2018’s Best Credit Cards for College Students

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

• Low interest rates;

• Cash back;

• Free credit score;

• Free credit protection.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

The purchase of college supplies and textbooks, and international travel.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

• Not fully understanding personal finance;

• Relying on parents to pay off personal credit debt -- this leaves no opportunity for the student to manage debt;

• Spending more than their income from all sources while on campus.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

First, take a course in personal finance. Most colleges offer such courses.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

The current situation is just right.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

Though credit cards are all different, they all share the following attributions:

• Type of card;

• Credit limit;

• Grace period;

• Overdraft protection;

• Annual fee;

• Interest rate;

• The method of calculating the financial charge;

• Cash advance feature;

• Incentive to use the card;

• Late and missed payment penalties.

The variations in credit card attributes make choosing a credit card challenging. What is good for one student is not always good for another. Responsible users can enjoy all the benefits that credit cards bring, and avoid all the pitfalls. But college students tend to be less experienced and less responsible users of credit cards: They make impulsive purchases, miss payments, not pay the credit balance in full each month, etc. Because of this, students are more likely to carry over credit card balances. I would say the best student credit cards share the attributions of lower interest rate and longer grace period.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

I agree with critics about the risks of credit cards if not used responsibly, but also agree responsible use during college -- with supervision and training offered by parents and personal finance seminar/class -- can help give college students a financial head start in the future. Empowerment is the key to solving student credit card problems, not avoidance. Students should first take time to research and compare credit cards and find one that best matches their lifestyle and spending habits. Due to low income and lack of experience, students should only use credit card for the purpose of convenience and building their credit history. The best way for a college student to use a credit card is to buy textbooks online and book airfares to home. Using secured credit cards can be a great option for students with no credit history to build their credit history.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

The biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards I think is that many students don’t understand how compounding interest works, and are often misled by some finance companies’ advertisements by only paying minimum payment for their purchase without realizing the consequence of racking up serious debt in the future. The minimum payment amount, say 2% of the total balance, sounds like an attractive deal; what many college students don't pay attention to and what the banks don't advertise is that the remainder of debt continues to grow through high interest rate and fees. Many college students think they're ok as long as they can afford the minimum payment each month, but they lose sight of their total debt, which can become out of control.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Many tips on using credit cards are given in personal finance texts and websites, including treating credit as a means of convenience, not a source of funds; pay your balance in full, or as much as you can, to avoid high interest charge, pay credit card bills before investing money in stock markets -- it takes time for college students to learn all those money management tips. My best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card is don’t be afraid of credit cards, get one (at least a secured credit card), but use it responsibly and as a means of convenience, not a source of funds, unless in case of an emergency. Students are encouraged to take personal finance seminars / classes, and to talk to their finance professors about any money related concerns.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

Before 2009, it was common practice for credit card companies to approve college students who didn't have the income to justify the cards, and the average college student graduated with several thousands of dollars in credit card debt back then. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 made it tougher for students under the age of 21 to obtain a credit card. Consumers under the age of 21 must prove that they have an independent income, or get a co-signer before applying for a credit card. The CARD act caused student credit card usage to drop, and addressed the bad side of credit card usage very well.

On the bright side, getting a credit card can help college students establish a credit history, which is very important for future borrowing, ensures some security in an emergency, and teaches college students a lesson about responsibility and independence. With the CARD act, I don’t think more restrictions should be imposed on college students credit card applications. I encourage those who don’t want a credit card, don’t have an independent income or can’t get a co-signer to get a secured credit card, so they can start building credit history.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

Students generally have fairly low incomes. The average college student works about 10-20 hours a week, at roughly $9/hr. And while they will likely spend all of their net take-home pay, it will never amount to enough to justify a card with an annual fee.

