Student Credit Cards: How to Pick the Best One (and How Best to Use It)

You’re in college, and you figure you need a credit card. But you’re not sure you have the credit history to get one. Besides, how do you know which card is the best one for you?

If you don’t know where to start, getting a student credit card can be a good beginning. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing a student credit card and using it to build your financial reputation.

What is a student credit card?

Student credit cards are just what they sound like: credit cards aimed at college students. These credit cards are unsecured, so you don’t have to worry about putting money into an account with the issuer as collateral. In that way, they are similar to “regular” credit cards.

However, qualifying for a standard unsecured card can be tricky, according to Sarah Hollenbeck, a credit card expert with deal site Offers.com. To access to the best deals and rewards, you need to have already built up a credit history — and many college students just aren’t there yet. This is where a student credit card comes in.

“Banks recognize that students are just starting to make bigger purchases and build credit, so they don’t require such a long credit history to approve you for a student card,” Hollenbeck said.

But just because student credit cards are easier to get than their standard counterparts, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some drawbacks. “Realize that a lack of credit history also means that students might see a higher interest rate,” Hollenbeck said.

On top of that, pointed out Matthew Coan, the owner of credit card comparison website Casavvy.com, student credit cards often come with lower credit limits.

And while some student cards come with perks, there are usually fewer rewards opportunities than what you see with standard credit cards. “Most student credit cards just aren’t going to offer 0% APR and balance transfer opportunities that the mainstream cards offer,” Coan said.

Use a student card to build your credit

The main purpose for a student card is to boost your credit to the point where you can qualify for a standard unsecured card down the road and prepare for bigger money decisions, according to Alex Cohen, CEO and cofounder of Birch Finance.

“A credit card is both a tool for personal growth in financial responsibility and a sign to lenders that you’re financially trustworthy,” he said. “They’re a great vehicle for learning financial responsibility and developing good spending habits.”

As you use your student card, here are some of the things you can do to build the kind of credit history that will give you a solid start in your financial life:

Spend small

First of all, said Cohen, it’s important to spend only what you can pay off by the end of the month. Carefully budget your money so that you only buy what’s in your original plan. Credit cards shouldn’t be used for impulse purchases.

“Use the card only occasionally so you avoid spending more than you can pay,” said Jason Steele, a credit-card expert with Credit.com. He pointed out that trying to use a credit card as your main method of spending is an advanced money management technique that should wait until you have more financial practice.

Keep purchases small, planned, and occasional for best results.

Pay off the balance each month

When building your credit history, it’s not about how much money you spend. “Your credit score is basically a grade on how well you pay back money that you borrow,” said Coan. He recommended making your payments on time each month, preferably paying off the entire balance to avoid interest charges.

Steele suggested using tools available to remind you pay on time. Many issuers will send you text alerts to remind you to pay your bill. If you really want to make sure you don’t miss a payment, he proposed setting up automatic debits from your bank account to cover the required amount each month. Just stay on top of the situation so you don’t overdraft your account with autopay.

Keep your credit utilization low

Your credit utilization reflects how big your balance is compared to your credit limit. “Many student cards have limits no bigger than $1,000,” said Hollenbeck. “That limits how much debt you can get in, but it also means you have to be careful about how much you charge.”

Coan said your best credit-building results come when your balance is kept below 30 percent of your credit limit. When you have a $1,000 limit, that means you want to avoid having a balance higher than $300 on your student credit card.

Of course, your limit is your limit. You can charge up to that amount. But it can reduce your ability to build your best possible credit history. And, yes, you can conceivably carry up to 30 percent of your limit from month to month without seeing a negative impact on your credit score. But all of the experts interviewed for this article agreed that your finances will be in better shape if you just pay off the total balance in every billing cycle.

Get help managing your money

When you manage your money intelligently, incorporating your credit card spending into the overall plan, you are more likely to see good results with your credit history, said Steele. He recommended using available tools to help you manage your money. These platforms can help you with everything from setting a budget to understanding and managing your credit:

• Personal finance software such as Mint or Personal Capital
• Credit and money management tools from your credit card issuer or bank
• Consumer credit websites such as Credit Sesame, Credit Karma, and Quizzle

Steele also said it helps to have your parents play a role. “Have a parent or other trusted adult log into the account from time to time, just to check things,” he said. “They can see if it’s being managed well, spot red flags, and help you make positive changes based on what they observe.”

