
When selecting from student credit cards, it’s essential to weigh several key factors to ensure you make a choice that supports your financial health and credit-building goals. Student credit cards are primarily designed to help young adults establish a credit history while managing their finances responsibly.
Consider aspects such as annual fees, interest rates, and rewards programs, which can significantly impact your overall costs and benefits. Additionally, look for cards that offer credit-building features, such as reporting to all major credit bureaus, and those with manageable credit limits to prevent overspending. By carefully evaluating these elements, you can choose a student credit card that aligns with your financial needs and helps you build a solid credit foundation.
BEST CARDS BALANCE TRANSFER 0% INTRO APR TRAVEL CASH BACK REWARDS NO ANNUAL FEEBest Student Credit Cards of 2025 (Updated March 2025)
Best for: Standalone student card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% – 8%
Cashback
Intro offer
Earn $50
Recommended credit score
No credit score required to apply
Get your free credit score
Purchase APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
Balance transfer APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
- No annual fee.
- Cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
- Cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Cash back on dining.
- Cash back on entertainment.
- Cash back on popular streaming services.
- Cash back on select grocery stores.
- Cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal.
- 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 & conditions apply.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card.
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges.
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you.
- Rewards don’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem cash back for any amount.
- You won’t pay a transaction fee when making purchases outside of the United States.
- Build your credit with responsible card use.
- No annual fee
- Doesn’t charge a penalty APR if you miss a payment
- Some of the best spending category coverage and unlimited rewards potential available on one card
- Redeem your rewards with Paypal when you make purchases online
- Use your rewards, pay for millions of items at Amazon.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- Virtual Card Numbers from Eno
- Regular APR is high, even for a student option
- Superstores like Target® and Walmart® do not count toward the grocery bonus category
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back
- The Capitol One Quicksiver® Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- The Discover it® Student Chrome
Best for: Students
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% – 5%
Intro offer
Unlimited cashback Match
Recommended credit score
No credit score required to apply
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months
Balance transfer intro APR
10.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
17.24% – 26.24% Variable APR
- No annual fee.
- Earn 5% cash back each quarter at grocery stores up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 5% cash back each quarter at restaurants up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 5% cash back each quarter at gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Intro APR for 6 months on purchases. Designed just for students.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rewards never expire. Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit if used responsibly.
- $0 Fraud Liability: An “unauthorized purchase” is a purchase where you have not given access to your card information to another person or a merchant for one-time or repeated charges.
- Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 5%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion.
- 10.99% intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer, for transfers under this offer that post to your account by May 10, 2025.
- 29.24% APR for cash advances, it will vary with market based on Prime Rate.
- No annual fee ever
- No foreign transaction fee
- No penalty APR and even waive your first late payment
- Intro APR offer is a rare but potentially helpful perk for newly independent cardholders
- No credit score is required to apply
- One of the most lucrative rewards credit cards available to students
- Rotating bonus rewards program might be too high-maintenance for credit card newbies
- Lower acceptance when you travel overseas
- You must enroll to take advantage of the bonus categories each quarter
- The Capital One SavorOne® Student Cash Rewards card
- The Capital One Quicksilver Student® Cash Rewards Card
- The Discover it Student Chrome® Card
Best for: Flat-rate cash back + long intro APR period for students
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended credit score
670-850 (Good – Excellent)
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
Regular APR
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- No annual fee.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Intro APR for 15 months for purchases made in the first 60 days.
- Intro APR for 15 months for balance transfers made in the first 60 days.
- cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
- $0 annual fee.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Redeem your cash rewards for any amount, anytime for statement credits to your credit card, deposits made directly into a Bank of America® checking or savings account, or to pay for purchases when you shop at Amazon.com or check out with PayPal.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases made in the first 60 days. After that, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After that, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply.
- A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- 21.24% to 28.24% APR for Cash Advances based on your creditworthiness, when you open your account.
- Penalty APR is up to Up to 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Foreign transaction fee is 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction made in a foreign currency. This fee will be in addition to any other applicable fee.
