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Best credit cards for students of 2024

Start your credit journey while you’re still in college with a student card. Get matched to credit cards from our partners based on your unique credit profile.⍉

See your best matches

Get started early

Build good credit now to make it easier to buy a car or get approved for rent.

Be prepared for emergencies

While you build up savings, a credit card could help cover unexpected expenses.

Learn to manage your money

Practice good financial habits like, paying off your balance each month.

⍉Based on FICO® Score 8 model. Offers and approval not guaranteed. Eligibility requirements and terms apply. Subject to credit check which may impact your credit scores. Offers not available in all states. See licenses and disclosures.

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All student credit cards

Alabama
All ratings (300-800+)
All issuers

1 partner offer

Avant Credit Card (CRM Deployment Date: 8/14/19) logo.

Avant Credit Card (CRM Deployment Date: 8/14/19)

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

25.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$29

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Annual fee

Some credit cards have an annual fee you'll pay when you first receive the card and at each cardholder anniversary. Take the cost of an annual fee into account when considering which options will benefit you the most over the course of a year.

Annual percentage rate (APR)

The APR on credit cards is simply the interest rate the card issuer charges when you don’t pay off your balance in full each month—it doesn’t include the card’s annual fees or other fees you may be charged for using your card. There are several types of APR that can apply to credit cards including purchase, balance transfer and cash advance.

Credit limit

Your credit limit is how much you’re able to spend with your card and will be assigned after you’re approved for a card. Cards for bad credit applicants generally have low credit limits, but some allow you to qualify for a higher credit limit over time by making on-time payments every month.

Rewards

Cash back credit cards reward you with cash equal to a percentage of each dollar you spend, which may be a rate of 1% to 2%. Some cash back cards offer rewards for spending in categories such as gas, groceries and dining at a significantly higher rate—3% to 6%, for example. Look for rewards that align with what you spend the most on.

Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the banks, lenders and credit card companies.

*For complete information, see the offer terms and conditions on the issuer or partner’s website. Once you click apply you will be directed to the issuer or partner’s website where you may review the terms and conditions of the offer before applying. We show a summary, not the full legal terms – and before applying you should understand the full terms of the offer as stated by the issuer or partner itself. While Experian Consumer Services uses reasonable efforts to present the most accurate information, all offer information is presented without warranty.

Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party companies ("our partners") from which Experian Consumer Services receives compensation. This compensation may impact how, where, and in what order the products appear on this site. The offers on the site do not represent all available financial services, companies, or products.

ΘCredit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any offer.

How to find the best credit cards for students

1

Consider annual fees

See if the extra perks outweigh the cost of the annual fee.

2

Look for 3-bureau reporting

Build your credit with a card that reports to all 3 credit bureaus.

3

Compare rewards and perks

Some cards may offer cash back or other benefits.

4

Check international fees

See if there’s foreign transaction fees if you plan to travel abroad.

Start with your FICO® ScoreΘ and see card offers matched to your credit profile.

Get started for free

ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

In general, student credit cards and regular credit cards function the same. The biggest difference is that student credit cards are more accessible to people who have yet to establish a credit history.

Student credit cards generally have higher interest rates, lower credit limits and more basic rewards programs compared to regular credit cards. However, many student cards offer special perks geared toward students, making them worth it while you're in college.

You need to be 18 to get a credit card. Applicants under 21 years of age need to show proof of independent income to afford their bill. This means you must show the credit card company that you have enough stable cash flow to cover your credit card expenses, whether with paychecks, parental allowance or other income. If you are over 21 years of age, you will still have to show income but you can include income that may come from a spouse, partner or other member of your household.

You generally have to be a college student to qualify for a student credit card. If you're not a college student, your best bet may be a secured credit card.

You'll also need to meet other eligibility requirements, which can vary by card issuer. In general, you'll need to be at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number, and have at least some form of income to show that you can repay the debt you incur.

Before you apply for a card, review the fine print to help you understand your chances of qualifying. If you can't find the information online, don't be afraid to call and ask or submit a prequalification application.

Yes, it's possible to qualify for a student credit card with no credit. There are some student cards that don't require a credit history. Make sure you review the application process to see if the card issuer requires a credit history or instead uses alternative data.

You can still use your student credit card after you graduate, but if you have been using your card responsibly, many issuers will have an upgrade path where you can keep your same account but switch to the non-student version of your credit card.

Upon graduation, the one thing your credit card issuer won't do is close your account. However, different card issuers may take various actions once you're no longer considered a student. It's a good idea to reach out to your card issuer to get the details of what will happen to your card. Here are a few possible outcomes:

  • Get an automatic upgrade: Your card issuer might automatically upgrade your card to the non-student version of the card.
  • Request an upgrade: If your card issuer doesn't automatically upgrade your credit card to a non-student version, you may be able to request a product change to a different card the issuer offers.
  • Apply for a new credit card: If you want a different card your card issuer offers and also want the sign-up bonus—or you want a new credit card that you can't get through a product change—you'll have to submit a new application.

Yes, international students can apply for student credit cards. The process will be different as an international student but they are still eligible to apply. Generally, international applicants will need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS and use it instead of a Social Security number. Before applying, check with the card issuer to see if they allow ITINs.

No, having a job is not a requirement to get a student credit card. However, a job can increase your chances of being approved for a student credit card. And remember that if you're under 21, you'll need to prove that you have an independent source of income, so it's a good idea to have a job.

As a college student, here are some of the reasons to consider applying for a student credit card while you're still in school:

  • Build credit for free: Unlike loans and other types of credit-building debt that accrue interest automatically, you can avoid interest charges with a credit card as long as you pay your bill on time and in full every month.
  • Incentives to develop good habits: The sooner you start practicing good credit habits, the better. You don't have to wait until you have access to a full-time salary and high credit limits, either. Many student cards offer certain incentives to encourage you to pay on time and keep your balance low.
  • Earn rewards: Many of the best student credit cards offer rewards when you use them to make purchases. If you're already planning on making that purchase, the extra cash back or points are a nice perk. Plus, over time, those rewards add up.

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