Choosing the best student credit card for you

Student credit cards are designed for college students who have limited or no credit history. Student cards generally work the same as traditional credit cards. But they may have lower credit limits and be easier to qualify for. Plus, they might offer rewards tailored to students. 

Using a credit card responsibly to build credit while you’re in school could help after graduation when you’re ready to rent an apartment, buy a house or apply for jobs.  Find out more about the best credit cards for students.

What you’ll learn: 

• Student credit cards are designed for college students who have little or no credit history.

• Student cards may have lower credit limits and be easier to qualify for than traditional credit cards. 

• Capital One Quicksilver Student cardholders can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.

• Capital One Savor Student cardholders can earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Capital One offers two student rewards credit cards: the Quicksilver Student card and the Savor Student card.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the benefits of the Quicksilver Student card.

View important rates and disclosures.

Here are a few perks of being a Savor Student cardholder. ​​

View important rates and disclosures.

As with all credit cards, you have to be at least 18 years old to apply for a student credit card. But if you’re under 21, you have to prove you have enough income to cover the minimum monthly payments or have a co-signer.

To be eligible for student credit cards, you might also have to show that you’re enrolled in a college or university. To qualify for a Capital One student card, you need to be enrolled, or admitted and planning to enroll in the next three months, at an accredited university, community college or other higher education institution.

You may be able to get a student credit card with no credit history. In fact, student credit cards are typically designed for college students who may be applying for their first credit card and have limited or no credit history. You might not even need a credit score to apply. 

You may be able to get a student credit card even if you don’t have any income. But credit card issuers have different policies. And if you’re under 21, federal law requires you to show that your personal income is enough to cover at least the monthly minimum payments. 

Some credit issuers may consider scholarships, earnings from a work-study position and regular financial support from a family member as personal income. If you can’t show adequate income, you may be able to get a co-signer. But many major issuers don’t allow co-signers.

When you compare cards, rewards, terms and benefits are good places to start. Here are a few steps to consider taking before choosing a student card.

The best student card for you is one that aligns with your needs and spending habits. 

The Savor Student card and the Quicksilver Student card let you earn rewards on every purchase you make with the card. Both cards also offer elevated rewards for purchases through Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment. And with the Savor student card, you can earn elevated rewards at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services too.

Capital One’s rewards credit cards also offer flexible redemption options. That could mean applying cash back toward a recent purchase, crediting your account to lower your balance or redeeming rewards for gift cards.

Credit card terms and agreements can be pretty hefty. You can get into the details by reading Schumer boxes. But before you go too deep, you might start here:  

• Annual fees: Some credit cards charge an annual fee to use and access their benefits. But not the Savor Student or Quicksilver Student cards. View important rates and disclosures.

• Annual percentage rate (APR): APR represents the price of borrowing money. Credit cards have multiple APRs, depending on the transaction. And keep in mind that you can typically avoid interest on new purchases if you pay your balance off every month. 

• Foreign transaction fees: Some student credit card issuers charge foreign transaction fees for purchases outside the U.S. But these fees can be tough if you’re on a budget or planning to study abroad. Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on any of its credit cards, including student cards. View important rates and disclosures.

Consider looking into any extra perks and benefits that might come with a student credit card. 

• Bonuses: Some credit cards offer bonuses to new cardholders. Both the Savor Student and Quicksilver Student cards let you earn a $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 within three months of opening an account.

• Account management features: Some issuers have features to help make managing your account easy and secure. With the Capital One Mobile app, you can keep track of your accounts anywhere, anytime. You can pay your bill, view your balance and transactions, and even review your rewards status and history. You can also use virtual cards to shop online faster and more securely without needing your physical card.

• Security protections: With Capital One’s $0 fraud liability, you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized charges posted to your account. You can also lock your card if it’s lost or stolen. And Capital One fraud alerts can notify you if suspicious activity is spotted on your credit card account.

Building good credit can set you up for future financial success. When your credit card issuer reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus, it builds a record of how you’ve managed debt. When you use a student credit card responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments, you can build a positive credit history. And that can help improve your credit scores. Then, when you graduate, you won’t be starting from scratch.

Having a good credit history can help you in a lot of different situations, including:

• Qualifying for more credit: Good credit scores can help you qualify for a mortgage, a car loan, a private student loan and more. They could also help you secure a lower interest rate and a higher credit limit.

• Finding a home: Landlords may check your credit history when you apply to rent an apartment.

• Buying a cellphone: If you have poor credit, some cell phone companies may require a security deposit or ask you to prepay when opening your account. Good credit may help you avoid those up-front costs.

• Getting a job: When you apply for a job, some companies may look at your credit reports as part of a background check. While it’s possible to get a job with less-than-perfect credit, employers might see things like late payments and bankruptcies as possible red flags. 

• Securing utility services: Your credit may also be considered when you set up accounts for utilities like electricity or internet. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a good credit history can help you get approved to set up utility accounts. And a poor credit history may make it more difficult.

Still have questions about student credit cards? Look no further.

If you’re looking for a way to build credit while you’re in college, using a student credit card responsibly may be a good option. And with both the Quicksilver Student card and the Savor Student card, you can earn rewards at the same time.

You can check whether you’re pre-approved today. The process is simple and won’t harm your credit scores.