- No annual fee
- Unlimited 1.5 percent cash back makes it easy for students to earn cash rewards on everyday purchases
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months for purchases & balance transfers is a unique option not easily available with other student cards
- Redeem your cash rewards for any amount, anytime for purchases when you shop at Amazon.com or check out with PayPal
- It doesn’t have many student-centric perks or credit-building features compared to other student cards
- It charges a 3 percent foreign currency conversion fee, which will be disappointing to people who enjoy traveling abroad
- It has limited cash back redemption options
- The Discover It® Student Chrome Card
- The Discover It® Student Cash Back Card
Best for: Students who fly domestic & international + intro APR on purchases & balance transfers

Smartfinancialways rating
4.6/5
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x
Points
Intro offer
25,000 points
Recommended credit score
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
Regular APR
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time.
- Intro APR for 15 billing cycles from account opening on purchases.
- Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
- 0 blackout dates or no restrictions and points do not expire as long as your account remains open.
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Flexibility to redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees, and also at restaurants—including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. After the Intro period, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro period, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply.
- A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
- APR for Cash Advances is 21.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Penalty APR and when it applies is Up to 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- By adding your Bank of America® credit card to your mobile device you can shop in-store or in-app using Apple Pay®, Google Pay™ or Samsung Pay.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- No annual fee
- Offers the same length of intro APR period on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Best rewards limited to certain customers
- Requires good to excellent credit to qualify
- The Discover it® Student Chrome Card
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back Card
Best for: New to Credit and Students
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback on all purchases
Intro offer
$25
Recommended credit score
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
Get your free credit score
Purchase & balance transfer intro APR
N/A
Credit Limit Increase
Evaluated for a credit line increase in 6 months
Regular APR
25.99% Variable APR
- Card’s annual fee is $0.
- Cash back on all purchases.
- By enrolling in automatic payments with the first 3 months.
- No Annual Fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise® card.
- Increase your approval chances – Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®.
- $25 Statement Credit After You Set Up Automatic Payments In The First 3 Months From Account Opening.
- Earn Cash Back – With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Credit Limit Increase – As a Freedom Rise cardmember, you’ll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise® Card.
- Free Credit Score – Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
- 25.99% on purchases and balance transfers. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- 29.24% on cash advance. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- 29.99% penalty APR. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- Member FDIC
- The card’s annual fee is $0
- It is an ideal credit-building companion
- It offers solid rewards such as 1.5% cash back on everything you buy
- It could offer much better long-term value than the typical no-annual fee rewards card, especially for frequent travelers
- No annual fee ever
- This card is not available, if what you actually have is bad credit (FICO scores of 629 or lower).
- Requires a hoop or two first, your odds of approval will be higher if you have a chase checking or savings account
- The Discover It® Student Cash Back Card
- The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Best for: Daily commuter students
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% – 2%
Cashback
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Recommended credit score
630-689 (Fair)
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months
Balance transfer intro APR
10.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
17.24% – 26.24% Variable APR
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of places that take credit cards.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 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.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% – 26.24% applies.
- 10.99% intro APR on balance transfer 6 months plus 3% intro fee of the transfer amount. Trnsfers under this offer post to your account by May 10, 2025.
- 29.24% APR for Cash Advances. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- Cash rewards
- No late payment penalty for the first time
- No annual fee ever
- Qualify with average credit
- Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
- Complicated rewards
- Lower acceptance when you travel overseas
- Other student cards on the market have higher and more flexible rewards and categories
- You must enroll to take advantage of the bonus categories each quarter
- The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for: Great for selecting your top rewards categorey
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% – 3%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended credit score
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
Regular APR
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- Enjoy no annual fee while choosing how you earn rewards and getting on the path to building your credit.
- Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
- Cash back in the category of your choice: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings.
- Automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- Unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases.
- Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for balance transfers.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- New cardholder bonus offer
- The card offers reward categories that are both useful and broad
- Rotating bonus categories
- No annual fee ever
- Relationship rewards for customers
- Long Intro APR period for purchases & balance transfers
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Best rewards limited to certain customers
- Need good credit to qualify, which can be a roadblock for many students
- Foreign transaction fee is 3% for each transaction amount converted to U.S. dollar
- The Discover It® Student Cash Back Card
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students
Best for: Flate-rate cash back
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% – 5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$50
Recommended credit score
630-689 (Fair)
Get your free credit score
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Purchase & balance transfer intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee.
- 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.
- Cash back on every purchase, every day.
- One-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capitol One Travel.
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges.
- 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 while earning great rewards.
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you.
- APR for purchases and transfers is 19.24%, 25.24% or 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- APR for cash advances is 29.24%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- No annual fee
- Reward redemption options are flexible, no minimum amount required before you can redeem
- Earns 1.5% flat-rate cash back on all purchases
- Requires only fair credit score to qualify for this card
- Capital One may consider applicants with FICO scores as low as 580 for this card
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases can be found in other student cards that earn more than 1.5% in bonus categories
- It does not offer an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, so you won’t get a break on APR when carrying a balance
- Better suited for hotel and rental car reservations, not good for food and entertainment
- High end of this card’s ongoing APR is steep
- The Discover it® Student Chrome card
- The Chase Freedom Rise® card
Best for: Rewards and building credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1% – 10%
Cashback
Intro offer
None
Recommended credit score
630-850 (Fair – Excellent)
Get your free credit score
Purchases & balance transfer intro APR
N/A
Late, return payment & foreign transaction fee
$0
Regular APR
28.99% – 30.99% Variable APR
- No annual membership fee, late fee, or returned payment fee.
- Up to 1.5% cash back on unlimited everyday purchases.
- There are no foreign transaction fees.
- No annual fee– in fact, no fees of any kind.
- Up to 1.5% cash back on unlimited everyday purchases (1% right away increases to 1.25% after 6 monthly on time payments and 1.5% after another 6 monthly on time payments).
- 2%-10% cash back at select local and national merchants.
- See if you’re pre-approved in minutes without impacting your credit score.
- No Credit Score? No problem. Credit history isn’t required for approval.
- Get an automatic credit limit increase after 6 qualifying on time monthly payments. Terms apply.
- No security deposit required.
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus.
- Pay with ease with a contactless card or on your phone using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
- Card issued by WebBank.
- No annual fee
- No late fee, or returned payment fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Qualify with average credit
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus
- No bonus offer
- No intro APR offer
- Complicated rewards
- The Petal® 1 Rise Visa® Credit Card
Best for: Gas and grocery rewards + help build credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x – 5x
Points
Intro offer
5,000 Points
Recommended credit score
690-719 (Good)
Get your free credit score
Purchase intro APR
N/A
Balance transfer intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
18.74% – 28.74% Variable APR
- No annual fee.
- Earn 5X total ThankYou® Points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠.
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year.
- Earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases.
- No annual fee. This credit card was designed for students to help build their credit.
- Earn 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $50 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you received a new account bonus for a Citi Rewards+® account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi Rewards+ account.
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases.
- Earn 5X total ThankYou® Points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/2025.
- APR for Purchases and balance transfers is 18.74% to 28.74%, based on creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- APR for Cash Advances is 29.49%, based on creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- Penalty APR and When it Applies is 29.99%, based on creditworthiness.
- APR for Citi Flex Plan is 18.74% to 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee is 3% of each purchase transaction in U.S. dollars.
- APR for Cash Advances is 29.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
- ThankYou® Points don’t expire and there’s no limit on the number of points you can earn with this card.
- Redeem ThankYou® points as gift cards, shop online at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com, & pay for certain categories.
- Citi Entertainment, which offers access to presale tickets, VIP packages to concerts, sporting events and more.
- No annual fee ever
- 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Points are rounded up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase
- 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points redeemed per year
- No intro APR on purchases & balance transfers
- Reward categories gear more toward students who spend a lot on gas and groceries
- It lags in terms of earning potential and perks for most student activities
- Foreign transaction fee
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back
- The Capital One Savor® Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- The Capital One Quicksilver® Student Cash Rewards Credit Card