Student Credit Cards with No Credit

The easiest credit cards for students to get are student credit cards for applicants with limited or no credit history and secured credit cards, which are available to people with no credit or even bad credit. Since college students tend to have higher incomes in the long term, issuers are willing to extend them better offers than most people without established credit could get. Think of it as an investment in a student’s future financial needs, which could prove quite profitable for a bank that gets in on the ground floor.

The best student credit cards, including Journey Student Rewards from Capital One and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, will be easy to get as long as you’re enrolled in school and have at least a small income as well as a credit score that’s anything but bad. In fact, you can get them even if you don’t have a credit score yet because you’ve never had a loan or line of credit before. And if you do have bad credit, a secured card will still be pretty easy to get.

Easiest Student Credit Cards to Get

• Journey Student Rewards from Capital One – Pay-On-Time Bonus
• Discover it® Student chrome – Good-Student Rewards
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students – Best for Cash Back
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students – Best for Travel Rewards
• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card – Best Partially Secured Card
• Discover it® Secured Credit Card – Best for High Approval Odds

The easiest credit cards for students to get allow young people to begin building credit before entering the real world. If you use your card responsibly and pay your bills on time, you should be able to get a better deal once you graduate. And that’s true whether you’re starting with a student credit card or a secured card.

One of the best starter credit cards for students is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card because it has a $0 annual fee and gives you $50 after your first purchase made in the first 3 months. This card also offers 1% cash back on all purchases.

Nearly all student credit cards qualify as starter credit cards because you can get approved for them with limited or no credit history.

In general, student credit cards are the best starter credit cards because they’re easy to get without prior experience yet offer far better terms than an inexperienced applicant would ordinarily command. That’s because lenders want to appeal to students in the hope of gaining a long-term customer who may land a well-paying job upon graduation.

Ultimately, you can check out our editors’ latest picks on the best starter credit cards for students to see which better suits your needs.

There are several credit cards you can get if you are a high school student and you are at least 18 years old. But until you are 21 years old, you need to either have a proof of steady income that demonstrates your ability to pay back the debt, or have a co-signer who is at least 21 years old on the application. For the latter, the co-signer agrees to assume responsibility for your account, meaning they’re liable for any of your unpaid debt.

These requirements are mandated under the Credit Card Act of 2009. Its intent is to prevent teenagers and young adults from running up credit card debts they can’t pay back. So, if you’re under 21 and have the income or a co-signer, you have a number of credit card options to help you begin building credit.

As student credit cards are limited to those enrolled in college, you can choose a traditional credit card designed for people with limited credit. An alternative would be a secured credit card. They’re easier to get than unsecured credit cards, and typically don’t come with any fees. But you will have to put down a security deposit to open the account. The amount of the deposit determines your credit limit and is fully refundable when you close the account in good standing.

Here are some good high school credit cards:

• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: 1.5% cash back on all purchases. $39 annual fee.
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: 1 - 3% cash back, depending on the type of purchase. $0 annual fee.
• Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Eligible for increased credit limit when you pay your bill on time for the first 6 months. $0 annual fee.
• Citi® Secured Mastercard®: Minimum $200 deposit required. $0 annual fee.

If you still don’t have an income or a co-signer, you can sign on to another person’s existing credit card account as an authorized user. You’ll receive a card with your name that’s linked to the primary cardholder. You’ll be able to use the primary cardholder’s good credit history to help build your own. The drawback is, if the primary cardholder’s credit score takes a dive, yours will also take a negative hit.

A student credit card is a credit card branded specifically for use by college and graduate 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 equal to at least 1% cash back on purchases, and minimum credit limits of $300 or so. Some student credit cards offer low introductory APRs, but the regular APRs on student credit cards tend to be above average.

Students generally have less credit history and less income than professionals and older adults. But students also 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, however, because they are regular credit cards. They’re just aimed at students.

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.

You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a student credit card—or any credit card— on your own. If you’re under 21, you’ll need an independent income that the credit card company can verify. Income from even a part-time job will help your approval odds. And of course, you should be a student; 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 Discover it® Secured Credit Card.

It’s important to remember that student credit cards are definitely real credit cards. Like all unsecured cards, you can get in over your head if you aren’t using it responsibly. And the higher APRs of student cards can be a big extra weight if you carry a balance.

You can apply for a student credit card online, at a branch or (in some cases) by phone. To be eligible for approval, student credit card applicants must be at least 18 years old, earn enough income to afford monthly bill payments, and have limited credit or better (just not bad credit).

