Best Student Credit Cards for August 2024

If you’re a student with limited or no credit, you can start establishing credit and earning rewards with a card tailored to your needs.

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  • Discover it® Student Cash Back Image
    Best credit card for students overall
    Discover it® Student Cash Back
    4.0/5
    Rating Breakdown 4.0
    Accessibility 4.0
    Effectiveness 4.0
    Cost 4.0
    Other Perks 5.0
    Fees and APR 3.0
    Credit Building

    We rate credit cards using our credit-building methodology for cards designed to help grow your credit score. Student credit cards, secured credit cards and credit cards with low or no credit requirements fall into this category. We rank them based on how easy they are to qualify for, credit-building features and how much they cost. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

    Annual Fee $0
    Rewards Rate
    1% - 5% 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-automatically.; Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
  • Discover it® Student Chrome Image
    For student commuters
    Discover it® Student Chrome
    4.0/5
    Rating Breakdown 4.0
    Accessibility 4.0
    Effectiveness 4.0
    Cost 4.0
    Other Perks 5.0
    Fees and APR 3.0
    Credit Building

    We rate credit cards using our credit-building methodology for cards designed to help grow your credit score. Student credit cards, secured credit cards and credit cards with low or no credit requirements fall into this category. We rank them based on how easy they are to qualify for, credit-building features and how much they cost. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

    Annual Fee $0
    Rewards Rate
    1% - 2% Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.; Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
  • Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Image
    Best student card for dining and entertainment
    Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
    4.0/5
    Rating Breakdown 4.0
    Accessibility 3.0
    Effectiveness 4.0
    Cost 5.0
    Other Perks 5.0
    Fees and APR 4.0
    Credit Building

    We rate credit cards using our credit-building methodology for cards designed to help grow your credit score. Student credit cards, secured credit cards and credit cards with low or no credit requirements fall into this category. We rank them based on how easy they are to qualify for, credit-building features and how much they cost. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

    Annual Fee $0
    Rewards Rate
    1% - 8% 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
Why You Can Trust CNET Money

A student credit card can be a valuable tool for building credit at a young age. Student credit cards work like most standard credit cards but are geared toward college students. They’re typically easy to qualify for because issuers understand that young adults in school tend to have a limited credit history (if any). 

Picking your first credit card as a student can feel overwhelming. But as you peruse the best options for your credit-building journey, consider which cards offer features that matter to you and rewards structures that align with your spending habits. If you plan on studying abroad, for example, you’ll want to choose a card with no foreign transaction fees. Most student credit cards are pretty bare bones in terms of perks, but there are a few that offer rewards and benefits on par with full-fledged cash-back cards.

Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.
Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech.
Liliana Hall is a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She is passionate about providing accessible content to enhance financial literacy. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has worked in the newsrooms of KUT and the Austin Chronicle. When not working, she is probably paddle boarding, hopping on a flight or reading for her book club.
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