Best Credit Cards For College Graduates In April 2024

If you already have a solid credit history, you may be eligible for the Chase Freedom Flex℠*. It offers everything recent college grads could want from a card: solid rewards, a welcome bonus, an introductory APR offer and no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: This card isn’t just good right out of school; it’s good for the long haul. It earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® which can be redeemed for travel, cash back or other rewards. The one downside is that its highest-earning categories change quarterly and require activation, so you’ll need to stay on top of your account if you intend to maximize them.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card* lets you choose which spending category you earn bonus rewards in. For college graduates, categories like home furnishings can quickly accumulate cash back as you set up your first apartment. Or you could choose online shopping as your top category to earn rewards on building a business-appropriate wardrobe.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in a category of choice: gas and EV charging, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs; unlimited cash back on all other purchases. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: You can change your preferred spending categories monthly for maximum flexibility as your needs change. However, elevated rewards max out on the first $2,500 in combined spending each quarter which caps your earnings potential. Additionally, keep in mind this is a secured credit card so you’ll need to front a deposit of at least $200 before you can use the card.

If you have dreams of traveling the world, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be the card you’re looking for. Rewards can be redeemed toward travel with no blackout dates or transferred to airline and hotel partners to book through loyalty programs.

Rewards: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95 (rates & fees)

Other benefits and drawbacks: Though this isn’t a premium rewards card, it comes with several benefits that might enhance your travel, including up to $100 in statement credits toward application fees for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. There’s also an awesome welcome offer, though the spending requirement might be out of reach for some college graduates just getting their finances together.

Choose the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card* if you’re focused on earning rewards on groceries and gas. There’s a bonus when you use the card to make 30 or more transactions per billing cycle, which can be an outstanding boost.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar on U.S. gas stations and eligible travel purchases like prepaid hotel stays, vacation packages and cruises booked through AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: New cardholders can make use of a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers requested within 60 days of opening the account for the first 12 months from the date of account opening, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 28.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater applies. This can be helpful as you pay for large purchases like furniture or a cross-country move without worrying about interest payments.

If your life post-college focuses on entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best ways to earn rewards—especially since there’s no annual fee (rates & fees).

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: You’ll need established credit for approval on this card, but assuming you’re well-qualified, this card comes with lots of benefits. You’ll be able to book through Capital One Entertainment for exclusive tickets and cardholder perks at select events. Additionally, an introductory APR extends to both new purchases and balance transfers: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you.

For easy, unlimited rewards, recent college graduates will love the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. There are no categories to remember, no spending caps and no activation necessary. Just spend, earn and redeem.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: This card has it all. In addition to everyday rewards, you can earn a welcome bonus. Add in the fact there’s no annual fee, and you can instantly see the appeal. Plus, there’s an introductory APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.

Another card earning flat-rate rewards is the Citi Double Cash® Card. You’ll earn at generous rates, with the added option of using your rewards to transfer to a few partnering travel programs if you find that more valuable than cash back.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: It’s a worthy card, assuming your credit is good enough for approval. There’s no annual fee plus an introductory balance transfer offer, both of which may be boons to new graduates. Having access to Citi ThankYou® Points can also be a benefit, especially if you eventually apply for a second ThankYou card in the future.

Sometimes building credit feels like a catch-22 since you often need a credit history to be qualified to access credit. Not so with the Chase Freedom Rise*: It’s meant for someone starting from scratch.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Welcome offer: Earn a $25 statement credit with enrollment in autopay in the 3 months of account opening, terms apply.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: If you’re not comfortable with your financial profile, you might be able to increase your odds of approval by holding a Chase checking account with a balance of $250 or more. But be aware that this starter card might not be a long-term play. The card’s rewards and other benefits are okay but not the best available options.

The leading benefit of the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® is the ability to earn rewards on rent payments, which is a unique feature you won’t find on other cards.

Rewards: Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $0 (rates & fees)

Other benefits and drawbacks: Bilt Rewards can be awesome because they’re extremely flexible, and you can access them without having to pay an annual fee. Points can be redeemed for cash, travel, or transferred to travel partners, among other options. There’s one caveat, though. You’ll need to make at least five transactions per month to earn points (rewards & benefits).

If you want a traditional credit card (without a security deposit) but have no or limited credit history, check out the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card* issued by WebBank. It uses banking and other financial information to determine your creditworthiness.

Rewards: Earn 2%-10% cash back at select merchants.

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card is light on features, with a limited rewards program that’s more like a shopping portal and no welcome offer. But that may balance out with the card’s relative lack of fees, including no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Remember that Petal offers both the Petal 1 and the Petal 1 Rise. The Rise version is targeted towards those who have poor credit and does carry an annual fee. Before accepting, ensure you know which version you’ve been approved for.