Capital One Quicksilver Student Card: Simple and Straightforward

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a no-frills, low-hassle gateway into the world of credit card rewards for qualifying students. You'll get the same 1.5% cash back on purchases that you'll find on the venerable non-student version — the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card — except the student card is easier to qualify for.

With a sign-up bonus on top of that solid ongoing rewards rate, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card could be an A+ option for students who don't have the time or inclination to juggle multiple bonus categories.

However, to qualify for the card, you'll need at least some established credit, meaning that other student cards may be easier to get. And if you're willing to put in some work, you might be able to do better than a flat 1.5% rate.

» MORE: A guide to Capital One's credit cards for college students

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Basics

Card type: College student.

Annual fee: $0.

Sign-up bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.

Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. You can also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Redemption: Cash back can be redeemed in the form of a statement credit, check or gift card. Cardholders can also automate redemption to occur at a certain time each year or when a certain amount is reached.

Interest rate: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-29.99% Variable APR.

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Credit score requirement: According to Capital One, you'll need average credit to qualify for this card. Typically, average credit means a FICO score between 630 and 689.

Other benefits:

• Travel accident insurance.

• Access to 24/7 concierge.

• Travel assistance services.

Simple rewards

Credit card users generally fall into two camps: optimizers and simplifiers. Optimizers like moving parts and strategically spend money in bonus categories to maximize their rewards-earning potential. Simplifiers prefer keeping things straightforward, which is exactly what the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card does well. 

The card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases, with no bonus categories to track or sign up for. And while some competitors make their rewards hard to use with minimum redemption limits, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card allows you to redeem any amount at any time. 

In addition to this easy base rewards structure, you can earn an additional 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

» LEARN: How the Capital One Travel portal works

A sign-up bonus

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of only a few student cards that offer a sign-up bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.

Compared with other student credit cards that offer smaller (or no) bonuses, or that feature matching of cash back earned in the first year, you'll receive this card's $50 bonus as soon as you hit the minimum spending requirement. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. 

No annual fees or foreign transaction fees

Fees can eat into the real rewards-earning rate of any credit card. Luckily, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. That makes the card perfect for purchases throughout the semester, while you study abroad or during that spring break trip to Mexico.

» MORE: The study-abroad student’s guide to credit cards

A long-term companion

Capital One considers a student to be someone who is admitted and enrolled (or intending to enroll within three months) either part-time or full-time at an accredited university, community college or higher education institution. 

But even after you lose the student status, you can keep the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. The rewards rates remain the same even when you aren’t a student, and rewards never expire. And keeping your student account open through the years will be a boon to your credit since the length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your overall FICO score. 

Or you could seek a "product change" with Capital One, which might allow you to switch to a more lucrative (non-student) card without having to close your existing card or change its account number.

Eligibility

The primary drawbacks to the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card are its eligibility requirements. You must satisfy all of the following criteria to qualify:

• Be an admitted or enrolled full- or part-time student at an accredited university or community college.

• Possess a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. 

• Have at least an average FICO credit score between 630 and 689.

• Be 18 years or older.

• Have proof of a monthly income that is greater than your rent or mortgage payment by at least $425.

These requirements will exclude many international students from applying. Additionally, students between 18 and 20 years of age who do not have an independent income will not qualify, since Capital One does not allow co-signers. Students without a credit history won’t qualify, either. 

If you are one of the many students unable to qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, you might want to consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Discover it® Student Chrome. These cards let you earn rewards without a FICO credit history requirement.

This card was designed with simplicity in mind. If you qualify and want a no-hassle credit card to help build your credit profile, you won’t do much better than the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.

If you’re an optimizer, though, you might want to check out the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers bonus rewards categories as well as a similar sign-up bonus.