Best Credit Card Offers for Student | LendingTree
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Student Credit Cards

If you’re a student looking to establish a solid credit history and good financial habits, check out star ratings and expert reviews for the best student credit cards from our partners. You could get approved in minutes using our secure online application process.

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Discover it® Student Cash Back
 

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  • Annual Fee $0
  • APR 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024
  • Rewards Rate
    • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 
    • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
    1% - 5% cash back
  • Credit Needed Limited / Fair

OFFER VALUATION

Our valuation is an estimate only, based on LendingTree's analysis of average consumer spending habits using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and each card's unique rewards system. Actual results may vary.

Note that monthly estimates only apply to usage across the first year. Monthly estimates may change after the first year.

  • Est. Intro Rewards
    $0
  • Est. Monthly Rewards
    $25
  • Est. First Year Rewards
    $298

The Bottom Line

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is the perfect credit card for students to get to build credit and earn cash back while they are in school.

Our Take

The Good

There's no limit to how much bonus cash you can earn with the Cashback Match™ offer in your first year, and there are opportunities for tons of bonus cash back. Also, you won't ever have to worry about paying an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

The Not So Good

The minimum line of credit is a bit low, starting at $500.


Card Details

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

Discover it® Student Chrome
 

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on Discover's secure site


  • Annual Fee $0
  • APR 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024
  • Rewards Rate
    • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
    • Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
    1% - 2% cash back
  • Credit Needed Limited / Fair

OFFER VALUATION

Our valuation is an estimate only, based on LendingTree's analysis of average consumer spending habits using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and each card's unique rewards system. Actual results may vary.

Note that monthly estimates only apply to usage across the first year. Monthly estimates may change after the first year.

  • Est. Intro Rewards
    $0
  • Est. Monthly Rewards
    $34
  • Est. First Year Rewards
    $405

The Bottom Line

The Discover it® Student Chrome credit card has a slew of fee-free services and an excellent rewards program. If you’re trying to build your credit while in college, this is a great choice – just be sure to make your payments on time and keep your account active so you can redeem all cash back bonuses.

Our Take

The Good

Earning bonus cash back on every day purchases such as at gas stations and at restaurants is appealing enough for students to want this card. Card holders will also receive 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The Not So Good

The minimum line of credit is a bit low, starting at $500.


Card Details

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
 

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on Capital One's secure site


  • Annual Fee $0
  • APR 19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
  • Rewards Rate
    • Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day
    • Earn 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
    1.5% - 5% Cash Back
  • Credit Needed Limited / Fair

OFFER VALUATION

Our valuation is an estimate only, based on LendingTree's analysis of average consumer spending habits using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and each card's unique rewards system. Actual results may vary.

Note that monthly estimates only apply to usage across the first year. Monthly estimates may change after the first year.

  • Est. Intro Rewards
    $0
  • Est. Monthly Rewards
    $16
  • Est. First Year Rewards
    $197

The Bottom Line

We don't have a review for this card yet, but sit tight! There's one coming soon.

Our Take

The Good

We don't have a review for this card yet, but sit tight! There's one coming soon.

The Not So Good

We don't have a review for this card yet, but sit tight! There's one coming soon.


Card Details

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
  • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
  • Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
  • Build your credit with responsible card use
  • Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
  • 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

Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback
 

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on Firstcard's secure site


  • Annual Fee From $4.99/month
  • APR 0%
  • Rewards Rate
    • Get up to 15% Merchant Cashback at 29,000 partner merchants.
    • Get up to 10% Random Cashback on all qualifying purchases.
    • Earn an additional 1% Unlimited Cashback with Firstcard Premium on all qualifying transactions on top of the two cashback offerings.
    1% - 15% cashback
  • Credit Needed Limited

OFFER VALUATION

Our valuation is an estimate only, based on LendingTree's analysis of average consumer spending habits using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and each card's unique rewards system. Actual results may vary.

Note that monthly estimates only apply to usage across the first year. Monthly estimates may change after the first year.

  • Est. Intro Rewards
    $10
  • Est. Monthly Rewards
    $11
  • Est. First Year Rewards
    $141

The Bottom Line

The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback stands out among secured credit cards by offering cashback rewards on purchases, providing an added incentive for users. This feature, coupled with its primary function of helping individuals build or rebuild their credit, positions it as a unique option in the secured card market.

Our Take

The Good

The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback distinguishes itself with its cashback rewards feature, offering financial incentives on purchases, which is a notable benefit for a secured card aimed at building or rebuilding credit.

The Not So Good

While the cashback rewards add value, the Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback might come with higher than average fees for certain transactions, which could erode the overall benefits for users who are particularly fee-sensitive.


Card Details

  • Build credit faster, cheaper, and safer
  • No credit checks and no credit history are required to open a credit card
  • Accepts immigrants and internationals without an SSN - apply with a passport and visa. 
  • 0% APR. Don’t worry about overspending. What you deposit is what you can spend.
  • No account minimum, no interest, and no overdraft fee
  • Get up to 15% Merchant Cashback at 29,000 partner merchants
  • Get up to 10% Random Cashback on all qualifying transactions
  • Earn 4.00% APY with Firstcard Premium, 2.00% APY with Firstcard+, or 0.75% APY with Firstcard Standard on the money in your Firstcard
  • Earn an additional 1% Unlimited Cashback with Firstcard Premium on all qualifying transactions on top of the two cashback offerings (Merchant Cashback and Random Cashback)
  • Monitor your credit score right in the app
  • Get an in-depth monthly credit report with Firstcard+ and Firstcard Premium
  • Instant access to your virtual card once your account is approved and you add your virtual card to your phone’s digital wallet
  • Your money is protected with Firstcard — automatically insured up to $250,000 by FDIC (backed by the U.S. government)
  • Disclosures

*General Disclaimer: See the online credit card application for details about terms and conditions. We make every effort to maintain accurate information. However, all credit card information is presented without warranty. To confirm terms and conditions, click the "Apply Now" button and review info on the secure credit card terms page.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

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