How to choose the right student credit card for you

While Cohen acknowledged there aren’t as many choices for student credit cards as there are for other mainstream credit cards, there are still a significant number of cards available. Deciding which student card will work best for you can be a challenging task.

Cohen suggested starting by analyzing your spending. “Look at your past purchases to see which areas you spend the most money on,” he said. “Your past spending habits will help you figure out which cards have the perks you’re looking for.”

Hollenback advised looking for student-specific perks to offset the lack of more traditional rewards, such as systems that take into account your college GPA or the number of on-time payments you make.

“Since student cards have higher interest rates, it’s important to take advantage of all the other reward opportunities you can,” she said. “Plus, a cash incentive for your grades can help you do well in school while building your credit from the ground up.”

Steele said that there are student rewards cards that offer cash back, travel points, and signing bonuses. However, they might be harder to get than cards that don’t offer these perks. He suggested on focusing on simplicity when deciding what cards to apply for.

“It can help to get a card issued by the same bank or credit union you already have a checking or savings account with,” he said. “That way, payments become simply a matter of transferring funds between accounts. Besides, many of these institutions offer student cards with lower interest rates and management tools that help you learn good financial habits.”

5 student credit cards to help you get started

Now that you have an idea about some of the strategies for using a student credit card, let’s take a look at which card might be right for you. Check out these five cards recommended by the experts:

Discover it Chrome Card for College Students

If you’re looking for an all-around card that offers student-based perks on top of more-standard rewards, then Coan suggests the Discover it Chrome Card for College Students as a good choice. This card comes with such perks as:

• 0% APR on purchases for the first six months
• No penalty charged on your first late payment
• 2% cash back on up to $1,000 per quarter in restaurant and gas station purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• $20 cash back for each year that your GPA remains at 3.0 or higher
• Dollar-for-dollar match on all the cash back earned at the end of your first year

On top of those features, the Discover it Chrome for College Students comes with no annual fee and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

The card also comes with security features that Coan likes. “You have the option to freeze your account if you lose your card,” he said. “Discover will also monitor your Social Security number and alert you if anyone is trying to use it to obtain credit elsewhere.”

Citi ThankYou Preferred Card for College Students

Hollenbeck recommends the Citi ThankYou Preferred Card for College Students as one that offers some decent rewards — even if they aren’t quite on par with other Citi cards meant for customers with more credit experience. Some of the perks that Hollenbeck likes include:

• 0% APR on purchases for the first seven months
• 2,500 bonus ThankYou Points when you spend $500 within the first three months of card membership
• Receive two ThankYou Points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants and for entertainment
• Receive one ThankYou Point for each dollar spent on other purchases

You don’t have to worry about an annual fee with this student credit card, said Hollenbeck, but you do have to deal with a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, making this card less than ideal for those who decide to study abroad.

Capital One Journey Student Credit Card

While the Capital One Journey Student Credit Card doesn’t come with the same level of rewards as some other student credit cards — and you won’t get a 0% APR offer — Steele likes its money and credit management tools, such as access to credit monitoring tool CreditWise. The card also features:

• 1% cash back on all purchases
• 1.25% cash back for the month when you pay on time
• Higher credit limit after making your first five payments on time

This card does come with a higher interest rate on purchases than some of the other student cards. However, Steele says this could be an advantage since it might encourage students to pay off their balances in full each month, especially with the card’s emphasis on money-management tools. Plus, the card doesn’t charge an annual fee, and you don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees when you leave the country.

Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students

If you already have a Bank of America account, Steele said, the Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students Card can provide you with a bonus. It comes with 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles, as well as:

• $150 cash back when you make $500 in purchases during your first three months
• 1% cash back on every purchase
• 2% cash back on grocery and wholesale club purchases
• 3% cash back on gas purchases
• 10% customer bonus if you redeem your cash back into your Bank of America checking or savings account

On top of these perks, Steele points out that the Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students card comes with access to your FICO score, updated monthly. You can look at key factors impacting your score to help you make better decisions. Plus, there is no annual fee, though unfortunately for students traveling abroad, there are foreign transaction fees.

