What are the top student credit card benefits?

The top student credit card benefits are rewards in important spending categories for students and 0% APR periods. College students in the U.S. spend a whopping $11 billion per year on food, which means student credit cards with dining or grocery store rewards categories will benefit college students in a big way. The same goes for rewards on gas—the average college student spends between $1,000 and $5,000 on gas annually. About 75% of college students use credit cards, and many carry a balance from month to month, so a student card with a long 0% intro APR period could be a godsend to a student eager to pay off a lingering debt.

The Bank of America Cash Rewards card for Students seems to hit all of those notes. It offers 3% cash back in a chosen category—gas and dining are two options—and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. The card has 0% APR for 15 months, and a $200 bonus for spending $1,000 in 90 days.

Cash back for good grades and rewards for paying your bill on time are perks, but in the long run, students will find ongoing rewards and lower APRs far more beneficial.