To fill out a student credit card application, you will need to provide your annual income, your Social Security number (or an applicable alternative for international students) and other personal information – usually along with information about your school. As with any credit card, when you apply for a student credit card, you could receive a decision instantly if you apply online, or it could take as long as 10 business days. It usually takes 7-10 business days to receive a card in the mail after approval.

How to Get a Student Credit Card

1. Apply online, over the phone, or in-person. Make sure to have your SSN (or accepted alternative) and annual income at hand. If you’re under 21, you’ll need to have independent income to get approved for a credit card. 
2. Wait for a decision. Sometimes, you’ll get an instant decision. If not, the typical waiting period for credit card applications is 7-10 business days.
3. Watch your mailbox. If you’re denied, the credit card company will send you a letter explaining your denial. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your credit card in the mail 7-10 days after you’re approved.

Student credit card issuers obviously expect applicants to be students, and many require proof. But they all do it a little differently. For example, the Citi Rewards Student Card asks for your school’s details and your expected graduation date on the application, and its terms say the card is for currently-enrolled students only. At least one student credit card, the Capital One Journey Student Credit Card, doesn’t require applicants to be students in its terms and conditions.

Applying for a student credit card might sound complicated and intimidating, especially if it’s your first credit card application. Try not to sweat it, though—the process is fairly simple in reality.

Student credit cards are a good way for students without much credit history to build credit. Their rewards can also work in a student’s favor. Some offer statement credits for good grades and perks for paying the bill on time. And you definitely need to pay all the bills on time if you want to be successful after you apply for a student credit card.

Here’s what to put for income on a credit card application as a student: income from full or part-time jobs (including work-study), investment dividends, and most other funds that are regularly deposited into your bank account. Excess scholarship money that ends up in your bank account after tuition expenses generally counts as income, too. Some credit card companies may even consider the entire amount as income if it lands in your bank account first. Social Security payments and pensions from deceased relatives, and public assistance payments also count as income. Money from grants may or may not count, depending on the credit card company.

In general, if the money is available to pay a debt you owe, and is not earmarked exclusively for education expenses, it usually counts as income on a credit card application. The exception is borrowed money, including student loans.

Student loans don’t count as income

There’s no law against including student loan disbursements in your total annual income. But student loan money shouldn’t be counted as income on a credit card application because it’s not income—it’s debt. Any money that must be repaid should not be counted as income. Many students use loan money for personal expenses while in school, but that doesn’t mean it’s income.

What portion of scholarship or grant money counts as income?

Customer service representatives from different credit card companies have different opinions on this. For example, Chase reps say it depends on where the awarded money lands first. If the money goes directly to your school to pay for tuition and fees, you can only include whatever amount ultimately lands in your bank account. If the money comes to you first, you can include the entire amount—even if you pay tuition with it.

A Capital One rep said that no matter where scholarship money lands first, it’s up to the student to decide what gets counted in the application. That said, the rep did distinguish that grants do not count as income: “Neither student loans nor grants count as income because they are not considered a stable, continuous source of income."

If you’re in doubt, it’s best to call your credit card company’s customer service line and ask directly.

A student’s age impacts income on credit card applications

It’s worth noting that shared income can only be included on a credit card application if you’re over 21 years old. Those under 21 must have independent proof of income or a cosigner to get a credit card. That rule dates back to the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Credit card companies now have a more formal obligation to assess an applicant’s ability to pay their debt before extending a credit line.

How credit card companies interpret the law

There is a bit of a grey area between the CARD Act’s rules and credit card company guidelines for annual income. The law requires credit card companies to consider independent income for applicants under the age of 21. But based on the way major card issuers seem to interpret it, independent income doesn’t necessarily mean money earned directly by a student for doing a job.

For example, a Chase customer service representative suggested including any type of allowance you might receive from someone else to help pay your bills, if it’s deposited in your own bank account. Similarly, a Capital One representative noted that money must be “reasonably available” to you for it to count as independent income. That means the money must be regularly deposited into your personal account, or an account you share with the person depositing the funds.

So if your parents regularly deposit money into your bank account, you can use that amount in your annual income figure, according to Chase and Capital One reps. And if you’re 21 or older, you're allowed to report shared household income as your own on a credit application, as long as you have a reasonable expectation of access to the money. Sharing a bank account is not required in that case.

Does my annual income have to be 100% accurate?