I'd recommend a card with no annual fee, solid purchase/price protection, and a simple, easily redeemable rewards program (i.e., cash back). The Discover It Student card is a good pick, since it also provides rewards for good grades.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

Students need to act as if they cannot hold a balance on the card. Even the best cards have double-digit interest rates. The only time I'd ever recommend carrying a balance is if an unplanned emergency arises that ordinary savings cannot cover.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

You'd think I'd mention carrying a balance, right? But the bigger problem is signing up for too many cards at once to get the sign-up bonuses. It's easy to be lured by a $200 to a $500 bonus, but then to also amass too much debt to handle. Get one card at a time, even if you're going to play the sign-up game.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Do your homework. Make sure you understand the ins and outs before you apply. There's no point in signing up for a card you will never use. It takes two years for a hard pull to fall off your credit report. On that note, also be sure to check your credit report every six months, to be sure it's healthy.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

I think they should be harder to get. Americans are sitting on more than a trillion dollars of credit card debt. Most of that is held by consumers who didn't know what they were getting into when they started using their first card.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

Traditional college students coming straight from high school often have no credit history, so a credit card accepting a limited credit history is likely mandatory. However, the credit terms are often less favorable than for a person with a high credit score, since the credit card company will have difficulty assessing individual creditworthiness. Credit cards without annual fees are desirable, as they essentially provide free access to credit. Cards with a low interest rate -- the annual percentage rate (APR) -- and cards accepted in more places are also desirable. A lower APR reduces the cost of carrying a balance on your card from one month to the next. Wide acceptance is particularly important as credit cards are often required to access ground transportation, hotels, airlines, or make online purchases.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

Credit cards provide a secure and convenient mechanism to make purchases. When you need to make an emergency purchase quickly, a credit card is often invaluable, yet ease-of-use may facilitate unplanned purchases. These unplanned purchases often lead to credit card debt, so good fiscal discipline is essential. Before getting a credit card, I recommend you create a monthly budget and practice sticking to it.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Budget carefully and pay your full balance every month. The annual percentage rate (APR) on your credit card is likely to be much, much higher than the rate on other debt you have. The interest rate on your credit card could be four times higher, sometimes even more, than the interest rate on your student loans. Additionally, compounding effectively increases your rate above the APR stated by your credit card company. For example, if you have a credit card with 24 percent, monthly compounding will result in an effective annual rate (EAR) of 26.8 percent.

Imagine you started college with a $1,000 credit card balance and did not repay any principal or interest on this amount over the next four years. With a 24 percent APR, you may expect to owe $2,364, which might seem like a lot. However, monthly compounding results in the effective annual rate (EAR) of 26.8 percent, so the actual amount due would be even higher, at $2,585. This extra $221 in interest charges means you will pay 9.3 percent more due to compound interest. Pay off your debts with the highest interest rate first.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

Credit cards are an important and powerful tool in our economy. College students should practice sound financial habits before getting a credit card. However, regulating credit access can be tricky, so increasing financial knowledge is a better solution.

Young Americans typically fail basic tests of financial literacy. I strongly recommend that students develop financial literacy before signing any formal debt agreement. At a bare minimum, I suggest that individuals should correctly answer the “Big Three” financial literacy questions before applying for a credit card.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

The best credit cards have no annual fee, some kind of discount or reward program, and good fraud prevention protections.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

There are two main reasons why a college student would want to use a credit card:

• Discounts at stores where they usually shop or good rewards programs;

• To build a strong credit history before they graduate from college.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

The biggest mistake is not paying off the complete balance every month (but that mistake is certainly not limited to college students).

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Never charge more than you can pay off at the end of the month.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

Credit cards are easily available, and that is fine. Students need to take responsibility for using them well and asking questions, if they need help. There are so many good books that provide financial advice, as well as free podcasts, professors, and even banks or credit unions.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

The best student credit cards share similar attributes. For these attributes to be valuable, they must relate to the students and what they might consider to be important. So, the credit card companies created things such as student discounts and good grade rewards, which is in the form of cash as long as you keep a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and can last up to five years. Some have a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. Some of them allow you to redeem your points earned at many retailers that college students frequent, such as Target and Apple.

