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September 2023: Best Student Credit Cards & Loans from Our Partners
Having a credit card is vital in today's world - not only is it a way to manage personal finances, but it also allows to build credit history. Without a solid credit history, you won't be able to get a mortgage or a car loan when the time comes. Start your credit history with a student credit card designed for young people with limited or no credit history.
- Best for Students
- Student Loans
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
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- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
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- Click "APPLY ONLINE" to apply now
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
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- Click "APPLY ONLINE" to apply now
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
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- For a limited time earn $300 in cashback rewards towards any eligible student loan after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.
- 2% cashback towards eligible student loans.
- 1% cashback towards anything else.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- No interest for the first 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days.
- The first credit card that lets you redeem cashback towards your student loans with any eligible servicer.
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- Pay for your masters, doctoral, or professional degree with or without a cosigner.
- 1% Cash Back Reward upon graduation.
- Check your pre-qualified rates in minutes without impacting your credit score.
- Choose between fixed or variable interest rates.
- No application, origination, or disbursement fees AND there's no penalty if you pay off your loan early.
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- Fixed rates starting at 4.49% - 8.99% APR (with AutoPay)8 $comm_161 = "yes"; ?>
- Loan terms: 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 year
- No application, no origination fees required, no prepayment penalties
- Find a lower rate? We'll match it and give you $100 when your loan is funded. Terms apply12 $comm_191 = "yes"; ?>
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- Exclusive benefit to Juno members is currently offering up to $1,000 cash back for borrowers who refinance with Splash. For Earnest and Laurel Road borrowers, it promises a rate reduction of 0.25%. With Laurel Road, you can also make $100 payments while you're in medical residency or fellowship.
- Juno is able to negotiate lower rates on student loans and student loan refinancing.
- Signup - no cost, no commitment, no credit check
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- Find your lowest rate from competing lenders
- Loans up to $300K. Rates from 3.27%
- Checking rates won't affect your credit score
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our choice
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
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more things to know ABOUT STUDENT
CREDIT CARDS
Student cards are a start-up line of credit, and as such, they often have slightly higher interest rates and initial credit limit of around $500. However, you still need to make all credit card monthly payments on time and pay off your card balance in full whenever possible as it will help you to save on interest and build good credit habits.
These are credit-card basics you probably know about already, but there's more to learn about the world of credit, to put you on the road to a lifetime of good credit.
Do your homework
Always read Terms and Conditions the fine print - it might not seem that important, but it really is. You need to be familiar with the terms and conditions of any credit card you apply for. This will help you to avoid some fees, like interest payments or late fees, and know what to expect when you are late with a monthly credit card fee.
Be credit-wise
Your credit, good or bad, will be established now depending on the way you manage your card. Be smart and get a good start. Make sure you know your due date and make your monthly credit card payments in advance. Note that by making only minimum monthly payment due, it will take an eternity to pay off the credit cards debt. It is recommended to pay off the card balance in full by the due date each month, which will help you to avoid interest payments and is definitely good for your credit.
Pay off right away
When you pay your balances immediately or by the due date, you pay no interest. The longer you take to pay, the more interest adds up - an item that was a bargain in the beginning can end up costing a pretty penny in the end if you don't pay it off quickly! And you'd better avoid cash advances as they start accruing interest on the date of transaction. Cash advance transactions have no grace period, so avoid withdrawing cash from your credit card.
No Co-Signer
Today many student credit cards do not require a co-signer which would be responsible for any debt if the student defaults. If you want to establish your own credit history, you can freely apply for any student credit card as the co-signer is no longer an obligatory requirement.
questionsABOUT STUDENT
CREDIT CARDS
I am a student and do not have credit at all. Do you think I will qualify for the Blue card from American Express?
To apply for the Blue card from American Express you need to have a good or excellent credit score. This means you need a credit score of at least 700†. Although, some applicants have been approved with a credit...
Read moreI am a student and do not have credit at all. Do you think I will qualify for the Ulta Beauty card?
The Ulta Beauty's credit card is a store credit card and store cards usually require applicants to have an average credit history. Also, like any store credit card, Ultra credit card comes with a high interest rate of...
Read moreIf I get the student debit card from Community First union, will I be able to build my credit history?
No. Debit cards as well as prepaid cards won't allow you to build credit history. The reason is, you are not given access to a credit account and the debit card activity is not reported to the major credit bureaus. If...
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