Theoretically, credit card companies can take steps to verify what you put for income on your application. If they have a reason to doubt the number you give them, they can request information from your tax returns or use data from your credit report to create an estimate of your income. Keep that in mind because it’s against federal law to put false information on a credit card application. The law isn’t commonly prosecuted, but technically, breaking it is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison per offense.

Having income from at least a part-time job will help a student get a credit card. But many students are unemployed while they’re in school. A 60% majority of full-time college students don’t have jobs, according to a 2019 study by the National Center for Education Statistics. That puts many college students at a disadvantage when it comes to getting a credit card. If your income is too low, try to find a cosigner or become an authorized user on a friend or family member’s account.

Yes, college students should have credit cards because it is the best way to begin building credit history. Simply owning a credit card account and keeping it in good standing can allow a student to go from having no credit at the start of college to fair credit or even good credit by graduation. As a result, responsible credit card use will give students a leg up when they enter the real world. Without a strong credit profile, students may have a difficult time renting an apartment, getting a car loan, finding cheap car insurance, and even landing a job.

Nearly 60% of all undergraduate students reported having a credit card in 2018, which amounts to a 90% increase from 2013. And 42% students consider the importance of credit cards to continue growing in the near future. It’s actually a myth that college students can’t get credit cards. To qualify, you have to be at least 18 years old and demonstrate the ability to afford monthly bill payments. More specifically, anyone between the ages of 18 and 21 must prove their ability to independently pay back debt before they can own a credit card, per the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Or, an applicant may have a co-signer who is at least 21 years old. The cosigner would be financially liable for the account. Most credit card companies don’t allow co-signers anymore, though.

At the very least, college students should have a credit card as an authorized user on a parent’s account. You can build credit as an authorized user while the primary cardholder is responsible for making payments. The primary cardholder can also monitor the account. If there’s any sign of reckless card use, they can remove the authorized user at any time.

Missing payments and racking up debt are the biggest reasons people say not to get a credit card 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.

Finally, it’s worth noting that if you wait until after college to get a credit card, you could be costing yourself when it comes it annual fees and rewards. Credit cards for college students tend to be a lot more attractive than other credit cards for people with limited or no credit.

The best Visa credit card for students is Journey Student Rewards from Capital One because it has great cash back rewards, gives you extra for paying on time, and doesn’t charge an annual fee. Capital One Journey also has no foreign transaction fee, and it reports monthly to the three major credit bureaus.

Fortunately, there are a lot of good options to consider. For example, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is great for 0% interest at the start, and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has terms well-suited to study abroad. In general, despite having little credit experience, college students can expect better-than-average rates, fees and rewards because they have high earning potential and many years of financial needs ahead of them. Banks want to get in early, in other words. And you can take advantage of that by getting a great student credit card and saving lots of money.

Best Visa Credit Cards for Students

Any of these choices are good for students, but Capital One Journey and the Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students are probably the best two because they offer cash back rewards and don’t charge annual fees. You’ll be able to get the most consistent value out of them. But it’s good to look at cards from networks other than Visa, too. Some of the best choices include Discover it® Student Cash Back and Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students.

The best first credit card for students is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students because it reports to the main credit bureaus monthly, has a $0 annual fee, and only requires limited credit for approval. Plus, Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students gives 1 - 3% cash back on all purchases. And its intro bonus of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days is the cherry on top for students getting their first credit card.

Best First Credit Cards for Students

• Best Overall: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Best for Study Abroad: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
• Best for a “Good Standing” Bonus: Chase Freedom® Student credit card
• Best for a High Credit Limit: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
• Best for Bad Credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The biggest feature to look for on your first credit card is credit bureau reporting because that will help you build your credit score, assuming you use the card responsibly. Fortunately, nearly all credit cards from major issuers report to credit bureaus. You’ll also want to look for a card with no annual fee because newcomers to credit shouldn’t need to pay for the right to build their credit history.

The best travel credit card for students is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students offers a $0 annual fee, a 0% foreign transaction fee, and rewards of 3 points / $1 spent at the Bank of America Travel Center (1.5 points / $1 on other purchases). It also has an initial bonus of 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

Best Travel Credit Card for Students

• Best Overall: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Best for No Credit: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
• Best for 0% APR: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Best for International Students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

In general, the best travel credit cards for students have no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and attractive rewards. They also accept college students and graduate students with limited or no credit history. For more options worth considering, check out WalletHub's complete list of the best credit cards for college students.