Best Credit Cards for Students with No Credit

Yes, you can open a credit card as a student if you are at least 18 years old and you have some income. Students who are 18 - 20 years old will simply need to show that they earn enough independent income to make minimum monthly payments, while applicants who are 21 or older can also list shared income they have access to, like a spouse’s salary.

The best type of credit card for a student is a student credit card because card issuers tend to give students favorable terms since they have a high earning potential. Students can still apply for non-student credit cards, but approval may be more difficult than with student cards since many have higher credit and income requirements. Below, you’ll find some of the most popular credit cards that students can get, followed by a breakdown of what you need to open a credit card as a student.  

Best Credit Cards to Open as a Student

What You Need to Open a Credit Card as a Student

Independent Income. This can be income from a job, or assets such as investments or an inheritance, for example. It can even be a regular allowance deposited into your bank account. This applies for anyone under 21 years old.

Once you turn 21, you can also list a household member’s income (such as a spouse’s salary) if you have access to it.  

Proof of Citizenship. For most credit cards, you will need to be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident with a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Proof of Enrollment. Most student credit card issuers require applicants to be enrolled in college, and may verify an applicant’s enrollment status before approving their application. Proof may be as simple as your college email address.

If you don’t meet the criteria for a student credit card, you may want to try another starter credit card or even a secured credit card.

A good starter credit card for students is the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see Rates & Fees). This card has a $0 annual fee and offers $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months. Plus, you can earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), along with 1% back on all other purchases (except for 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024).

It is worth noting that nearly all student credit cards qualify as starter credit cards. That is because you can get approved for these cards with limited or no credit history.

Notable Starter Credit Cards for Students

In general, student credit cards are the best starter credit...

One of the best student credit cards with no foreign transaction fee is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see Rates & Fees) because it offers a $0 annual fee and 1.5 - 5% cash back on purchases. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Card (see Rates & Fees)...

The best first credit card for students is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see Rates & Fees) because it reports to the main credit bureaus monthly, has a $0 annual fee, and only requires limited credit for approval. Plus, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Card (see Rates & Fees) gives 1.5 - 5% cash back on purchases. And its intro bonus of $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months is the cherry on top for students getting their first credit card.

Best First Credit Cards for Students

The best first credit card for students with no credit is the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see Rates & Fees) because it offers 1 - 8% cash back on purchases and has a $0 annual fee. Students can get approved for the card with limited credit. Once approved, students can take advantage of the card’s initial bonus of $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months.

Best First Credit Cards for Students with No Credit

Student credit card offers tend to come with lower fees and better rewards than...

When filling out the income field on a student credit card application, you can put wages from full-time or part-time jobs, investment dividends, and most other funds that are regularly deposited into your bank account. Excess scholarship money that ends up in your bank account typically counts as income, too.

In general, if the money is available to pay a debt you owe, and is not earmarked exclusively for education expenses, it usually...

It's a very good idea to get a credit card as a college student because it's one of the best ways to build your credit. Just by owning a credit card and keeping it in good standing, you can go from having no credit at the start of college to fair or even good credit by the time you graduate.

At the very least, college students should have a credit card as an authorized user...