Best Student Credit Cards to Build Credit in 2020

As a student, you can start to build credit by getting a student credit card. The best student credit cards to build credit are not only designed to help you start building good credit habits but also allow you to earn some great perks and…

Last Updated: September 20, 2020

Last Updated: September 20, 2020

Best Student Credit Card to Build Credit - The Finance Boost

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As a student, you can start to build credit by getting a student credit card. The best student credit cards to build credit are not only designed to help you start building good credit habits but also allow you to earn some great perks and rewards along the way.

Whether you're looking for a credit card that rewards you for good grades, a credit card with the most cash rewards, a credit card that can get you the most travel points, or one that's easy to use as an international student, there's a credit card in this list that's the best one for you. 

Best Student Credit Cards to Build Credit


Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®

Best for First Credit Card

Pros

  • No Annual Fee
  • Good for building credit with limited or no prior credit history
  • Can Qualify with low credit score
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees

Cons

  • Higher APR
  • More rewards on other cards
  • No Introductory bonus

Rewards Rate

Earn 1% cash back on net purchases

Earn extra 0.25% cash back for on-time payment

Intro APR

N/A

Standard APR

26.99% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Needed

580-740

Highlights

  • Earn 1% cashback on net purchases, and rewards never expire
  • Make payment early and earn an extra 0.25% (total 1.25%) cashback on purchases that month
  • No foreign transaction fees, so feel free to make international purchases
  • No annual fees and no deposit required
  • Higher credit card line review in 6 months
  • $0 fraud liability if your card is lost or stolen
  • View your balance, recent transactions, and pay your credit card bill on the go with Eno, the Capital one assistant
  • Get free unlimited access to monitor your credit profile with Creditwise
  • Coverage for damage due to collision or theft on eligible auto rentals that are purchased with your credit card
  • Get free extended warranty protection at no charge on eligible items that are purchased with your credit card
  • Set up Autopay to automatically pay your monthly credit card bill
  • You can pick a monthly due date of your choice

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Best Student Credit Card for Good Grades

best student credit card for good grades

Pros

  • No Annual Fee
  • 0% intro APR for the first year
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • Free FICO credit score
  • No Penalty fee on the first late payment

Cons

  • Discover is not accepted widely internationally.
  • You have to remember to activate cashback categories to earn rewards

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases each quarter

Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 1st year

Standard APR

12.99% to 21.99% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Needed

630-689

Highlights

  • Get $20 statement credit each school year if your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next five years.
  • Earn 5% cashback on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
  • Earn unlimited 1% cashback on all other purchases automatically.
  • Get automatic cashback match on cash back earned at the end of the year.
  • There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
  • Redeem rewards for cash at any time and also use rewards at amazon at anytime
  • Get fraud alerts on suspicious credit activity.
  • Freeze card when lost or stolen.
  • 0$ fraud liability when your card is lost or stolen

Bank of America® Cash Rewards for Students

Best Student Credit Card for Cash Bonus

Pros

  • No Annual Fee
  • Intro Cash Bonus
  • Intro Bonus APR

Cons

  • There's a 3% balance transfer fee.
  • Quarterly limit on the 3% and 3% cashback reward categories

Rewards Rate

Earn 3% and 2% cash back on select category each quarter

Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 1st year

Standard APR

13.99% – 23.99% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Needed

620-659

Highlights

  • Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening
  • Enjoy 3% and 2% cashback on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter
  • Earn 1% cashback on all other purchases
  • You can change the choice category for future purchases once each calendar month or make no changes, and it stays the same.
  • Monitor your credit with free unlimited access to your FICO Score
  • Redeem your cash rewards for any amount, anytime for statement credits, deposits made directly into a Bank of America® checking or savings account, or for credit to an eligible account with Merrill.
  • Get overdraft protection by linking a checking account. Terms may apply

Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students' Rewards

Best Credit Card for International Students

Pros

  • No Annual Fee
  • No International transaction fees

Cons

  • No balance transfer allowed
  • There are higher rewards form other cards

Rewards Rate

Earn 1% cash back on all purchases

Intro APR

N/A

Standard APR

18.74% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Needed

601-850

Highlights

  • Get free Amazon Prime Student for a year after you make purchases of up to $500 in the first 3 months
  • Earn 1% cashback on all purchases
  • There's no charge for international transaction fees
  • International students can apply without having a social security number
  • Enjoy cellular protection coverage of up to $600 if your phone gets stolen or damaged
  • Stay Protected with the Mastercard ID Theft Prevention™ and Master Rental® programs by Mastercard

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Best Student Credit Card for Travel Points

Pros

  • No Annual Fee
  • No International transaction fees
  • Up to $250 bonus for travel purchases
  • No blackout dates

Cons

  • No Auto Rental damage coverage
  • No travel accident insurance

Rewards Rate

Earn 1% cash back on all purchases

Intro APR

0% for the first year

Standard APR

14.99% – 22.99% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Needed

601-850

Highlights

  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases, which can be applied toward any flight or hotel.
  • No foreign transaction fees, so feel free to travel with your card.
  • Enjoy 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Zero Fraud Liability – You're not liable if your credit card gets lost or stolen.
  • Stay Protected with Contactless Chip Technology
  • Free FICO® Score access to monitor and build your credit
  • Stay up to date with your account with mobile banking and text alerts

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7 Comments

  1. DarmiMaddie

    My little brother would be resuming for college sooner and I am considering him getting a credit card noe since I cannot be affording to send him money that often again since the pandemic had made me lose my job. However, I still think that a better portion of all these could make the difference for me. Thank you for sharing here. Thanks

    • Mosun Solebo

      You’re very welcome DarmiMaddie. I’m sorry about your job.

  2. Jbryce

    It’s gonna be very interesting to use this article ass guide cos it is very detailed and it’ll be of help to a lot of people. As students, you should know how to save money for  yourself, it’ll help you do things by yourself. These credit cards are so good and fit for students, the offers here are very

  3. Lawson

    Hello Mosun, I’ve never really thought about getting a particular credit card for the benefits that come with it but this is really one very clever article that I appreciate the understanding in it. I like the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One for the fact that there are no charges for some things and that is cool

  4. Adyns68

    Great topic!

    Many students get into loans without really weighing the pros and cons. They do not know that from the first time you get a credit card, you start building your credit score. So, you need to make sure that your first credit card gives you all that you can afford to build a great credit score.

    Thanks for sharing!

  5. Lawson

    My son will soon get into college and for a while now he has been all over me to get him his own credit card but I have delayed it for the fact that I don’t know which student credit card would be best for us to  go with. Here I have some really good options and the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One would be a nice option. 

    • Mosun Solebo

      I’m sure he’ll like it Lawson. That’s a great “first” credit card to have

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