Best Student Credit Cards in 2023

This card has no annual fee, provides cell phone protection and offers a solid cash back rate: 1% back on all purchases. Students also receive one year free of Amazon Prime Student after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles — a spending requirement many students will likely find easy to meet if they open this account at the start of a new semester.

Finally, this card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for anyone looking to study abroad.

Pros

• Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases
• There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• You will have complimentary Amazon Prime Student for a year
• Complimentary cell phone protection when you use your card to pay your cell phone bill
• Do not need a Social Security Number (SSN) to apply
• Access to Mastercard Platinum benefits

• Students earn 1% cash back on all purchases.
• There’s no annual fee, nor are there foreign transaction fees.
• Cardholders receive Amazon Prime Student for one year.
• Cell phone protection (up to $600) is included when you pay your phone bill with your card.
• Mastercard Platinum benefits, such as rental car insurance, are included.
• Easy-to-use app helps you manage your account and pause access to your card if you misplace it — all on the go.

Disclaimer: Card offers are always changing, and in some cases, the offer listed on our site may no longer be available.

This card offers 1% cash back on all your purchases, which may make paying top dollar for those textbooks slightly easier on the wallet. Paying your bill on time boosts that cash back to a total of 1.25% for the month.

This card has zero foreign transaction fees, which is an excellent feature for international students or those who anticipate studying abroad.

Pros

• Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases, with a jump to 1.25% cash back when you pay your bills on time.
• There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
• After six months, Capital One will reexamine your credit profile to see if you are eligible for a higher credit line. This can give students more purchasing power and flexibility without opening another card.

• Cardholders receive 1% cash back on all purchases.
• Pay your bill on time and receive a 0.25% cash back bonus on top of that.
• $0 fraud liability policy provides peace of mind.
• There are no foreign transaction fees, which is great for travelers.
• You have unlimited access to CreditWise from Capital One so you can check in on your credit profile at any time.
• There’s no cosigner required, although one may be helpful.
• When making purchases online, you can generate virtual card numbers so that your actual card number is kept private.

Disclaimer: We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but card offers are always changing, and in some cases, the offer listed on our site may no longer be available.

The Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card is an accessible and rewarding secured credit card. It requires an initial deposit of at least $200. But once you make that deposit, you have the potential to double your line of credit without having to make another deposit at all.

Just make your monthly payments on time for seven months in a row without a hiccup. After the seventh billing cycle is complete, Merrick will automatically double your line of credit to $400.

Furthermore, those on-time payments will be reported directly to the three big credit bureaus, allowing you to build your credit over time. You can check your credit score regularly thanks to free FICO access, which is included with your account.

Other benefits include fraud liability protection and a host of online budgeting tools. All in all, this secured credit card is a perfect pick for folks looking to rebuild their credit and who want to build good financial discipline – there’s an attractive reward waiting at the end of seven months!

Pros

• Reports to all three credit bureaus each month
• Free FICO score access
• $0 fraud liability protection
• Lets you quickly double your credit limit

• Deposit $200 initially. Following on-time payments for 7 months, credit line is doubled to $400 w/o requiring another deposit
• $36 annual fee for the first year., billed at $3 dollars per month thereafter.

Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.

We like the Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card because it comes with no annual fees and lets you earn rewards. You earn 1 reward point per dollar spent on purchases. You may redeem your points for cash or statement credit, or to purchase merchandise or gift cards. You reward points remain valid for four years.

Applying for this card requires that you deposit a minimum of $200 in your Navy Federal savings account. If Navy Federal approves your application, it holds the deposited amount in your account to serve as your card’s credit limit. You might qualify for a credit limit increase without needing to pay an additional deposit after the first three months. Navy Federal considers your account for an upgrade to the cashRewards unsecured card after six months from account opening.

Using this card outside of the U.S. does not come with foreign transaction fees. This card also does away with cash advance and balance transfer fees. Additional benefits include free access to your credit score, the ability to freeze/unfreeze your card and rental car coverage.

Pros

• Charges no annual fee
• Low minimum security deposit
• Earn 1 point per dollar on purchases
• Redeem reward points in different ways
• No foreign transaction fees
• Review of account for upgrade to unsecured card after six months

• No annual fees
• Earn 1 reward point per dollar
• Credit limit increase possible after three months
• Possibility of graduating to a secured card after six months
• Rental car coverage

Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.

If you’re looking to build up credit for the first time but are having trouble getting approved for other cards, Citi® Secured Mastercard® could be your ticket to building a worthwhile credit score fast.

It features no annual or other incessant fees, and it allows you to access up to $2,500 of credit. Your credit limit is based on your initial deposit. As a secured credit card, this requires a $200 minimum deposit within 14 days of creating your account.

Once you open your account and make your deposit, you’ll benefit from a plethora of tools to help you build a quality credit score in no time. These include an auto-pay function and other financial planning tools, as well as free access to your FICO score.

Most importantly, this card reports to all three major credit bureaus. So with several months of responsible use, you’ll start to see improvements to your credit score across the board. You can also use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted, so it’s not difficult to make purchases throughout the month and see that score improve when you pay on time.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Can use the card anywhere Mastercard® is accepted — worldwide
• Multiple management options
• Additional financial tools, auto-pay, etc.
• Monthly reports to all three credit bureaus and free FICO score access

• Requires $200 security deposit minimum. Must pay the deposit within 14 days of opening account
• $2,500 maximum deposit
• Credit limit is equal to deposit

Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.

There’s a lot to like about the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, starting with the budget-friendly lack of annual, monthly or foreign transaction fees and a 25-day grace period if you forget to pay your bill.

While the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card does require a refundable security deposit, Capital One generously allows you to get a $200 line of credit with as little as a $49 deposit if you qualify. If you make more than that minimum deposit, you could instantly get a credit limit of up to $1,000.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card allows you to access a higher credit limit in just six months if you make your payments on time. Do that, and this card will serve as a great way to boost your credit score by reducing credit utilization.

Pros

• Great if you have limited or bad credit
• No annual fee
• 25-day grace period
• Good for building credit
• Easy to get a higher credit limit
• Online access for easy managing/monitoring
• Millions of acceptable card locations worldwide

• Requires an initial security deposit of at least $49
• Regular credit reports to all three bureaus
• Initial credit lines start at $200
• Cash advance of $3 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Up to $40 late payment fee

Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.