Capital One’s suite of student credit cards

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is no longer available.

Capital One offers a suite of student credit cards with enough rewards, perks and benefits to make any student cardholder feel like a real adult on their credit-building journey. Whether you’re a new college student, graduate student or even an international student, these Capital One student credit cards can get you off to a great start.

Here’s what you should know about Capital One’s newly launched student credit card options and which one might be the best for your needs.

What student credit cards does Capital One offer?

For a long time, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One was marketed as a starter credit card for students looking to build credit, and it was the only such product Capital One offered. Now, student versions are available for two of Capital One’s popular rewards credit cards:

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Rewards rate: Unlimited 3 percent cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services (like Hulu, Disney+ and Netflix) and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); 8 percent back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 1 percent back on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: For a limited time, earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months of account opening
• Annual fee: $0
• Regular APR: 19.74 percent to 29.74 percent variable

For more information, read Bankrate’s review of the Capital One SavorOne Student card.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Rewards rate: 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases; 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
• Welcome offer: For a limited time, earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months of account opening
• Annual fee: $0
• Regular APR: 19.74 percent to 29.74 percent variable

For more information, read Bankrate’s review of the Capital One Quicksilver Student card.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

• Rewards rate: Unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases—boosted to 1.25 percent for the month when the card is paid on time; 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
• Welcome offer: None
• Annual fee: $0
• Regular APR: 29.99 percent variable

For more information, read Bankrate’s review of the Journey Student Rewards card.

Which Capital One student credit card is best for me?

Each card is tailored to slightly different financial goals and spending habits. Here’s a short-and-sweet look at which student card from Capital One could be right for you.

• The Capital One SavorOne Student is ideal for “food and fun” spending, and it rewards you with cash back categories accordingly.
• The Capital One Quicksilver Student has many of the same features and benefits as the SavorOne student card—except that the flat-rate cash back is set at 1.5 percent for all spending.
• The Journey Student Rewards offers a flat 1 percent cash back that can be boosted to 1.25 percent with on-time payments.

What do all Capital One student cards have in common?

Capital One’s newer student cards—the Quicksilver Student and SavorOne Student—are the most similar. However, there are a few commonalities between all three options.

• Rewards redemption. Quicksilver Student, SavorOne Student and Journey Student Rewards cardholders can use their cash back rewards to get statement credits or a check, receive credits for previous purchases, shop through PayPal and Amazon.com, get gift cards from merchants like Walmart, Lowe’s, Whole Foods and other retailers and more.
• Access to the Capital One travel portal. As of May 17, 2022, all Capital Student credit cards now have access to the Capital One Travel portal, where they’ll earn an unlimited 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the portal.
• Refer a Friend program. Student cardholders can earn $100 for each successful referral through Capital One Refer a Friend (up to $500 a year) when friends use their link to become a new Capital One cardholder.
• Credit-building features. With any of these cards, you’ll be eligible for a credit limit increase after just six months, provided you’ve used your card responsibly. Additionally, all Capital One student cardholders have access to credit monitoring from CreditWise.
• Interest and fees. All three of these cards offer the same $0 annual fee. The Quicksilver Student and SavorOne Student cards have the same variable APR of 19.74 percent to 29.74 percent but the Journey Student card has a variable APR of 29.99 percent.

Notable differences between Capital One student cards

• Rewards rate. The main differentiator between these student cards is rewards rates. The SavorOne Student has higher rewards rates in specific categories, while the Quicksilver Student and Journey Student offer (different) flat rates of cash back on all purchases.
• Card network perks. Another notable difference is that, while the SavorOne Student and Quicksilver Student are on the Mastercard network, the Journey Student is a Visa card. This means the benefits are a little different (and can be further explored by reading our Visa vs. Mastercard guide). Many of these benefits overlap for both networks, such as zero liability fraud protection and purchase protection, for example.

Are Capital One student cards worth it?

If you’re a student who wants to start building credit while earning rewards, any of these cards could work. Capital One has created this suite of cards with students in mind, knowing that applicants’ income and credit profiles will be limited. The approval odds are adjusted for your demographic, so you are more likely to be approved for one of these cards than a standard rewards card.

Plus, these cards have student-oriented features, like no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees (should you study abroad), credit monitoring, credit line increase opportunities and better terms for responsible credit use—all of which can help you save money on a student budget.

The bottom line

If you want to earn rewards but prefer the safety of a smaller credit limit and no annual fee, one of these student cards from Capital One could be a good choice. The ongoing APR is a little high, but if used responsibly, students can avoid high-interest fees by paying down their balance in full each month.

Before you apply, make sure to check out Bankrate’s list of the best student credit cards for additional options outside of Capital One.