Best by audience
Best credit cards for the student
Student cards are credit cards designed around the realities of being in school: thin credit file, no income beyond a part-time job, and a small enough credit limit that you can't get yourself into too much trouble. The right student card has no annual fee, modest rewards on student-relevant categories (dining, streaming, groceries), and approves on a thin file.
No matches in the catalog yet
No student cards seeded yet. Discover It Student Cash Back, Capital One SavorOne Student, and Chase Freedom Rise are planned.
What we look for
- Annual fee is zero. Always.
- Approves applicants with limited or no credit history.
- Rewards (if any) are on categories students actually spend in: dining, streaming, groceries.
What to watch for
- Some 'student cards' are just regular cards with student marketing. Check the actual approval requirements.
- Co-signed cards aren't student cards. They have their own dynamics; talk to whoever's co-signing.