Chase Freedom

Even though this isn’t strictly a student card, Cohen likes Chase Freedom for students who have had time to establish their credit. If you’ve used a student credit card for a couple of years and managed to build a history, this card can be a good option during your junior or senior year. Some of the rewards you can expect include:

• 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
• $150 signing bonus when you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in certain purchase categories each quarter
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Like other cards suitable for students, the Chase Freedom card doesn’t have an annual fee. However, there are foreign transaction fees that you have to be wary of.

Staying on top of your finances

No matter which student credit card you choose, the important thing is to practice good financial habits. Figure out a spending plan and stick to it. And avoid buying more than you can afford with your credit card.

Remember: Your credit card is a tool. It can help your finances, but it can also be a disaster if not used responsibly.

Interested in a personal loan?

Here are the top personal loan lenders of 2018!

Lender	APR Range	Loan Amount
1 Includes AutoPay discount. Important Disclosures for SoFi. SoFi Disclosures Personal Loans: Fixed rates from 7.08% APR to 15.37% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 5.81% APR to 14.11% APR (with AutoPay). SoFi rate ranges are current as of August 10, 2018 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, to qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, years of professional experience, income and other factors. See APR examples and terms. Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at 14.95%. Lowest variable rate of 5.81% APR assumes current 1-month LIBOR rate of 2.07% plus 4.175% margin minus 0.25% AutoPay discount. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Minimum Credit Score: Not all applicants who meet SoFi’s minimum credit score requirements are approved for a personal loan. In addition to meeting SoFi’s minimum eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet other credit and underwriting requirements to qualify. SoFi Personal Loans are not available to residents of MS. Maximum interest rate on loans for residents of AK and WY is 9.99% APR, for residents of IL with loans over $40,000 is 8.99% APR, for residents of TX is 9.99% APR on terms greater than 5 years, for residents of CO, CT, HI, VA, SC is 11.99% APR, and for residents of ME is 12.24% APR. Personal loans not available to residents of MI who already have a student loan with SoFi. Personal Loans minimum loan amount is $5,000. Residents of AZ, MA, and NH have a minimum loan amount of $10,001. Residents of KY have a minimum loan amount of $15,001. Residents of PA have a minimum loan amount of $25,001. Variable rates not available to residents of AK, TX, VA, WY, or for residents of IL for loans greater than $40,000. Terms and Conditions Apply: SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS #1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 2 Includes AutoPay discount. Important Disclosures for Payoff. Payoff Disclosures All loans are subject to credit review and approval. Your actual rate depends upon credit score, loan amount, loan term, credit usage and history. Currently loans are not offered in: MA, MS, NE, NV, OH, and WV. 3 Important Disclosures for FreedomPlus. FreedomPlus Disclosures All loans available through FreedomPlus.com are made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. All loan and rate terms are subject to eligibility restrictions, application review, credit score, loan amount, loan term, lender approval, and credit usage and history. Eligibility for a loan is not guaranteed. Loans are not available to residents of all states – please call a FreedomPlus representative for further details. The following limitations, in addition to others, shall apply: FreedomPlus does not arrange loans in: (i) Arizona under $10,500; (ii) Massachusetts under $6,500, (iii) Ohio under $5,500, and (iv) Georgia under $3,500. Repayment periods range from 24 to 60 months. The range of APRs on loans made available through FreedomPlus is 4.99% to a maximum of 29.99%. APR. The APR calculation includes all applicable fees, including the loan origination fee. For Example, a four year $20,000 loan with an interest rate of 15.49% and corresponding APR of 18.34% would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and a total cost payable of $7,948.13. To qualify for a 4.99% APR loan, a borrower will need excellent credit on a loan of $15,000 with a term of 24 months, and qualify for at least two of the following discounts: (1) add a co-borrower who has sufficient income; (2) use at least fifty percent of the loan proceeds to directly pay off existing debt; or (3) show proof of having at least forty-thousand dollars in retirement savings – contact FreedomPlus for further details. 4 Important Disclosures for Citizens Bank. Citizens Bank Disclosures Personal Loan Rate Disclosure: Fixed interest rates from 6.49% – 19.49% (6.49% – 19.49% APR) based on applicable terms. Lowest rates range from 5.99%-18.99% (5.99%-18.99% APR), are for eligible applicants, require a 3-year repayment term, and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment Discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Subject to additional terms and conditions, and rates are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change. Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower has submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, student loans or other personal loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI and VT. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) disclosed in the Truth-In-Lending Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan, and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan. Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their Citizens Bank Personal Loan during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account two or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount. 5 Important Disclosures for LendingPoint. LendingPoint Disclosures Loan approval is not guaranteed. Actual loan offers and loan amounts, terms and annual percentage rates (“APR”) may vary based upon LendingPoint’s proprietary scoring and underwriting system’s review of your credit, financial condition, other factors, and supporting documents or information you provide. Origination or other fees from 0% to 6% may apply depending upon your state of residence. Upon LendingPoint’s final underwriting approval to fund a loan, said funds are often sent via ACH the next non-holiday business day. LendingPoint makes loan offers from $2,000 to $25,000, at rates ranging from a low of 15.49% APR to a high of 34.49% APR, with terms from 24 to 48 months. The loan offer(s) shown reflect a 28 day payment cycle which is being offered as a courtesy as many of our customers are paid on a biweekly schedule and thus this may better align the loan payment dates with your actual income receipt schedule. 6 Important Disclosures for LendingClub. LendingClub Disclosures All loans made by WebBank, Member FDIC. Your actual rate depends upon credit score, loan amount, loan term, and credit usage & history. The APR ranges from 6.16% to 35.89%. For example, you could receive a loan of $6,000 with an interest rate of 7.99% and a 5.00% origination fee of $300 for an APR of 11.51%. In this example, you will receive $5,700 and will make 36 monthly payments of $187.99. The total amount repayable will be $6,767.64. Your APR will be determined based on your credit at time of application. The origination fee ranges from 1% to 6% and the average origination fee is 5.49% as of Q1 2017. There is no down payment and there is never a prepayment penalty. Closing of your loan is contingent upon your agreement of all the required agreements and disclosures on the www.lendingclub.com website. All loans via LendingClub have a minimum repayment term of 36 months or longer. 7 Important Disclosures for Earnest. Earnest Disclosures Earnest does not lend in Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada, or Rhode Island. 8 Important Disclosures for Avant. Avant Disclosures * The actual rate and loan amount that a customer qualifies for may vary based on credit determination and other factors. Funds are generally deposited via ACH for delivery next business day if approved by 4:30pm CT Monday-Friday. Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC. ** Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33 * Important Disclosures for Upgrade Bank. Upgrade Bank Disclosures * Your loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification and review process. You may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income and your identity. This rate includes an Autopay APR reduction of 0.5%. By enrolling in Autopay your payments will be automatically deducted from you bank account. Selecting Autopay is optional. Annual Percentage Rate is inclusive of a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. All loans made by WebBank, member FDIC. Please refer to Upgrade’s Terms of Use and Borrower Agreement for all terms, conditions and requirements. ** Accept your loan offer and your funds will be sent to your bank via ACH within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes this transaction. From the time of approval, funds should be available within four (4) business days.
	7.73% – 29.99%	$1,000 - $50,000	Visit Upstart
	5.81% – 15.37%1	$5,000 - $100,000	Visit SoFi
	6.87% – 35.97%*	$1,000 - $50,000	Visit Upgrade
	8.00% – 25.00%2	$5,000 - $35,000	Visit Payoff
	4.99% – 29.99%3	$10,000 - $35,000	Visit FreedomPlus
	5.99% – 18.99%4	$5,000 - $50,000	Visit Citizens
	15.49% – 34.49%5	$2,000 - $25,000	Visit LendingPoint
	6.16% – 35.89%6	$1,000 - $40,000	Visit LendingClub
	5.49% – 18.24%7	$5,000 - $75,000	Visit Earnest
	9.95% – 35.99%8	$2,000 - $35,000	Visit Avant