Ultimate Guide to Top Student Credit Cards in 2024

Achieving financial independence as a student is a common goal, and establishing good credit plays a crucial role in this journey. A solid credit history can help you qualify for loans, insurance, mobile plans, and even impact employment opportunities. Experts advise students, especially those authorized on their parents' accounts, to open their own credit cards. Using a student-focused credit card responsibly for small purchases, timely bill payments, and avoiding multiple applications can help build credit over time.

• Capital One Journey Student Rewards: Highly recommended for students with decent credit, this card offers 1% cash back on all purchases with no category limits. Paying on time earns an extra 0.25%, and maintaining good payment history can increase your credit limit automatically. It features free credit score tracking via the Capital One Credit Tracker, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction charges. Late payments cost $35, and cash advances are subject to a fee of either $10 or 3% of the amount.

• Discover it for Students: This card provides 1% cash back on all purchases, with higher rewards—up to 5%—in categories like gas and groceries each quarter. It offers a unique double cashback reward in the first year, and students with a GPA above 3.0 can earn an extra $20 annually for five years. The card has no annual fee, and features like free monthly FICO score updates help students monitor their credit health. Balance transfers incur a fee of 3%, and cash advances cost $10 or 5% of the amount. After the first six months, an introductory 0% APR applies.

• Additional options include Discover it Chrome for students, offering $20 cashback for good grades; Upromise World MasterCard, with a $50 sign-up bonus and 5% cashback on select online platforms; and Citi ThankYou Preferred Card for students.