Building credit early with a student credit card grants you a crucial financial head start. You can build credit early in your adult life by getting into the routine of using money responsibly while you set yourself up for success in the future. When it comes time to apply for things like car loans, apartments, mortgages and personal loans, you’ll be grateful for the experience.

How building credit as a student is beneficial

You’ll learn valuable lessons about budgeting, making timely payments and understanding the impact of debt by managing a credit card. These experiences lay the groundwork for a lifetime of financial decision-making, which is essential for long-term financial stability and future financial opportunities. 

A strong credit history can translate into lower interest rates, higher credit limits and better loan terms, saving you money in the long run on some of life’s milestones, like renting an apartment, buying a car or starting a business.

It can be hard to determine the best way to start building a credit history, especially as a student. When asked if student credit cards were worth getting over a standard unsecured credit card, a Reddit user in the r/CreditCard community says “what matters is that you start your OWN revolving credit history.”

A brief or absent credit history will be a large hurdle for many students applying for unsecured credit cards. According to one user, “chances are you'd be denied for ‘insufficient revolving credit history’ if you applied [for an unsecured card].” Still, student-specific credit cards have better approval odds if you don’t have much credit history.

This opinion is shared in the r/PersonalFinance community, too, where another user writes, “You should open your own credit card to start building independent credit history if you ever need to take yourself off as an [authorized user] on your parents' card.”  Several reasons can cause your time as an authorized user to end. However, if you open your own card as soon as possible, you can still establish a lengthy credit history without relying on someone else's account.

Although you may not be able to open a decent credit card right away, a student card can be a gateway to better rewards and higher credit limits. If you’re interested in exploring your options, check which ones you’re a potential match for by using tools like Bankrate’s CardMatch™. 

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Here are some tips for beginners to help you narrow down your options and pick the right student credit card for you: 

• Make sure you qualify: Issuers typically reserve student credit cards for anyone enrolled in college courses with little or no credit history. However, check for additional requirements, such as part-time or full-time status or if two-year institutions are eligible.
• Know your credit score: Knowing your credit score can help you avoid applying for a credit card you won’t qualify for or a card you’re overqualified for.
• Look for credit-building tools: The best student cards have built-in features that help you build credit. Features like reporting to all three credit bureaus, offering credit line increases and providing free credit reports are features you should look for.
• Prioritize features that matter to you: Most student cards have student-centric perks like purchase protection or the chance to earn cash back on your purchases.
• Consider your interest in studying abroad: You’ll want a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees if you study abroad. You should also check if merchants will accept the card at your destination since not all card networks are widely accepted.
• Be aware of all fees: Credit cards come with their own set of credit card fees. It’s easy to avoid them if you pick the right card and use it responsibly.
• Explore cards with upgrade potential: Many student cards have a “graduated” version you could upgrade to once you’re ready to move beyond student credit cards. If you upgrade with the same issuer, you could skip putting in a new application and avoid a hit to your score.

How a Bankrate expert chose a student credit card

Bankrate writer Benét Wilson is part of a loyal Bank of America family, and she started her credit journey with the low-cost card a family member recommended to her. Benét still recommends streamlined cards like hers for students, but she stresses that students should take the time to thoroughly research the card that best fits their needs.

"While I was in college, credit card companies worked hard to get students to apply for credit cards through sign-up events and giveaway items like shirts and frisbees to turn students into life-long customers. I chose the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students* at a campus event because my grandfather was a Bank of America bank manager and recommended it for establishing credit. He gave me a long lecture on using the card responsibly, but it didn't stick. I racked up charges on dumb stuff like food, clothing and entertainment and hit my spending limit quickly. I worked almost a year to pay off that card. I wish I could say I learned my lesson and never overcharged credit cards again, but that would be a lie.

Regardless, the student BankAmericard was a good fit for my financial and credit-building needs at the time, and it’s still a solid option for students looking for their first credit card. Just do your homework and choose wisely since that first credit card will set the tone for your financial history.

If you have the option, also consider asking your parents to make you an authorized user. With the right card, you can take advantage of rewards and perks that don't normally come with student credit cards.”

— Benét Wilson, Writer, Credit Cards

*The information about the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Still deciding if a student credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

College is a great time to try new things and take (reasonable) risks, but that’s not an ideal approach to finances. Student cards often have unsecured credit lines with some of the best rewards rates and perks — and perhaps the lowest rates and fees — available with a starter card. They’re certainly one of the best ways to build credit as a college student, but being reluctant to get a credit card or wanting a card with more guardrails is understandable.

Some of the most common alternatives to student credit cards include:

• Secured credit cards: These cards require a security deposit, and several top options earn rewards without charging an annual fee.
• Alternative credit scoring models: Tools like UltraFICO and Experian Boost look at aspects of your finances aside from credit history to help establish your credit score, including utility bill, streaming service and rent payments.
• Become an authorized user: You’ll receive a card connected to the primary cardholder's account. You can use this card to access the authorized user’s credit line, but only the authorized user is responsible for payments. 

If you’re nervous to strike out on your own in the credit card market, some of the best credit-building options may require asking a relative or someone else you trust if you can be an authorized cardholder on their credit card account. Bankrate editor Daniella Ramirez went this route and could skip the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and obtain its full-fledged counterpart.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

When evaluating the best cards for students, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for students and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here’s a look at how our rating methodology breaks down for student credit cards: