What are the best credit cards for students?

[MidnightEssay]

I'm starting my first year of college and just realized I've never dealt with credit at all. My parents always said, "avoid debt," so I've only used debit. Now I keep reading that if I don't start building credit early, I'll regret it later when I need a car loan or something like that.

I've been googling the best credit cards for students, but half the recommendations look like ads to me - am I picky this way??

Discover it Student Cash Back keeps popping up, but some people say the rotating categories are a hassle.

Capital One SavorOne Student looks good for dining (which I'll do a lot), but I'm nervous about APR.

If you've already used a student card, which one helped you most in the first year? Any "gotchas"?

 

[Zephyr Carter]

I started with the Discover it Student - the categories weren’t too bad. You just have to remember to activate them each quarter, which I forgot a few times. But the 5% categories actually lined up well with my life - gas during the summer when I drove home, Amazon in the fall for textbooks, etc. It added up.

What I really liked was the free FICO score updates. I saw my score climb from nonexistent to the high 600s within a year and could not feel more motivated. That progress beats the rotating categories hassle.

 

[LateNightFlash]

I started with the Discover it Student - the categories weren’t too bad. You just have to remember to activate them each quarter, which I forgot a few times. But the 5% categories actually lined up well with my life - gas during the summer when I drove home, Amazon in the fall for textbooks, etc. It added up.

What I really liked was the free FICO score updates. I saw my score climb from nonexistent to the high 600s within a year and could not feel more motivated. That progress beats the rotating categories hassle.

Totally agree about small wins. When people talk about credit cards for college students, they forget to mention how low the starting limits usually are. Mine was $500 and it felt useless at first. But like you said, it forced discipline. Paying it off in full every month mattered more than rewards. When they bumped my limit later, it was proof I was doing something right.

 

[CheerleaderBrooke]

I'd say the good credit cards aren't the most popular ones. Chase Freedom Student is honestly kind of boring: 1% flat cash back, no wild perks but I'd recommend it because of the $20 good standing reward every year.

That boring predictability is underrated because there's so much you can't control or even manage in college - you need at least one your life aspect to stay without surprises!

Discover was more fun but also easier to forget to activate. So my vote is: pick boring until you get consistent with payments, then experiment with rewards.

 

[SkylaTrace]

My roommate grabbed the Capital One SavorOne Student like you mentioned. He eats out constantly, so the 3% cash back stacked up quick. But here’s the thing: one month he couldn’t pay it off, and the APR wrecked him. Like, the interest ate all the rewards and then some. That’s the part no one brags about when recommending cards. Rewards mean nothing if you carry a balance, and student cards aren’t forgiving with high APRs.

 

[LacrosseMike]

Hey! Here's my story. I had credit cards for students with no credit on my radar last year, and one tip I'll throw out: check your local credit union. Everyone online hypes the big banks, but my credit union offered a student VISA with no annual fee and easy approval. They didn't even require a co-signer.

I started with a $300 limit. Paid my Spotify and groceries on it and paid it off monthly. A year later, I'm over 700 credit score

 

[EssayHulk]

Hey! Here's my story. I had credit cards for students with no credit on my radar last year, and one tip I'll throw out: check your local credit union. Everyone online hypes the big banks, but my credit union offered a student VISA with no annual fee and easy approval. They didn't even require a co-signer.

I started with a $300 limit. Paid my Spotify and groceries on it and paid it off monthly. A year later, I'm over 700 credit score

same here i tried chase and got denied lol

my campus credit union came through with their student builder card. limit was tiny but at least i wasn't embarrassed with rejection

secure that first line of credit cuz rewards are secondary imo, once you build a score, then you can hop to the bigger cards everyone flexes online

 

[DormFairy99]

If you’re planning to study abroad or just travel during breaks, I’d suggest looking at travel credit cards for students. I got the Bank of America Travel Rewards Student card before my exchange semester in Spain. The absence of foreign transaction fees saved me a ton!
It’s not as glamorous as a Chase Sapphire, but you earn 1.5 points per dollar on everything. I used it for groceries, trains, and even my phone bill abroad. It also helped me feel more secure knowing I had backup while traveling.

 

[EssayQueenEmma]

thanks everyone i was panicking about this exact thing last week. reading your stories is way more helpful than those promo 'best cards' lists

 

[TomInSpace]

Here's my thought on this: the top credit cards for students are the ones that teach you how credit works without confusing you with gimmicks. Discover gave me rewards, but I learned the hard way that forgetting to activate categories means you get almost nothing. Chase was dull but reliable.

My advice: pick one that's simple, has no annual fee, and is forgiving with mistakes. Don't get seduced by 5% cash back if it's a trap for forgetful people.

 

[Sarah Davis]

Here's my thought on this: the top credit cards for students are the ones that teach you how credit works without confusing you with gimmicks. Discover gave me rewards, but I learned the hard way that forgetting to activate categories means you get almost nothing. Chase was dull but reliable.

My advice: pick one that's simple, has no annual fee, and is forgiving with mistakes. Don't get seduced by 5% cash back if it's a trap for forgetful people.

ngl i feel this. i don't even get what apr means lol. ppl always say "just pay in full" and i do that, so like... why should i even care about apr?? unless you mess up and carry a balance, it's basically just noise right??

 

[ClssRmStar]

I want to add a perspective for exchange students. It’s ridiculously hard to find credit cards for international students if you don’t have a Social Security number. One of my classmates got the Deserve EDU Mastercard, which is made for internationals. No SSN required, and you still earn 1% cash back on everything.
It’s not the strongest card, but it’s a lifesaver for someone trying to build credit in the US while studying. Also, they give Amazon Prime Student for free in the first year

 

[SororityKatie]

this thread is honestly gold
i've been stuck reading blog posts about the best options and they all sound like ads
hearing the downsides and your experiences here is exactly what i needed, thanks everyone!

 

[LexiNova]

Don't overthink it too much, you'll get approved somewhere. I'd look for starter credit cards for students specifically. Those cards are literally designed for first-timers so you won't need a perfect resume of income or co-signers.

I went with the Chase Freedom Student and it was painless. Started with a $500 limit, no annual fee, and a $50 bonus for the first purchase. It's not life-changing, of course, but it built my history. A year later, I was able to get approved for bigger cards.

 

[FilmLvr]

So I’m curious...Does anyone regret starting with a student card instead of waiting to apply for a regular one? I’m still on the fence about getting involved in credit stuff this early, who’s with me?