Others have travel rewards appealing to the ever-increasing student population that take advantage of study abroad programs at their college or university. Some credit cards that are attached to insurance companies, such as State Farm, offer a discount if premiums are paid using their credit card, which appeals to the students that are just starting to look into car insurance, and gives the insurance company the ability to lock in these customers early.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

College students should use the credit card wisely, they should make small purchases and pay back the card in full, on time every month, so as not to accrue any interest in unpaid balances. The best way for the student to look at the credit card would be as an alternative way of payment, and not as the only way of payment. What I mean is that whenever the student uses the credit card, they must consciously understand that they always have other ways to pay for the same items. Other ways to pay means that they have the money in the bank to pay for that item, but they chose to use the credit card today and use the money in the bank to pay the balance at the end of the month. This is the most effective and efficient way of using the credit card.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Too many college students put themselves in debt very quickly, without being able to pay it back or just being able to pay back the minimum, which hurts them in many ways -- first, just paying the minimum keeps them in debt for many years, and at the end, allows the credit card companies to collect the most interest from the student. Not to mention this is debt that the student will be carrying well past the college years; starting life after college is hard enough, combined with a debt that you’re trying to pay back makes it extremely difficult.

Another issue comes into play when students looks for a job out of college, and the position that the students went to school for and sacrificed time and effort for does not hire them after pulling their credit report and seeing that they either have too much debt, or haven’t correctly handled their debt. The other side is, if the student does get the job, they have a hard time moving on with their life, such as moving out and being able to afford what they worked so hard for, because of the credit card debt they are paying back.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

My advice for students that are considering applying for a credit card is to make sure they have the same, if not more funds in the bank, equal to the limit which they are applying for on the credit card. If they follow this rule, using the credit card will always be a choice, and not a necessity. The only way to stay in front of the credit card and not fall back is to pay the balance off every month. A wise man once said that if you have debt outstanding and savings in the bank at the same time, you are doing something wrong. It does not matter how much savings you have if you’re carrying debt, as can be somewhat shockingly evident when calculating your net value.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

I don’t think it’s about this being easier or harder, I think it’s about education. I think that for a student that has no job and no credit history to obtain a credit card with an available balance between $1,000 and $8,000 on average -- and it is all based on a promise of a job when they get out of college -- is insane. I think that part of the standard application process for a credit card should be for students to have to take an actual course in good personal credit practices. On credit card applications, there are disclaimers pertaining to the pitfalls to bad personal credit practices. The problem is that it is in the fine print -- we need to bring it out into the larger print. Students coming out of college today are burdened enough with student loan debt and a very competitive job market; to not help them understand good personal credit practices is a major disservice to them.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

Credit cards that keep a low interest rate and include loyalty programs focused on customers’ professional and social interests are best. Ideally, the credit card company should develop online tools for students aimed at increasing credit literacy and avoiding credit missteps that can negatively affect credit scores in the long-term. For example, the credit card company should have online tools embedded in their credit card statements and online platforms that inform students how well they are managing their own credit. Card companies should also propose solutions to improve students’ credit position in ways that they understand.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

Students should learn to use a credit card for emergency reasons and for important purchases, such as to purchase books. However, students should not use a credit card to supplement their lifestyle. This only teaches students to live above their means, especially if their parents pay their balance at the end of each month.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Several issues lead students to mismanage their credit card(s). First, if the card has a high interest rate, students can easily spend more than they can pay off. This affects their credit for years to come. Second, students may use their credit card to supplement their lifestyle. Doing this can lead to a lifestyle that is unsustainable in the long run. Finally, students should learn to use their credit cards for specific purchases, not as a general form of payment.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Before students can receive a credit card, it is important that they gain training in credit literacy. Students and other individuals who are interested in having and using a credit card need to understand that their credit decisions and behaviors have both short- and long-term consequences. A person's credit score is used to secure loans, get a rental apartment, and acquire employment. People with good credit can get cheaper interest rates on future credit and access to better rental homes. A person's credit score can even be a factor in securing a job. Thus, students, parents, academic institutions, and credit lenders must make credit literacy, as demonstrated via online or in-person workshops, a prerequisite for acquiring a credit card.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

It should be harder for students to get credit cards. Right now, credit cards are relatively easy to acquire for college students. This can be problematic, since students often have very little experience with financial management, let alone credit card management. Credit literacy should be a requirement for college students, or anybody else, to get their first credit card. Credit literacy should focus on generating awareness of the components that make up a person's credit score, as well as what constitutes risky credit card behavior that leads to credit card mismanagement.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

The best attribute of student credit cards would be a low credit limit. College students need to learn how to use credit responsibly, and a card with a $500 limit can teach them very quickly about the downfalls of credit cards.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

