5 Excellent Student Credit Cards of 2023
If you’re in college and want to start building credit, check out these student credit cards, some of which are from our partners. Starting early can pay off in a big way down the road.
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NerdWallet's Excellent Student Credit Cards of 2023
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for Cash Rewards for Students and Credit Newbies
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bonus Cash Back Categories
Discover it® Student chrome: Best for Rewards for Students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students: Best for No Foreign Transaction Fees + No Points Expiration
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Excellent Student Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent for Cash Rewards for Students and Credit Newbies | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months | 17.99%-26.99% Variable APR | ||
| Excellent for Bonus Cash Back Categories | $0 | N/A | 19.74%-29.74% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Rewards for Students | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months | 17.99%-26.99% Variable APR | ||
| Excellent for No Foreign Transaction Fees + No Points Expiration | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 18 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 17.99%-27.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Bank of America's website | |
| Excellent for Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $0 | 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months | 19.99%-28.74% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website |
Excellent for: Cash Rewards for Students and Credit Newbies
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
17.99%-26.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- 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. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- 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 17.99% - 26.99% applies.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: Bonus Cash Back Categories
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.74%-29.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- 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
- 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
Excellent for: Rewards for Students
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
17.99%-26.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- 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. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- 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 17.99% - 26.99% applies.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: No Foreign Transaction Fees + No Points Expiration
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 18 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
17.99%-27.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- 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.
- 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.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- 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.
Excellent for: Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Regular APR
19.99%-28.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 19.99% - 28.74%.
- 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, real-time alerts, and more.
A student credit card is a great first step in establishing a good credit history
Building good credit might not seem like a priority when you're still in school, but you'll need it down the road if you want to finance a car, buy a house or qualify for the best credit card offers. Your credit can even affect your job prospects and your ability to rent an apartment.Be aware that simply being a college student may not be enough to qualify you for a “student” card. You’ll generally need access to income, and if you have shaky credit or no credit history at all, you may find it hard to get approved. In that case, consider a secured credit card. These cards require you to put down a cash deposit as collateral. The deposit protects the issuer in case you fail to pay your bill, which reduces the risk of approving you for a card. If you’re in the market for a new card, here are some of our favorite offers for student credit cards.
