7 best student credit cards of May 2024

A good credit score is essential when making many of the major life decisions you face after graduation, such as renting an apartment or applying for an auto loan. Opening a college student credit card is a smart way to start building credit early while taking advantage of rewards and special financing offers.

Student cards provide useful benefits for different types of students — from travelers and foodies to commuters. Some cards are lenient with credit history requirements, meaning you may qualify with no credit history. You do have to be 18 to apply for a credit card and need a steady source of income.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the choices, don't stress. CNBC Select, dug into various cards' perks and drawbacks, to find the best student credit cards based on your spending habits. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best student credit cards.)

Who's this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is a good fit for students who want to maximize cash back in rotating categories or who need to finance a larger purchase, such as a new laptop. You must be over 18 and a U.S. citizen to apply.

Standout benefits: Cardholders can enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back on rotating categories after you activate on up to a $1,500 maximum each quarter (then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases.

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Who's this for? The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a good fit for students who want to earn elevated rewards in popular spending categories, such as groceries and dining.

Standout benefits: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card stands out for its bonus spending categories, which are useful for students. Cardholders earn 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024) and 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target; see rates and fees.

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Who's this for? You should consider the Discover it® Student Chrome if you don't want to deal with rotating bonus rewards categories each quarter and want extra rewards for gas station and restaurant purchases.

Standout benefits: New Discover it Student Chrome card members get a 0% intro APR for the first six months on new purchases. After the intro period, there's an 18.24% - 27.24% variable APR. We always recommend you pay your balance on time and in full to avoid interest charges.

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Who's this for? The Firstcard® Credit Builder Card with Cashback for College Students is a secured credit card that can help establish credit and reward you at the same time.

Standout benefit: As with other secured credit cards, you make an upfront deposit upon account opening, which becomes your credit line. Unlike other secured cards, your funds are deposited into a high-yield checking account so you earn interest on your deposit. The account earns 1.25% APY and you can increase that APY to 4.25% if you pay for a Firstcard+ subscription, which costs $2.99/month.

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Who's this for? The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is great for anyone without an established credit history. This makes it ideal for students just starting their financial journey or international students, who may not even have a social security number.

Standout benefits: Credit card fees can often be deceptively expensive, but the Petal 2 Visa keeps it simple with no late payment fee, no foreign transaction fee, no annual fee and no returned payment fee. Cardholders also have a chance to boost the cash back they earn by making on-time payments. 

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Who's this for? The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is a great choice for college students who plan on studying abroad or traveling during breaks because the rewards program is geared toward travel.

Standout benefits: The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a longer-than-average special financing offer with an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (then an 18.24% - 28.24% variable APR applies). Balance transfers must be made within the first 60 days of account opening to qualify for the intro APR, and a balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4% applies.

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Who's this for? The BankAmericard for Students is ideal for students seeking a special financing offer.

Standout benefits: Instead of offering ongoing rewards or a welcome bonus, new applicants can take advantage of 0% APR for 18 months (then a variable standard APR of 16.24% - 26.24%). The introductory APR applies to purchases and balance transfers you make within the first 60 days of account opening. There is a 3% balance transfer fee for each transaction, which puts a dent in your savings. This card also has no annual fee.

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Discover it® Student Cash Back is a well-rounded card with no annual fee that offers college students enrolled in a two- or four-year college the chance to build credit while earning rewards.

Rewards

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating categories
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you've earned at the end of the first year.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

There are no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good choice for students studying abroad. The Discover it Student Cash Back card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for six months, then a variable 18.24% - 27.24% applies.

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The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a student card with generous return rates that rival many of the best cash-back credit cards.

Rewards

• 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024)
• 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
• 1% back on everything else.

Welcome bonus

New cardholders can earn $50 when they spend $100 in the first three months.

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and comes with a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024. Other perks include *extended warranty coverage on eligible items, complimentary concierge service and travel accident insurance; see rates and fees.

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The Discover it® Student Chrome is a rewarding cash-back card with a solid welcome offer.

Rewards

• 2% back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you've earned at the end of the first year.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

This card doesn't have any foreign transaction fees, so you won't be charged for using it abroad. The cashback you earn can be redeemed at any time with no minimums.

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The Firstcard® Credit Builder Card with Cashback for College Students is unique because it offers an opportunity to earn interest and cash-back rewards.

Rewards

• 5% cash back on 12 education platforms (Grammarly, ChatGPT, Adobe, Duolingo and more)
• Up to 15% cash back at 29,000 partner merchants
• Up to 10% Random cash back on eligible purchases
• Earn 1.25% APY on bank account balances
• Firstcard+ subscribers earn an additional 1% cash back on all purchases and receive a 4.25% APY on bank account balances

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Firstcard Credit Builder Card is light on fees. You'll pay no overdraft fees, no late fees and no foreign transaction fees. In addition, you earn interest on the bank account balance that's securing your card's credit limit, and that account is FDIC-insured.

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The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is ideal for college students because it's easy to get approved for and you won't have to worry about fees. Instead of requiring a credit score, Petal analyzes your banking activity and other financial data to determine your eligibility for the card.

Rewards

• 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which can increase up to 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments
• 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Petal 2 card's main benefit is its lack of fees. Its ability to earn up to 1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments is also a great way to encourage responsible behavior while earning you greater returns. After making six qualifying monthly on-time payments, you can earn a credit limit increase.

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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is a no-annual-fee student card that earns points which can easily be redeemed for travel.

Rewards

• Earn 1.5X points on all purchases.

Welcome bonus

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

You can redeem rewards as a statement credit to cover the cost of qualifying travel purchases — a simple way to reduce the cost of taking a spring break vacation or buying a plane ticket home. The Bank of America Travel Rewards Student card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good fit for students studying abroad.

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The BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students is the perfect option for students who want to finance a large purchase.

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The card's only notable perk is that it offers an introductory 0% APR for 18 months (then a variable standard APR of 16.24% - 26.24%) for purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening. Balance transfers have a 3% fee.

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A student credit card is a card designed for college students because students are more likely to have a limited credit history. This type of credit card typically offers weaker rewards and smaller intro bonuses, if there's any welcome bonus or rewards at all. However, they provide an opportunity for students to build credit while they're still in school.

To compare student credit cards, you'll want to take a look at the fine print to fully understand the benefits, fees and APR. The first fee to consider is the annual fee. If a credit card has an annual fee, you'll pay that every year regardless of whether or not you use the card. The card's APR and other types of fees (late payment fee, return payment fee, etc.) are important to be aware of. 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? In that case, a card with an introductory 0%-APR offer could be ideal.

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.

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.

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. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best student credit cards.

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.

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*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

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.