Use the card for purchases that you already have the money to pay for when the bill comes. Never carry a balance month to month. If you have a credit card that is maxed out, do not get another card. Even more importantly, don’t roll the debt from one card onto another card you may be offered. Sometimes, credit card companies offer you a limited-time, low APR to transfer a balance or no interest for a brief period of time. Then they raise the rate to a significantly higher one.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Many college students and adults alike buy things they can’t afford. They carry a balance month to month, and many don’t realize they lose the interest-free period they can enjoy if they pay their entire balance monthly. Another mistake is only paying the minimum each month. Many students open as many accounts as they can, creating a great deal of debt at a very young age. The biggest mistake is that some college students don’t understand that missing payments or making late payments can hurt their credit score.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Limit yourself to one card. Pay the balance in full every month. Never miss a payment or pay the card late. Don’t spend money you do not have.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

I think a low-limit card should be easier for college students to obtain as their first card. If you can’t get a card, how can you start to build a credit history? My own children had trouble getting their first cards. They were denied the first time. I actually went with them to the bank and explained they were trying to establish credit. The banker helped them get approved for a low-balance card. Sometimes, having a checking and savings account established can help college students get a card. I strongly recommend setting up these types of accounts for kids in high school.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

First, the most important attribute that student credit cards should have is to give full consideration to students with limited credit history and income. Second, good student credit cards should have no annual fee and low annual percentage rate (APR). Third, another great feature that a good student credit card should have is a fixed statement closing date and payment due date, so that it is easier for students to manage. In addition, a good student credit card offers good rewards programs, such as cash back rewards and good grades rewards. Finally, a good credit card should not provide a high credit line (above $1,000) to students with limited credit history.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

The advantages of credit cards, including convenience, security (dispute charges), and rewards often lead to higher risk for impulsive buying and overspending. For college students, I would suggest checking your balance in your bank account to ensure you have enough money to pay off your credit card balance before using your credit card. Only use the credit card when you are 100 percent sure that you have enough money to pay off your full balance. After using a credit card, be sure to pay off your total statement balance during the grace period to avoid any interest and late fee charges. The grace period refers to the days between the statement closing date and the due date. You don’t need to pay any interest if you pay your entire balance by the due date each month.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

There are several big mistakes that college students make with credit cards. First, many students only pay the minimum payment due, which is not correct. The correct way is to pay the full statement balance instead of the minimum payment due. Otherwise, you will need to pay interest on the remaining balance on your statement. Second, many students believe that the more they swipe their cards, the higher credit score they will get. However, this is not true. Actually, a better credit score can be achieved by keeping your credit usage less than 30 percent of your credit line.

Third, some students use credit cards to get cash advances. Getting cash advances on a credit card is one of the most expensive ways to get cash, because cash advances can come with a variety expenses. The expenses include cash advance fees, ATM or bank fees, and interest on cash advances. Keep in mind that interest on cash advances usually starts accruing immediately and there is no grace period like you can get with purchases.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

There are several steps to take for college students before applying for a credit card. First, determine whether you are suitable to apply for a credit card. To determine your suitability, list your total income (from all sources) and expenses (from every single transaction), then subtract the expenses from your income to see whether you have a positive cash flow. If your expense is higher than your income, you are not suitable to apply for a credit card. In that case, even if you try to apply for a credit card, it won’t be approved.

Second, become an authorized user on a credit card, if you can. If your parents have excellent credit, ask them to see whether they can add you as an authorized user on one of their properly-managed credit cards, so you can inherit the good credit history of that account. Third, be sure you understand the terms of the credit card that you want to apply for. Don’t simply assume that all the credit cards are similar. Actually, important terms such as annual fee, annual percentage rate (APR), rewards rate, and credit score requirement differs from card to card.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

• No annual fee;

• Low interest rate;

• Earn rewards/cash back on purchases.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

• Be financially conservative;

• Use your credit card for small purchases, avoid big spending;

• Also use the credit cards for necessities, such as groceries and gasoline;

• Always make full payment and pay on time.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Having a credit card doesn't mean you have free money, so use it responsibly. Don't apply for multiple credit cards at one time.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

• Create a budget;

• Understand monthly statements;

• Understand interest rate, such as APR and compounding.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

College students have limited incomes and no established credit history, so it is harder for them to get one. However, it is right for college students to apply for a credit card to build up their credit history.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

No or low annual fees, 0% introductory rate, low rate after the introductory period expires. Various reward points may be available, but may involve fees.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

Use it for things they already use cash for, such as gas, groceries or other needs. Don’t spend that cash on other things, but make sure the credit card bill gets paid off every month so no interest gets charged. A credit card is good to have for emergencies, too, such as a car repair or medical bill. If the bill can’t be paid in full when the statement comes, pay more than the minimum payment to pay off quickly to avoid more interest charges. By the way, emergencies don’t happen at the mall.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Using a credit card is just a way to spend money, it’s not extra money. Students may think that if they are granted a credit limit of $1,000, that’s extra money, but really, it’s a loan and they have to have a way to pay it back.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

Use it responsibly. It takes time to build a good credit history, so getting started on the right foot is important. Chances are they will want to make a major purchase at some point down the road, so creditors are going to check to see how they have paid their bills in the past.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

New rules require an applicant be age 21, have an established credit history, or a co-signer may be required. Overall, new rules have made it harder to get a credit card, but a change was needed. Vendors used to be able to set up tables on campus and give away prizes for completing an application, which made credit cards easy to get.

What attributes would you say the best student credit cards share?

I think good credit cards for students are ones that offer fair but not excessive credit limits; offer at least the required 21 day grace period; offer a low interest rate; offer credit monitoring - where the financial institution pays close attention to "normal" purchases and notifies the student if charges out the ordinary occur on the student's card. Were I a student again I would also want a card that offers additional perks such as product warranty extensions, rental car insurance or trip cancellation services - which can be very important around Spring Break season.

What is the best way for a college student to use a credit card?

A college student should use their credit card for monthly consumption many times in place of cash. By this I mean, use it as the financial tool it was designed to be. Buy groceries with the credit card, pay for your gas with your credit card, purchase one's textbooks at the book store with the credit card -- BUT pay off the balance in full every month.

For a credit card to be useful to a college student it has to be used; meaning owning a credit card and using it just for emergencies is not helping to build one's credit. Much like an exercise bike collecting dust does not help one achieve physical fitness, neither does a credit card left collecting dust in a drawer help one achieve financial fitness. I tell my students to use it and pay it off each month.

What is the biggest mistake that college students make with credit cards?

Not paying off the balance in full each month. Too many college students use credit cards to excess and carry revolving balances. When they don't pay off the balance in full every month they are charged interest on the loan they have taken out on their credit card; the following month they are then paying interest on interest.

Another mistake is having way too many credit cards. Store cards are enticing because the card holder might receive an extra 15% of his or her purchase; however, too many credit cards and the cards' available credit limits can negatively impact the students' potential future debt to income ratio. Post-graduation a mortgage lender might see the consumer's eight lines of credit as "potential debt" that will make paying a mortgage payment more of a challenge; and thus, deny the consumer the mortgage.

What is your best piece of advice for a college student who is considering applying for a credit card?

One of the most important financial decisions for a college student to make is the decision as to which credit card he or she wants to have. Obtaining a credit card means entering into a financial relationship with a lending institution - because credit cards are truly micro loans that one receives from the lending institution on a month to month basis. I tell my students, those who are looking to obtain their first credit card to seek one from the financial institution that already serves their savings and checking accounts. The advantage is that they already have established a financial relationship with that bank or credit union; thus, the approval process will likely be less stressful.

Should credit cards be easier or harder for college students to get (or is it just right)?

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 is a federal statute passed by the United States Congress and signed by U.S. President Barack Obama on May 22, 2009 and was designed to protect susceptible young consumers. This card has several provisions designed to protect college student aged consumers. For example: Consumers under the age of 21 must prove that they have an independent income source or secure a co-signer before applying for a credit card. This legislation also prevents credit card companies from mailing offers to consumers under the age of 21 unless the consumer requests an application, and also prohibits companies from offering students with T-shirts, pizza and other free gifts at university-sponsored events as incentives to apply for the credit card.

(My own first card application came with a pound size of M&Ms………..I wanted the candy, not really the credit card.)