Paul Kessler, WalletHub Credit Card Analyst
@p.kessler
The best credit cards for medical students include Journey Student Rewards from Capital One with its 1.25% cash back on all purchases and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students with its 15 months of 0% financing. If you have limited credit, student cards can give you better terms than you’d normally by eligible for. And contrary to what some people might believe, student cards aren’t just for undergrads. The average med school student is 24-25, and as long as you’re enrolled in a school and have little to no credit history, you have great odds.
If you’ve already built good credit, however, you can get higher-tier rewards cards. Medical school is expensive, so saving 2% on everything you buy with the Citi Double Cash Card would go a long way. And you’ll definitely need a vacation after all your studies, or at least a trip home for the holidays, so Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be appealing, with its sizeable travel bonus and 2% back on all purchases.
Here are the best credit cards for medical students:
- Journey Student Rewards from Capital One: 1% cash back on all purchases, 1.25% when paying the bill on time (except for 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel). $0 annual fee. You can get this card with fair or limited credit.
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent on these categories combined per quarter), and 1% on all other purchases. 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months - 3% (min $10) fee. $0 annual fee. You can get this card with fair or limited credit.
- Citi Double Cash Card: 2% cash back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay for those purchases). 18 months 0% intro APR on balance transfers, with a transfer fee of 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer. You can transfer student loans to this card. $0 annual fee. Good credit needed.
- Capital One Venture: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. $95 annual fee. Good credit needed.
To qualify for a student card, you’ll usually have to provide some information about your enrollment in a U.S. college or university. This typically includes what year in school you are and whether you’re a full-time or part-time student. It may also include the name of your school and your mailing address there.
Even if you have no credit history, passing that test should allow you to qualify. But student cards don’t hold up as well against cards for good credit. If you already have a 660+ score, you should be able to get one of the best credit cards on the market.
Dodger Bernard, Member
@dodger_bernard
There aren't any special credit cards for med students. Any student credit with decent fees and rewards should be fine. I like the Discover it Student Chrome. It has a great rewards bonus.
Rob Hennesey, Member
@rob_hennesey
The same cards that work for all students: secured cards or starter cards, like Journey.
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