It’s hard to believe summer is already winding down. As college campuses start filling up once again, many students and their parents are filling up their shopping carts with back-to-school supplies.
But campuses will soon be filled with more than just college students. Banks often set up booths on school grounds advertising their credit products. If you’re a college student in the market for your first credit card, you could be tempted to apply for whatever card you’re offered without having all of the proper information.
But that might not be the smartest decision. The most heavily advertised cards aren’t necessarily the best ones, and bank representatives trying to sell you a product don’t always have your best interests at heart. We’ll set you up for success, plus recommend a handful of credit cards -- for both students and parents -- to bring with you this semester.
What to know first
If you’re flagged down between classes to a bank’s booth, you might be tempted to sign up for an offer because you feel pressured in the moment. A shiny new credit card with a welcome bonus could sound tempting, but it’s better to wait so you can make an informed decision.
Applying for a credit card shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you don’t know what terms you’re agreeing to, or how to use a credit card responsibly, you could end up doing your finances more harm than good.
Paying on time
The most important thing to remember is to always pay your credit card bill on time each month. Missing a credit card payment can damage your credit and lead to punitive fees and higher interest rates. While you should strive to pay your full statement balance each month to avoid any interest charges, you should at least make sure you’re paying the minimum statement due.
Avoid overspending
A welcome offer -- a bonus you typically get for reaching a certain spending threshold within the first few months of card membership -- can be nice if you’re offered one, but you should only try to earn a welcome bonus if you can reach the spending threshold through your normal spending habits.
If you spend more than you typically would for the sake of reaching the bonus, it’ll eat into any value you’d get from it -- especially if you can’t pay off the balance immediately and end up having to carry debt at high interest rates.
Look into the card terms
Before you apply, make sure you read your card terms. If you’ve just started to build a credit history, your credit score might not be the best, which means you could be opening a credit card with less-than-favorable terms.
If you carry a balance from month to month, your credit card balance will accrue interest, with the amount determined by your card’s annual percentage rate, or APR. The current average interest rate is over 20%, but if you have a lower credit score, your APR could be higher than that.
There are also fees to be aware of. For example, annual fees, foreign transaction fees (if you plan to study abroad), cash advance fees and late fees, or other penalty fees could all turn into unnecessary expenses.
While you can generally avoid interest charges by paying your bill in full every month, and avoid most fees by not engaging in the activities that trigger them, it’s still important to be aware of all the potential charges you can incur with your credit card.
Rewards
One of the main perks of owning a credit card is being able to earn rewards on your purchases. Therefore, it’s important to match the card’s rewards to how you spend. You want the card to work for you without having to mold your spending to fit the card.
While not all student credit cards offer rewards, the ones that do tend to provide the most rewards on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, dining or even rideshares. Others might offer a flat rate no matter what you’re using it for. Just remember not to overspend on your card for the sake of chasing after rewards.
Best credit cards for students
With those tips in mind, here are some of the best student credit cards that can help you earn some cash back on your textbooks, dorm furnishings or late-night snacks.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back* is the best credit card geared toward students. Its cash-back rate is higher than practically all of its competitors, and its welcome bonus will essentially double the rewards you earn during the first year with the card at the end of your first year.
However, its rewards work a bit differently than other options. Each calendar quarter (about every three months) the bonus reward categories will change and will need to be manually activated. The card currently earns 5% cash back (up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500, then 1%) on purchases at gas stations and through digital wallets, and 1% back on everything else, but the 5% categories will change come Oct. 1.
The card also includes an introductory 0% APR for purchases for six months (then 18.24% to 27.24% variable). That means for six months, your credit card balance won’t accrue any interest. You could charge your books or new dorm decor to the card and pay it down over six months while not having to worry about any interest. Just be sure you can pay off the balance before interest starts again.
You can learn more in our Discover it Student Cash Back review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Discover it® Student Cash Back* is the best credit card geared toward students. Its cash-back rate is higher than practically all of its competitors, and its welcome bonus will essentially double the rewards you earn during the first year with the card at the end of your first year.
However, its rewards work a bit differently than other options. Each calendar quarter (about every three months) the bonus reward categories will change and will need to be manually activated. The card currently earns 5% cash back (up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500, then 1%) on purchases at gas stations and through digital wallets, and 1% back on everything else, but the 5% categories will change come Oct. 1.
The card also includes an introductory 0% APR for purchases for six months (then 18.24% to 27.24% variable). That means for six months, your credit card balance won’t accrue any interest. You could charge your books or new dorm decor to the card and pay it down over six months while not having to worry about any interest. Just be sure you can pay off the balance before interest starts again.
You can learn more in our Discover it Student Cash Back review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card* is a close second to the Discover it Student Cash Back card in terms of earning potential. It offers a solid rewards rate for dining out, grocery stores, entertainment and select streaming services -- things most college students will likely spend their money on regularly.
It also provides a welcome bonus with a low spending threshold that should be easy to meet if you take the card with you on all your weekend adventures.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card* is a close second to the Discover it Student Cash Back card in terms of earning potential. It offers a solid rewards rate for dining out, grocery stores, entertainment and select streaming services -- things most college students will likely spend their money on regularly.
It also provides a welcome bonus with a low spending threshold that should be easy to meet if you take the card with you on all your weekend adventures.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students* is closer to a non-student card than the others here. Its rewards system is easy to get value from -- you’ll earn the same rate for every purchase -- and its welcome bonus has a higher spending threshold than most other student cards.
If you’re planning to study abroad, you can safely use this card overseas without worrying about paying any foreign transaction fees. Because this card isn’t necessarily geared toward credit novices based on its welcome offer spending threshold, remember to spend only money you can afford to pay off right away and don’t overspend to reach the bonus.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 18 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 18 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account.
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students* is closer to a non-student card than the others here. Its rewards system is easy to get value from -- you’ll earn the same rate for every purchase -- and its welcome bonus has a higher spending threshold than most other student cards.
If you’re planning to study abroad, you can safely use this card overseas without worrying about paying any foreign transaction fees. Because this card isn’t necessarily geared toward credit novices based on its welcome offer spending threshold, remember to spend only money you can afford to pay off right away and don’t overspend to reach the bonus.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 18 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 18 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account.
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
Best credit cards for students with no credit history
If you, like most college students, are starting to build your credit and don’t have much of a credit history yet, here are some options to choose from that don’t require an established credit score.
Not only do you not need a credit history for the Discover it® Student Chrome*, but you also won’t get dinged by Discover the first time you miss a credit card payment (after that, late payment fee of up to $41), or have to contend with a high penalty APR. (Though you should still try to always make your payments on time.)
You’ll also earn rewards for dining and gas stations, plus benefit from Discover’s Cashback Match welcome offer, essentially doubling your rewards during your first year at the end of your first year with the card. It’s a more lenient choice for college students looking to build their credit and earn some rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Not only do you not need a credit history for the Discover it® Student Chrome*, but you also won’t get dinged by Discover the first time you miss a credit card payment (after that, late payment fee of up to $41), or have to contend with a high penalty APR. (Though you should still try to always make your payments on time.)
You’ll also earn rewards for dining and gas stations, plus benefit from Discover’s Cashback Match welcome offer, essentially doubling your rewards during your first year at the end of your first year with the card. It’s a more lenient choice for college students looking to build their credit and earn some rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
The Petal 2, issued by WebBank, is an interesting option. It is a potentially rewarding choice with less restrictive credit requirements than a lot of its competitors, but there’s an important caveat. Within the past year, Petal has downgraded some of its cardholders from the Petal 2 to a different card -- the Petal 1 Rise -- which has a monthly fee.
The Petal 2 card itself is still a good option to earn rewards and build credit, while gaining access to a line of credit if you need it. But it’s possible the company will downgrade its users again in the future, though we can’t say for sure. Either way, proceed with caution when applying for this card.
Check out our Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card review for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 32.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Petal 2, issued by WebBank, is an interesting option. It is a potentially rewarding choice with less restrictive credit requirements than a lot of its competitors, but there’s an important caveat. Within the past year, Petal has downgraded some of its cardholders from the Petal 2 to a different card -- the Petal 1 Rise -- which has a monthly fee.
The Petal 2 card itself is still a good option to earn rewards and build credit, while gaining access to a line of credit if you need it. But it’s possible the company will downgrade its users again in the future, though we can’t say for sure. Either way, proceed with caution when applying for this card.
Check out our Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card review for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 32.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
Best credit cards for parents of college students
If you’re not a student, but the parent of a college-bound kid, you can boost your rewards during back-to-school shopping season with one of these card picks. While you’re at it, consider adding your child as an authorized user to help them grow their credit, while extending them some spending power while they’re away from home.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is the best flat-rate cash rewards credit card on the market. Not only is it rewarding no matter how you’re using it, but it’ll also provide some breathing room from interest charges thanks to its introductory purchase APR. If your kid is front loading their school year with a lot of purchases, it could provide extra time to pay them down (plus good rewards) while not having to worry about interest.
You can learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is the best flat-rate cash rewards credit card on the market. Not only is it rewarding no matter how you’re using it, but it’ll also provide some breathing room from interest charges thanks to its introductory purchase APR. If your kid is front loading their school year with a lot of purchases, it could provide extra time to pay them down (plus good rewards) while not having to worry about interest.
You can learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Blue Cash Preferred has one of the highest cash-back rates for U.S. supermarket purchases, and a great rate for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, U.S. gas station purchases and select transit too. It does have a $95 annual fee, but there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year and its rewards can quickly outpace the cost. If you or your child are looking to earn rewards for your essentials, there’s hardly a better choice.
You can learn more in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Blue Cash Preferred has one of the highest cash-back rates for U.S. supermarket purchases, and a great rate for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, U.S. gas station purchases and select transit too. It does have a $95 annual fee, but there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year and its rewards can quickly outpace the cost. If you or your child are looking to earn rewards for your essentials, there’s hardly a better choice.
You can learn more in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* is a good mid-range travel credit card. It features no foreign transaction fees and a statement credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. The latter can be quite useful if your college kid is headed out of state and you plan to fly with them or fly them home for the holidays. It offers strong rewards too, which can help lower those travel expenses.
You can learn more in our Capital One Venture Rewards review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* is a good mid-range travel credit card. It features no foreign transaction fees and a statement credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. The latter can be quite useful if your college kid is headed out of state and you plan to fly with them or fly them home for the holidays. It offers strong rewards too, which can help lower those travel expenses.
You can learn more in our Capital One Venture Rewards review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
The bottom line
College can be an expensive time. Costs add up quickly whether you’re traveling to school or staying close to home. Credit cards -- while having their risks -- can help put some money back in your pocket for common purchases.
It’s important not to apply for a credit card on a whim. Look into the card’s terms and rewards, and remember to always pay off your statement balance to avoid interest charges and don’t overspend for the sake of earning more rewards.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here
*All information about the Discover it Student Cash Back, Discover it Student Chrome, Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
