Best student credit cards of January 2025

We thoroughly rate and research the best low-interest credit cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.

Building credit early with a student credit card grants you a crucial financial head start. You can build credit early in your adult life by getting into the routine of using money responsibly while setting yourself up for future success. 

By managing a credit card, you’ll learn valuable lessons about budgeting, making timely payments and understanding the impact of debt. These experiences lay the groundwork for a lifetime of financial decision-making, which is essential for long-term financial stability and future financial opportunities. 

A strong credit history can lead to lower interest rates, higher credit limits and better loan terms, ultimately saving you money in the long run on some of life’s milestones, like renting an apartment, buying a car or starting a business.

Determining the best way to start building a credit history can be hard, especially as a student. It can be equally hard to sift through trends and advice from your peers when choosing which credit cards will be worth it for you. One Reddit user posed this predicament to the r/CreditCard community. After seeing a teammate flash their American Express® Gold Card, this college student weighed whether the $325 annual fee would be worth it for them. Most commenters agreed that getting the card wouldn’t be worth it compared to other student cards with no annual fee and one user even said:

“The annual fee is not the issue … A college student doesn't need this card because a student doesn't have the monthly expenses to put enough spending on the Amex Gold card to earn enough points to use for travel,” they wrote. “This is a case of social media enticing people to feel that they gotta have what everyone else is talking about.”

While it’s tempting to get the card other students have in their pockets, it’s important to remember that your personal finance decisions are, in fact, personal. It’s not a choice that should be based on what others are doing. It’s also been a major pitfall for Gen Z, who began using cards as a status symbol instead of a financial tool. 

A lack of credit history is also a common hurdle for many students applying for unsecured credit cards. However, using preapproval screeners can be a helpful tactic for identifying the cards you can qualify for, as one user mentioned in response to this thread. Since the original poster didn’t have the option of becoming an authorized user, they needed to find student cards they could qualify for without a credit history. Most responses suggested applying for the Discover it® Student Cash Back card or the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card since they’re easier for students to get.

With a good income, you’ll likely be able to qualify for a decent student credit card even without an extensive credit history. And even if you don’t get the best credit card to start with, a student card can be a gateway to better rewards and higher credit limits. If you’re interested in exploring your options, check which ones you’re a potential match for by using tools like Bankrate’s CardMatch™.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Here are some tips for beginners to help you narrow down your options and pick the right student credit card for you: 

• Make sure you qualify: Issuers typically reserve student credit cards for anyone enrolled in college courses with little or no credit history. However, check for additional requirements, such as part-time or full-time status or if two-year institutions are eligible.
• Look for credit-building tools: The best student cards have built-in features that help you build credit. Look for features like reporting to all three credit bureaus, offering credit line increases and providing free credit reports.
• Prioritize perks that matter to you: Most student cards have student-centric perks, such as purchase protection or the chance to earn cash back on purchases.
• Consider your interest in studying abroad: If you study abroad, you’ll want a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. You should also check if merchants will accept the card at your destination since not all card networks are widely accepted.
• Explore cards with upgrade potential: Many student cards have a “graduated” version you could upgrade to once you’re ready to move beyond student credit cards. If you upgrade with the same issuer, you could skip putting in a new application and avoid a hit to your score.

How to use a credit card responsibly as a student

As a student, using a credit card responsibly is important for building a positive credit history and avoiding debt. Here are some key tips for using a credit card responsibly:

• Create a budget and monitor your spending. Establish a monthly budget to track your expenses to avoid overspending and ensure you can afford to pay off your credit card balance in full each month.
• Pay on time. Make timely credit card payments to avoid late fees and negative marks on your credit report.
• Limit your credit utilization. If you do carry a balance, keep your credit utilization ratio below 30 percent each billing cycle. It accounts for 30 percent of your FICO credit score.
• Be aware of all fees. Credit cards come with their own set of credit card fees. Avoiding some of them is easy if you pick the right card. 
• Keep up with your credit score. It's important to keep a close eye on your credit score so you’ll know if there have been any changes. Seeing progress might motivate you to make better decisions when using a credit card.

How a Bankrate expert chose a student credit card

Bankrate writer Benét Wilson is part of a loyal Bank of America family, and she started her credit journey with the low-cost card a family member recommended to her. Benét still recommends streamlined cards like hers for students, but she stresses that students should take the time to thoroughly research the card that best fits their needs.

"While I was in college, credit card companies worked hard to get students to apply for credit cards through sign-up events and giveaway items like shirts and frisbees to turn students into life-long customers. I chose the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students* at a campus event because my grandfather was a Bank of America bank manager and recommended it for establishing credit. He gave me a long lecture on using the card responsibly, but it didn't stick. I racked up charges on dumb stuff like food, clothing and entertainment and hit my spending limit quickly. I worked almost a year to pay off that card. I wish I could say I learned my lesson and never overcharged credit cards again, but that would be a lie.

Regardless, the student BankAmericard was a good fit for my financial and credit-building needs at the time, and it’s still a solid option for students looking for their first credit card. Just do your homework and choose wisely since that first credit card will set the tone for your financial history.

If you have the option, also consider asking your parents to make you an authorized user. With the right card, you can take advantage of rewards and perks that don't normally come with student credit cards.”

— Benét Wilson, Writer, Credit Cards

*The information about the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Still deciding if a student credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

College is a great time to try new things and take (reasonable) risks, but that’s not an ideal approach to managing finances. Student cards often have unsecured credit lines with some of the best rewards rates and perks — and perhaps the lowest rates and fees — available with starter cards. They’re certainly one of the best ways to build credit as a college student, but being reluctant to get a credit card or wanting a card with more guardrails is understandable.

Some of the most common alternatives to student credit cards include:

• Secured credit cards: These cards require a security deposit, and several top options earn rewards without charging an annual fee.
• Alternative credit scoring models: Tools like UltraFICO and Experian Boost look at aspects of your finances aside from credit history to help establish your credit score, including utility bills, streaming services and rent payments.
• Become an authorized user: You’ll receive a card linked to the primary cardholder's account. You can use this card to access the authorized user’s credit line, but only the authorized user is responsible for making payments. 

If you’re nervous to strike out on your own in the credit card market, some of the best credit-building options may require asking a relative or someone else you trust if you can become an authorized user on their credit card account. Bankrate editor Daniella Ramirez went this route and could skip the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and obtain its full-fledged counterpart.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

When evaluating the best cards for students, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for students and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here’s a look at how our rating methodology breaks down for student credit cards: