Category ranking
Student Credit Cards
A "best student credit cards" list is only honest if every card on it is one the issuer actually built for students — not a general-purpose card with the word bolted on for search traffic. Every card in this category lives at the issuer's own dedicated student (or "for Students") product page, so the approval rules, fees, and rewards reflect what a first-time cardholder will actually be offered, not a relabeled adult card.
What to check in this category
- Whether the issuer requires proof of enrollment, and what happens to the card after graduation
- Reports to all three credit bureaus — confirm directly with the issuer if it is not stated on the product page
- Whether a welcome bonus is a limited-time offer and what triggers it
- The ongoing APR once any 0% intro period ends, since a first card is often kept and used for years
We cover 7 student credit cards — every fee, rate, and reward below is read from the issuer’s own disclosure and carries the date we last checked it. We rank nothing by commission, and any card whose terms go unverified past our cutoff is removed rather than shown with a stale number.
Which student credit cards do we cover?
7 cards we cover here
- Accepting applications
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Visa · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
3.93.9 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Visa · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
3.93.9 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Capital One Quicksilver Student Credit Card
Mastercard · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
4.24.2 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Capital One Savor Student Credit Card
Mastercard · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
4.34.3 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card
Visa · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
4.24.2 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Discover it Student Cash Back Card
Discover · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
4.24.2 out of 5
- Accepting applications
Discover it Student Chrome Credit Card
Discover · $0 annual fee
Editorial rating
4.24.2 out of 5
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide which student credit cards to include?
Inclusion is a data question, not an editorial favor. A card appears here when it carries the student classification and its fee and rate terms have been read from the issuer's own disclosure and dated. Cards whose terms go unverified past our cutoff are removed automatically rather than shown with a number we can no longer stand behind.
What should I check before applying for one of these student credit cards?
Whether the issuer requires proof of enrollment, and what happens to the card after graduation. Reports to all three credit bureaus — confirm directly with the issuer if it is not stated on the product page. Whether a welcome bonus is a limited-time offer and what triggers it. The ongoing APR once any 0% intro period ends, since a first card is often kept and used for years.
Are these ranked by which pays you the most?
No. This site currently has no active partner relationships, and the published methodology sets scores before any partnership could exist. A commission has never moved a card up or down this page, and the buyer-beware list is built the same way.
Is this every card in this category?
No — it is every card in this category that we have verified. We cover 7 here, which is a slice of the market rather than all of it. A larger list built from unverified figures would rank better and help you less.
Educational information — not advice
This page provides general educational information about credit, debt, and consumer protections. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or credit repair services, and reading it does not create any professional relationship. Laws, procedures, deadlines, and dollar amounts vary by state and change over time.
For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or qualified financial professional. See our full disclaimer.