Tips for Finding the Best Credit Card Options for Students

What are the Best Credit Cards for College Students?

As a young adult who is studying at college, you will probably begin to wonder: what are the best credit cards for college students? There are many credit card options for students that you can explore. Many freshmen have their first introduction to cards when they begin their first semester.

It’s important to understand what a student credit card is, and what you can expect. Of course, also knowing how to get approved for a student credit card can also help if you are looking to apply.

Best Credit Cards for Students

First and foremost, when you are asking the question of what is the best credit card for a college student, you have many options. In fact, credit card options for students are quite plentiful and you may not know where to turn. Some cards actually have the word “student" tied to their names, so these are the ones you may want to consider.

Overall, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One ranks as one of the best credit cards for college students. It helps you gradually build your credit from the ground up and learn healthy credit usage habits.

When you responsibly use the card, you can enjoy cash back rewards simply for paying your bill on time. You can also get 1 percent cash back on all your purchases and an additional 0.25 percent when your bills are paid on time. If you make your first five payments on time, you can also get access to a higher credit line.

Best Credit Cards for New Users

Among the best credit cards with no annual fee for students is the Discover it Student Cash Back card. One of the best aspects of this card is that after your first year of usage, you can earn double the cash back of what you earned throughout that year. You can receive 5 percent cash back when you make purchases with the card toward gas, grocery purchases, restaurants, and Amazon, and 1 percent on all other purchases.

Keeping your grades up should always be a goal, but when you ensure that your GPA is 3.0 or better for up to five years, you can receive a $20 credit for each year. You can also get free access to your credit score and security alerts if your information is detected somewhere it shouldn't be.

Best Credit Cards for International Students

The Deserve Edu MasterCard for Students is a great option for international students. To qualify, you don’t even need a social security number or a credit history in the United States.

When determining what student credit card is appropriate, consider that the card has perks like unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases and a full year’s worth of an Amazon Prime subscription. This is perfect for students who don’t have cable but want to watch the occasional movie or show in their apartment or dorm.

There is also no annual fee and you can receive a $30 statement credit for every friend you refer who qualifies for the credit card. The Deserve Edu MasterCard is also one of the few credit cards with no annual fee.

Supermarket and Gas Station Purchases

If you’re wondering what the best credit card for a college student who relies on frequent supermarket and gas station purchases, consider the Citi Rewards+ SM Student Card. Not only does it offer points on these purchases, but it also gives you an extra 2,500 bonus points if you spend $500 on eligible purchases in the first three months of having the card. Plus, there's no annual fee.

These are some of the best credit cards for college students available at this time. Once you know how to get approved for a student credit card, you can start to build good habits and a great credit score.

Important Tips for New Credit Card Holders

Now that you have a better understanding of which credit card is best for your needs, it's important to get yourself credit card educated to avoid ruining your credit score.

• Always pay off your credit card balance each month or before the due date.
• Always make your minimum payment if you can't pay off your balance.
• Create a budget and stick to it. It easy for new credit card users to rack up debt on their cards, and in order to avoid that, stick to a plan where you only use 10% of your credit card each month. This makes it realistic for yourself to pay it off.
• Avoid making large, unnecessary purchases. Stick to only using your credit card for things you actually need or for emergencies where a large amount of money is needed.
• Never share your credit card information with anyone.