The right student credit card can help you build credit, earn cash back on everyday purchases, and stay covered in emergencies or while on trips. These featured cards from our partners offer smart perks like no annual fees, low intro APRs, and rewards designed for student life.
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Welcome Bonus | Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Discover it® Student Cash Back 4.75
|
1% - 5%
Cash back
|
Cashback Match™
|
Balance Transfer:
10.99%, 6 months
Purchases:
0%, 6 months
|
17.24% - 26.24% Variable
|
$0
|
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card For Living Off Campus /images/2024/12/18/capital_one_savor_student_card_art.png)
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Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card 5.0
|
1% - 8%
Cash Back
|
$50 Cash Bonus
$100 Cash Bonus
|
Balance Transfer:
N/A, N/A
Purchases:
N/A, N/A
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
|
2025 award winner Best for Dining Out /images/2025/01/22/chase-freedom-unlimited-1.22.2025.png)
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Chase Freedom Unlimited® 4.7
|
1.5% - 5%
Cash Back
|
$200
Bonus
|
Balance Transfer:
0%, 15 months
Purchases:
0%, 15 months
|
18.99% - 28.49% Variable
|
$0
|
|
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card for Building Credit /images/2024/12/13/discover_it_student_chrome_card_art_-_12-13-24.png)
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Discover it® Student Chrome 4.55
|
1% - 2%
Cash back
|
Cashback Match™
|
Balance Transfer:
10.99%, 6 months
Purchases:
0%, 6 months
|
17.24% - 26.24% Variable
|
$0
|
|
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card /images/2025/02/18/capital_one_quicksilver_card_art_-_2-18-25.png)
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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card 5.0
|
1.5% - 5%
Cash Back
|
$50 Cash Bonus
$100 Cash Bonus
|
Balance Transfer:
N/A, N/A
Purchases:
N/A, N/A
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Today's Top Credit Cards for Students
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% - 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card For Living Off Campus
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
2025 award winner Best for Dining Out
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card for Building Credit
Discover it® Student Chrome
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% - 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
2025 award winner Best Student Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Bottom Line
If you're a student, the Discover it® Student Cash Back(Rates and fees) is a great choice. You can benefit from a generous welcome offer, earn up to 5% cash back, and enjoy an introductory no-interest period on purchases — all without an annual fee!
- Cash Back Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Amazing Welcome Offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
No Caps on Welcome Bonus Rewards: There is no minimum spending threshold and no maximum to the amount of cash back rewards you can earn with the first-year welcome bonus.
- Low Intro APR: Enjoy a 0% introductory APR for 6 months on purchases. After the intro period, the APR is 17.24% - 26.24% Variable.
- $0 Annual Fee: On top of no annual fees, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Benefits Card Details Intro Offer
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Annual Fee $0 Why we like it
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about student credit cards? We've answered the most common ones below to help you choose the right card.
Responsible credit card usage can be worthwhile because you can start building your credit history while you’re in school. That could lead to better financial opportunities after graduation, such as qualifying for a car loan, a mortgage, or your next credit card. It also helps that student credit cards are typically easy to qualify for since they have less strict requirements.
The FICO score is the most commonly used metric to rate credit. According to the FICO scale, a “good” credit rating is between 670-739 for anyone, including students.
Just as with a regular personal credit card, the credit limit or credit line available to you as a student will vary based on your creditworthiness. Typically, though, student credit cards have lower credit limits compared to regular personal credit cards. Sometimes you will be automatically considered for a higher credit line after you make a number of on-time monthly payments.
Yes! It is possible to get a credit card without a job — with some stipulations. Generally, you must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a credit card and if you’re under 21 you’ll need to provide proof of your financial assets or income. Otherwise, you’ll need to have a parent, guardian, or another trusted adult co-sign on the credit card for you.
You'll also most likely need to provide your Social Security number. If you are an international student and you don't have a Social Security number, you may still have options when it comes to applying for a student credit card. Be sure to call the credit card issuer and find out what their requirements are.
Usually not. Each credit card issuer requires proof that you’re enrolled in school, but each also has different definitions. For some cards you must provide proof you’re attending a 2- or 4-year college, while others only check to make sure you meet the income and credit minimums. If you already have a student card when you graduate, some issuers will allow you to keep your student card, but others require that you change to a different card or upgrade your card once you’re no longer a student.
How we chose these cards
FinanceBuzz evaluated a selection of cards from our partners, looking at various criteria including length of intro APR period, fees, and bonus offers. We did not review all cards in the category and compensation was considered when evaluating and ordering the cards.