Best student credit cards
Every card here has no annual fee, so the choice comes down to how you spend, whether you’ll use it abroad, and which bonus you can realistically earn. We read each issuer’s page on Nov 10, 2026.
Advertiser disclosure: links on this page go straight to each issuer’s or insurer’s own site. We don’t earn a commission from any product on this page, and no company paid to be included or to be placed higher. Commissions never affect which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.
How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Short answer: Capital One Savor Student (3% at grocery stores, dining, entertainment and popular streaming; $50 after $100) suits most students who eat out. Discover it Student Cash Back matches all your first-year cash back. Quicksilver Student pays a flat 1.5% with no foreign transaction fees. All five have no annual fee.
Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Key terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining and groceries | Capital One Savor Student | Students who spend on food and going out | $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| First-year match | Discover it Student Cash Back | Doubling first-year rewards | No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Flat rate, use abroad | Capital One Quicksilver Student | One flat rate, including when studying abroad | $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 |
We read each issuer’s card page on Nov 10, 2026, plus Chase’s pricing and terms page for Freedom Rise and the CFPB’s[7][8] guidance on applicants under 21. Discover’s pages didn’t show foreign transaction fees, so we leave that cell blank rather than guess. Links go directly to each issuer with no affiliate tracking.
Our picks
How do they compare?
| Card | Cash back | Bonus | Intro APR | Ongoing APR | Foreign transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Savor Student | 3% grocery stores, dining, entertainment, popular streaming; 1% other | $50 after $100 in purchases within 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 | None listed | 18.74%–28.74% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | No foreign transaction fees as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Discover it Student Cash Back | 5% in quarterly categories you activate (up to the quarterly maximum); 1% other | Cashback Match at the end of year one | 0% intro APR (6 months, purchases) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 16.74%–25.74% APR (variable, after the intro period) as of Nov 10, 2026 | Not shown on the page |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student | 1.5% on everything | $50 after $100 in purchases within 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 | None listed | 18.74%–28.74% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | No foreign transaction fees as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Discover it Student Chrome | 2% at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 a quarter; 1% other | Cashback Match at the end of year one | 0% intro APR (6 months, purchases) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 16.74%–25.74% APR (variable, after the intro period) as of Nov 10, 2026 | Not shown on the page |
| Chase Freedom Rise | 1.5% on everything | $25 statement credit for enrolling in automatic payments in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 | None listed | 18.49%–27.99% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 3% foreign transaction fee as of Nov 10, 2026 |
The picks in detail
1. Capital One Savor Student
Best for: Students who spend on food and going outCapital One’s page lists $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, and 1% on everything else. The bonus is $50 after $100 in purchases within 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026. Purchase APR is 18.74%–28.74% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 variable, with No foreign transaction fees as of Nov 10, 2026, and Capital One says no credit score is required to apply.
Key terms: $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 Capital One terms
Pros
- 3% on common student spending
- Easy $50 bonus
Cons
- No intro APR
2. Discover it Student Cash Back
Best for: Doubling first-year rewardsDiscover lists No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories you activate (up to the quarterly maximum) and 1% elsewhere. Cashback Match adds up all the cash back you earn from approval through your first 365 days and matches it. The card has 0% intro APR (6 months, purchases) as of Nov 10, 2026 intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then 16.74%–25.74% APR (variable, after the intro period) as of Nov 10, 2026 variable. Discover also says no credit score is required to apply.
Key terms: No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 Discover terms
Pros
- First-year match on all cash back
- Lowest ongoing APR range here
Cons
- 5% categories need activation each quarter
3. Capital One Quicksilver Student
Best for: One flat rate, including when studying abroadCapital One lists $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, $50 after $100 in purchases within 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026, and No foreign transaction fees as of Nov 10, 2026. Purchase APR is 18.74%–28.74% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 variable.
Key terms: $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 Capital One terms
Pros
- Nothing to track
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No bonus categories
4. Discover it Student Chrome
Best for: Gas and restaurant spending without rotating categoriesDiscover lists No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 and 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically, plus 1% elsewhere. It has the same Cashback Match and 0% intro APR (6 months, purchases) as of Nov 10, 2026 intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then 16.74%–25.74% APR (variable, after the intro period) as of Nov 10, 2026 variable.
Key terms: No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 Discover terms
Pros
- No activation needed
- First-year match
Cons
- 2% capped at $1,000 a quarter
5. Chase Freedom Rise
Best for: Students who already bank with ChaseChase lists No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and a $25 statement credit for enrolling in automatic payments in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026. Chase says having at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account increases your chances of approval. Chase’s pricing page lists 18.49%–27.99% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 variable APR and a 3% foreign transaction fee as of Nov 10, 2026, so it’s a poor fit for use abroad.
Key terms: No annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 Chase terms
Pros
- Approval odds improve with a Chase account
- Flat 1.5%
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
If you’re under 21
The CFPB[7][8] explains that under the Truth in Lending Act, card companies generally can’t issue a card to anyone under 21 unless they can show an independent ability to make the payments, or someone over 21 co-signs and agrees to be responsible if you can’t pay. Expect the application to ask about your own income.
Using a first card well
Pay the full statement balance each month and you won’t pay interest; every APR here is above 16%. Discover’s own guidance on building credit is to avoid late payments, delinquencies and other derogatory marks. See secured cards if you’re turned down for these.
Who should skip this
- You can’t pay the balance in full. Rewards won’t cover 16%–29% interest.
- You were declined for an unsecured card. A secured card may be the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a credit card at 18?
Do student cards have annual fees?
Which student card is best for studying abroad?
What is Discover’s Cashback Match?
Do you earn money if I apply?
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.
- Capital One: Savor Student card page (capitalone.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Capital One: Quicksilver Student card page (capitalone.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Discover: it Student Cash Back card page (discover.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Discover: student credit cards page (discover.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Chase: Freedom Rise card page (creditcards.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Chase: Freedom Rise pricing & terms (sites.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- CFPB: Can a credit card company consider my age when deciding to lend me a card? (consumerfinance.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- CFPB: Credit cards key terms (consumerfinance.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
Related
Best no-annual-fee credit cards
A $0 annual fee doesn’t mean free: interest, balance transfer and foreign transaction fees still apply. We checked the annual fee and those other costs on each issuer’s page on Nov 10, 2026.
best ofBest secured credit cards
A secured card asks for a refundable deposit up front and works like a regular credit card, so on-time payments can build your credit history. We read each issuer’s page on Nov 10, 2026.