The
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is a good credit card for international students because it has a
$0 annual fee, a
$0 foreign transaction, and no SSN requirement. Deserve EDU accepts the combination of a passport, proof of a U.S. bank account, and some other basic documentation instead of a Social Security number. The Deserve EDU Mastercard also is worth it because it rewards cardholders with 1% cash back on all purchases.
Deserve EDU for Students offers some other interesting perks, too. For example, cardholders are eligible to receive up to $59-worth of Amazon Prime Student after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles. Plus if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card, you also get up to $600 in protection against damage and theft.
Deserve EDU Credit Card Review Highlights
Annual Fee
$0. This is a must-have for a student credit card. The average credit card – for everyone, not just students – charges roughly
$26.75 per year.
Rewards
1% cash back on all purchases. The average cash rewards card gives
1.17% back.
Bonus
$59 Amazon Prime Student membership after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles. The average cash back credit card gives
$235.
APR
22.99% Variable. Credit cards for college students charge
19.53% on average.
Min Credit Needed
None. Deserve EDU is available even to students with no credit history. You must be 18+ years old with enough income to afford monthly bill payments.
SSN Needed
No. Applicants can use their passport and some other basic documentation instead. In particular, you need proof of a U.S. bank account and copies of your Student Visa and I-20 form, along with your passport.
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0. A credit card for international students that charged for international use wouldn’t make too much sense.
EMV Chip
No. This is a headscratcher, considering chip cards are the norm abroad.
Credit Limit
Up to $5,000. Students with limited credit history should not expect anything close to that. At the end of the day, Deserve EDU should be one of an international student’s top options, but students hailing from the U.S. can likely get better rewards from another one of our
editors’ picks for the best overall credit cards for college students.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.