really stand out. For example, if you pay your cell phone bill with your card, you’ll receive up to $600 in coverage if your phone is stolen or damaged. In addition, if you spend $500 in the first three billing cycles with the card, you will get one year of Amazon Prime Student for free. All cardholders also gain access to Mastercard Platinum Benefits.

In terms of rewards, the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students earns 1% cash back on all purchases. The card also comes with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. Even those with average or limited credit will have an easier time getting approved for this card.

Why We Like It

While there are certainly student cards out there that offer more when it comes to cash back, the Deserve EDU is a great option because of its extra perks. Mastercard’s broad acceptance and simple cash back features make it a solid option for any student. This deal only becomes sweeter when you take into account the free year of Amazon Prime Student.

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When you open a Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, you’ll receive 1% cash back on all purchases. In addition, Capital One offers an extra 0.25% cash back for a specific month when you pay your credit card bill on time. This card is also accessible to those with fair credit, as is the case with many college students. This card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

There are a number of travel-centric features that come with this card. This includes travel accident insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and 24/7 travel assistance services if your card is lost or stolen.

Why We Like It

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a great option for students traveling abroad who want to avoid foreign transaction fees. While there are other cards on the market that offer better rewards, the fact that this card charges no foreign transaction fees and is a Visa makes it a perfect option for traveling out of the country.

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The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out for a number of reasons, one of which is it’s commitment to making sure you aren’t on the hook for unauthorized transactions. There’s $0 fraud liability, security alerts and you have the option to lock and unlock your card at any time from the Capital One app. You can also use virtual card numbers to pay with your card online, so that you can keep your real card number to yourself.

The card has a number of other benefits too. You’ll earn unlimited and immediate 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You also won’t pay any foreign transaction fees or an annual fee on this card. There’s complimentary travel concierge services and travel accident insurance as well. The card is also designed specifically for students.

Why We Like It

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for all students. With its solid cash back earnings rate of 1.5% on all purchases, lack of annual and foreign transaction fees and personalized card member services, there isn’t much reason not to get the card. Plus, your card is as protected as possible with Capital One’s $0 fraud liability and other security features mentioned above. The fact that it’s specifically tailored to students is a big plus as well. Many students without established credit histories may have a hard time getting other credit cards, and this card may be easier to be approved for with less established credit.

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited technically isn’t a student card, but it’s still a high-end rewards option for students who can meet its good to excellent credit requirements. While this card is fairly low-cost, its real benefits come in the form of flat-rate cash back.

For example, new cardholders will earn 6.5% cash back on travel when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and on dining including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% cash back on everything else (up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the first year or after $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and on dining including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 1.5% cash back on everything else. You’ll also get a one-time $200 bonus if you spend $500 within your first three months with the card.

There are no annual fees with Chase Freedom Unlimited. For your first 15 months with the card, you’ll also receive a 0% introductory APR on purchases. Once this intro period ends, your rate will be somewhere between 16.49% and 25.24% variable.

Why We Like It

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of the top flat-rate cash back credit cards on the market. It has no annual fee and currently comes with several perks that make it especially attractive. The card is also a Visa, which is widely accepted, and it earns you Chase rewards, which are easy to redeem and don’t expire. Although this card does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, it’s still an attractive option for college students with good to excellent credit who are looking to maximize their rewards.