Our credit card articles, reviews and ratings maintain strict editorial integrity; however we may be compensated when you click on or are approved for offers (terms apply) from our partners. How we make money.
Deserve Edu
- A college credit card for all students - both from the US and visiting from abroad. (For international students, an SSN is not required to apply)
- Amazon Prime Student Membership (get reimbursed for subscription fees up to a lifetime total of $59)
- 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- Credit limits up to $5,000
- $0 annual fee & no foreign transaction fees
- Helps students build a credit history and gain financial independence
- Use anywhere in the world where Mastercard is accepted
- Includes Mastercard Platinum Benefits like Car Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Roadside Assistance, Travel Assistance Services, Price Protection, Extended Warranty and ID Theft Protection
- Complimentary cellphone insurance up to $600
Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card
- The Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card - the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap
- Earn 2,500 bonus points after you spend $500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for a $25 gift card at thankyou.com
- 0% Intro APR on purchases for 7 months. After that, the variable APR will be 15.99% - 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% - 25.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
- No annual fee
Best Credit Cards
What Capital One says about this card
- Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
- Enjoy no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Get a head start and build your credit with responsible use
- Get Eno®, your Capital One® assistant, to manage your account via text, receive alerts, and shop safer online
- Pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
By Curtis Arnold Editor-in-chief Updated Oct 22, 2019
Parents, legislators and consumer advocates have debated the merits of student credit cards, especially after allegations of questionable marketing practices on college campuses. That's why it's great to see how Capital One has promoted its Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® credit card as a tool for young Americans to build good financial habits with responsible use. This credit card for students with limited, fair or average credit uses Capital One's features and benefits as incentives to reward responsible saving and spending.
Teaching students the benefits of credit cards over prepaid debit cards
According to research conducted by Auriemma Consulting Group, consumers born after the 1980s tend to rely more on checking account debit cards and on prepaid debit cards instead of on credit cards for daily purchases. They tend to manage money well, but may be missing out on some of the biggest benefits of using credit cards. Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® offers MasterCard benefits that include:
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen. Stolen or lost debit cards can put your cash at risk, at least for a little while.
- Travel assistance services. Studying abroad and setting out on spring break become safer and simpler with help from a 24-hour response team that can dispatch replacement credit cards and cash advances.
- Travel and emergency assistance which is available virtually anytime, anywhere to help connect you with local emergency and assistance resources when you are away from home.
- Auto Rental Insurance. Occasional drivers will appreciate access to coverage for damage due to collision, or theft when you reserve your rental car with Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®.
Like other Capital One credit cards, Journey Student Rewards doesn't charge fees for foreign transactions for international purchases making it an ideal travel companion for quick overseas trips or extended stays abroad.
Using today's technology to manage a student credit card
Even with a strong slate of premium features, Journey Student Rewards really shines by connecting cash -back rebates to responsible credit card use. In addition to the 1 percent cash back common among many of today's best cash-back rewards cards, Journey Student Rewards will boost your cash back to a total of 1.25-percent each month for cardholders who pay their bills on time.
Should you switch to Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®?
You won't really be able to switch to Journey Student Rewards unless you're a young adult ready to trade in your authorized-user status on a parent's account for your very first individual credit card. Capital One doesn't make Journey Student Rewards (or any of its cards) available to co-applicants, so you'll have to wait until you're at least 18 years old before you can complete their application. As you get older and gain more money management experience and if you use credit responsibly you could certainly apply for credit cards with better interest rates. Until then, Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® is one of the best student cash-back credit cards you'll find.
Top Features
| Cash Back on Gas | Cash Back on Groceries | Cash Back on Other |
| 1% | 1% | 1% |
CardRatings Editor's Analysis: Pros & Cons
- Earn a 25 percent bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time
- Earn cash back with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Squaring away your first five monthly payments on time provides you access to a higher credit line.
- Students who plan to carry a balance may want to consider a card with a lower APR. You can avoid this by paying your balance in full each month.
Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® compared to other cash back cards
100% Free CardRatings Email Course to Learn How to Maximize Travel Rewards.