9 Best Student Credit Cards

Credit cards allow you to make purchases and pay for them over time, and by making on-time payments, you can build your credit history and improve your credit score. Some credit card issuers require applicants to already have a good credit history to get approved, but others are specifically designed for students who are opening their first card and/or have little to no credit history. Below, we list the best credit cards for students.

You can find information about other types of credit cards in our related research featuring the best credit cards of all types.

What We Recommend

All of the cards listed below are available to those with little to no established credit history, and they all come with relatively low fees. In fact, the OpenSky Secured Visa is the only card on our list that has an annual fee. Depending on your priorities, we recommend the following cards:

• Best overall: Discover it Chrome Student
• Best for a low interest rate: Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card
• Best for rewards: Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students or Discover it Student Cash Back

Comparison Table

See the table below for a quick comparison of the best student credit cards, then click any card or scroll for more options. You can also sort using the arrows at the top of each column.

The List

1. Discover it Chrome Student

• Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. address; must provide proof of education^[1]
• APR: 0% for the first six months, then variable around 20%^[1]
• Annual fee: None^[1]
• Late fee: None for the first missed payment, then up to $40^[1]
• Perks:
  • 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants^[1]
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases^[1]
  • $20 statement credit for a GPA of 3.0 or higher^[1]
• Apply

2. Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card

• Requirements: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and provide your personal and financial information^[2]
• APR: 0% for the first six months, then 11% to 21%^[2]
• Annual fee: None^[2]
• Late fee: Up to $37^[3]
• Perks:
  • 3% cash back (up to $2,500) for gas, grocery, and drug store purchases for the first six months^[2]
  • 1% back on all other purchases^[2]
• Apply

3. Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

• Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen; you must be a student and provide the name of your school^[4]
• APR: About 14% to 24%^[4]
• Annual fee: None^[4]
• Late fee: Up to $40^[4]
• Perks:
  • 3% cash back on gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement (choose one category)^[4]
  • 2% back from grocery stores and wholesale clubs^[4]
  • 1% back on all other purchases^[4]
• Apply

4. Discover it Student Cash Back

• Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. address; must provide proof of education^[5]
• APR: 0% for the first six months, then variable around 20%^[5]
• Annual fee: None^[5]
• Late fee: None for the first late payment, then up to $40^[5]
• Perks:
  • 5% cash back on every purchase during the school year (and all year long at certain places)^[5]
  • 2x cash back match after the first year^[5]
  • $20 statement credit for a GPA of 3.0 or higher^[5]
• Apply

5. Journey Student Credit Card from Capital One

• Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen; must provide personal and income information^[6]
• APR: About 27%^[6]
• Annual fee: None^[6]
• Late fee: Up to $39^[6]
• Perks: 1% cash back on all purchases (increased to 1.25% if you make payments on time)^[6]
• Apply

6. Deserve EDU

• Requirements: Must be a student (from the U.S. or abroad) and provide your personal and financial information^[7]
• APR: Around 19%^[8]
• Annual fee: None^[8]
• Late fee: Up to $25^[9]
• Perks:
  • Free Amazon Prime Student membership for one year if you spend $500 in the first three billing cycles^[8]
  • 1% cash back on all purchases^[8]
• Apply

7. Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

• Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen; you must be a student and provide the name of your school^[10]
• APR: About 15% to 23%^[11]
• Annual fee: None^[11]
• Late fee: Up to $40^[11]
• Perks:
  • Earn 1.5 miles for every dollar you spend (no airline restrictions)^[11]
  • Frequent signup bonuses^[11]
• Apply

8. Capital One Secured Mastercard

• Requirements: Must provide a refundable security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 (minimum initial credit line of $200)^[12]
• APR: About 27% ^[12]
• Annual fee: None^[12]
• Late fee: Up to $39^[12]
• Perks: None^[12]
• Apply

9. OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

• Requirements: Must provide a refundable security deposit of $200 to $3,000^[13]
• APR: About 17%^[14]
• Annual fee: $35^[14]
• Late fee: Up to $38^[14]
• Perks: None^[13]
• Apply