Build Credit While
Surviving on Ramen
You have zero income and questionable spending habits. Luckily, banks want you anyway. These cards are the only ones worth applying for.
The 30-Second Summary
- 🏆 Best Overall: Discover it® Student (Double rewards year 1)
- 🍔 Best for Foodies: Capital One Savor Student (3% Dining & Groceries)
- 🚀 Best "First" Card: Chase Freedom Rise℠ (No credit history needed)
- 🤯 Highest Earning: Bank of America® Student (6% Category Offer)
The Honor Roll
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover it Student Cash Back review 2025: 5% rotating categories, cash back match, and rewards for good grades. The best card for college students?
Chase Freedom® Student
Chase Freedom Student review 2025: 1% cash back and a $20 annual bonus. Note: This card is no longer accepting new applications.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
Bank of America Student Cash Rewards review 2025: 3% cash back in a category of your choice. The most flexible student credit card?
How to Not Ruin Your Life by Age 22
Banks are not giving you these cards because they like you. They are giving them to you because they hope you'll mess up, carry a balance, and pay them 29% interest for the next decade.
The "Don't Be An Idiot" Checklist
- Rule #1: Never spend money you don't currently have in your checking account. Credit cards are for spending money, not borrowing money.
- Rule #2: Set up Auto-Pay for the "Statement Balance." Not the "Minimum Payment." The minimum payment is a trap designed to keep you in debt forever.
- Rule #3: Keep your utilization low. If your limit is $1,000, try not to have a balance higher than $300 when the statement closes. It helps your score grow faster.
⚠️ Campus Scams
Avoid any credit card table set up on your campus quad giving away free t-shirts or pizza. Those are usually predatory cards with terrible terms. Apply online for the cards listed above instead.
Advertiser Disclosure: CardSnark is an independent website. We receive compensation when you apply through our links. This does not influence our editorial opinions.