What are the best credit cards for graduate students?

The best credit cards for young professionals are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. They all offer above-average rewards per $1 spent, plus a sign-up deal of some kind.

Young professionals are likely to have some credit history behind them and to want a credit card that rewards an on-the-go lifestyle while not costing them too much or being too rigid with rewards redemption. You can get to know the top options a bit better below.... read full answer

Best Credit Cards for Young Professionals

Initial Bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, a total of 10 points per $1 spent on prepaid restaurant reservations or takeout orders made through Chase, a total of 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $550

Min. Credit Required: Excellent credit

Initial Bonus: $200 cash rewards after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 2% cash rewards on all purchases

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Intro APR: 0% for up to 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Regular APR: 17.74% - 29.74% Variable

Balance Transfer Fee: 3% intro for 120 days, then up to 5% (min $5)

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Good credit

Initial Bonus:

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $39

Min. Credit Required: Limited History

Ongoing Rewards: 4 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and food delivery), 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores (including grocery delivery) as well as with streaming services, EV charging stations and gas stations, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0

Min. Credit Required: Bad credit

Whether you travel frequently or stay put most of the time, credit cards can be rewarding no matter which bracket you fall into as a young professional. Take your time to weigh out what you want in a credit card versus how you spend your money. And whichever rewards you end up choosing, make sure you redeem them often.

For more options, check out the rest of the best credit cards available right now.

One of the best travel credit cards for beginners who are new to credit is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Plus, Capital One QuicksilverOne has a $0 foreign transaction fee, which makes it a good option for international travel. The card also has a $39 annual fee, but its rewards can more than cover the cost.... read full answer

Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners to Credit

The best travel card for you depends on your overall credit standing and what you’re looking for in terms of rewards and fees. For more advice, check out WalletHub’s tips on how to choose a credit card for the first time.

A student credit card is a card designed specifically for college students with limited credit history or better. Student credit cards are easier to get than the average credit card, and they usually have $0 annual fees, rewards, and minimum credit limits of $300 or so. Some student credit cards offer low introductory APRs, but the regular APR on student credit cards tends to be above average.... read full answer

Students generally have less credit history and less income than professionals and older adults. However, they come with assumed future earning potential. So, credit card companies are more willing to approve a student with no credit history than a non-student newcomer. Student credit cards work just like regular credit cards. They’re just aimed at students.

Notable Student Credit Cards

It’s important to remember that student credit cards are definitely real credit cards. So, make sure to use your student credit card responsibly. The high APRs can be a big extra weight if you carry a balance.

What You Should Know About Student Credit Cards

1. Overview

Student credit cards can help students with fair, limited, or no credit build their credit history. The right student card can also teach responsible credit card habits to people who are new to the game. For example, some give bonus rewards for on-time bill payments and/or good grades.

2. Requirements

You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a student credit card, just like with any other credit card. If you’re under 21, you’ll need independent income and won’t be able to use shared household income. Money from even a part-time job will help your approval odds.

Plus, you’ll most likely be asked about your school information on the application. Limited or no credit history usually is not an issue with student cards, but if you already have bad credit, you may not get approved. In that case, you may want to aim for a secured credit card, like the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.

3. Card perks

Student credit cards tend to offer $0 annual fees and rewards on purchases. These perks aren’t always available on credit cards for people with less-than-good credit. Some student credit cards even offer an initial bonus or a low introductory APR.

4. Reasons to get a student credit card

The main reason why you should get a student credit card is to build credit inexpensively. Most student cards come with no annual fees and accept people with no credit history. Plus, student cards tend to have better rewards and lower APRs than other starter credit cards.

Another good reason to get a credit card as a student is to have some additional security in case of emergency situations.

5. Risks of getting a student card

Missing payments and racking up debt are the biggest concerns when it comes to credit cards as a college student. But there are easy ways to minimize the risk while still reaping all the benefits.

For example, you’ll be less likely to miss any due dates if you set up automatic payments from a bank account. You could also pay any annual fee the card may have and then lock the card away somewhere safe – to resist the temptation to overspend. You’ll still build credit that way.

6. How to apply for a student card

You can generally apply for a student credit card online or at a branch. In some cases, you can also apply over the phone, depending on the card.

Keep in mind that you will need to provide your annual income and your Social Security number (or an applicable alternative for international students). Some other personal information might be required as well, along with information about your school.

Alternative Options for Students Under 18 Years Old

If you’re under 18 and you’re interested in getting your first credit card, you can become an authorized user on someone else’s account. This can help you build credit and be well-positioned when you’re old enough to qualify for your own credit card account.