Best Credit Card for International Students

How we picked the cards to evaluate:

NerdWallet reviewed about a dozen credit cards that are marketed specifically to college students, as well as about 20 secured credit cards available to people with no credit or a thin credit profile. The cards we reviewed include products from NerdWallet partners and nonpartners.

How we chose the winner:

When choosing our best card for international students, we took into account availability to students who do not have a U.S. credit profile or a Social Security number, as well as annual and other fees, rewards, introductory and ongoing APRs, incentives for responsible behavior (such as bonuses or elevated rewards) and potential opportunities for upgrading to a more robust product later on.
Cards' NerdWallet star ratings alone do not determine awards. Here's how our credit cards team distinguishes between star ratings and award selections:
  • Star ratings are quantitative: We assess the features of a card, score those features according to how they compare with other options on the market, and assign the card a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on those features. In general, a card that rates 4.5 stars will be a better value for more people than a card that rates 4.0 stars. However, the 4.0 card might be better than the 4.5 card for an individual consumer depending on that person’s circumstances.
  • Selection for awards is both quantitative and qualitative: Selection for the awards is based on discussion among editorial team members and relies on the same criteria used for the star ratings. However, star ratings alone do not dictate awards. Rather, the awards identify the best cards for specific uses or specific types of consumers, such as international students.

How we verified our data:

NerdWallet gets credit card information from partner issuers through automated data feeds. Information about cards from nonpartner issuers is verified on the issuers’ websites.