The Best Credit Cards for College Students


The Best Credit Cards for College Students

Capital One Secured Card


For those who don’t have a credit history, you may feel that lower quality cards are your only option. However, secured cards can help build your score and still give you a competitive rate. The Capital One Secured Card has no annual fee and you don’t need a credit history to get one, but you do need to make a deposit that is fully refundable.


Journey from Capital One


Another great choice from Capital One, the Journey is one of the top cash-back credit cards offered for students. You can get up to 1% on eligible purchases and you can even get .25% cash back when you pay off your balance. There is no annual fee and this card can even be obtained without a credit history.


Discover it® Student


Rated as one of the top student credit cards out there, this card has it all. There’s no annual fee, a low APR, 2% cash back at gas stations and 1% on all other purchases. Also you'll get a $20 statement credit every time you get above a 3.0 in school. This card can be obtained with limited credit history too.


Wells Fargo Cash Back


This Wells Fargo student card offers something that many other cards don’t and that is a lower APR. In fact, it has one of the lowest APR’s for a student card out there. While it is variable, it can be as low as 13%. If you don’t pay off your balances quickly, this might be the best option for you as the interest won’t add up as fast.


Chase Freedom Unlimited®


Like most student cards, this one has no annual fee. It also offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. However, this card has an enticing sign up bonus, which is $150 if you spend $500 within the first three months. For many, this incentive is enough to sign up.


Discover it® Secured


Some students may need a larger balance than most credit cards offer to pay for things like tuition or maybe even a car repair. If this is the case, the Discover Secured card is a great option. While it requires a $200 deposit to sign up, the large credit line can help you out of a tough situation. The deposit is fully refundable once the balance is paid.


Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students


If you are abroad or planning on going, a travel rewards card for students is the best choice. The Bank of America Travel card offers 1.5 points for every dollar spent as well as no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. The APR is also low compared to other travel cards, so be sure to add this one to your list.