The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

The Journey Student Credit Card is best suited for students who are on the path to build their credit and wish to earn rewards along the way. While this card comes with a relatively high APR, you could still benefit from it if you don’t carry your balances from one month to the next. Not having to pay an annual fee helps, too. If you use this card outside of the U.S., you also stand to gain by paying no international transaction fees.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One at a Glance

As long as you have good financial habits, you can make the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Card work well for you. This card is ideal for international use, and it lets you earn unlimited 1% cash back on all your purchases.


  • Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

    Best student credit card with up to 1.25% cash back


    • Limited–FairRecommended Credit
    • $0Annual Fee
    • up to 1.25% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 1xRewards Rate on Online Shopping
    • 1xRewards Rate on Groceries

Pros & Cons Explained

While the Journey Student Rewards Card's multiple benefits deserve your attention, it is important to take a look at its shortcomings too.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Earn unlimited cash back
    All the purchases you make come with 1% cash back, and there’s no cap on what you could earn. Plus, if your account doesn’t remain past due on the last day of the billing cycle, you earn an extra 0.25% cash back. If you spend an average of $600 every month and pay your bills on time, you stand to get $90 in one year.
  • No foreign transaction fee
    Use this card outside of the U.S. without paying foreign transaction fees. In most cases, these amount to 3% on each transaction.
  • Statement credits on streaming subscriptions
    When you use this card and make timely payments toward your streaming subscriptions, you get a $5 credit per month. This applies for 12 months after the first eligible on-time payment.
  • No annual fees
    You pay no annual fee for the life of the card, though this feature is common with almost all the leading credit cards for students.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • High interest rate
    The card comes with a 29.99% variable APR that applies to purchases, balance transfers and cash advances. The high APR on purchases can result in significant interest if you don’t pay your bill in full every month. Consider getting this card only if you can repay your balances in full each month. If you plan to carry forward your balances, consider the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, which has 19.99% variable APR on purchases.
  • Lack of additional benefits
    The Journey Student Rewards Credit Card offers few additional benefits, be it through complimentary insurance coverage or travel perks. However, this is common with student cards as well as with no annual fee cards.
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WANT TO COMPARE THE BEST STUDENT CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

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Bonuses & Rewards Explained

With the Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card, you earn 1% cash back on all purchases, and you get an extra 0.25% back if you make your monthly repayments on time. The card features unlimited cash back, and your rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains active. You can redeem your cash back rewards in a few different ways:

1

Check

You can redeem your cash back in the form of a check or a statement credit.

2

Auto redemption

You can set this up for a specific time of the year or when your cash back reaches a certain threshold.

3

Gift Cards

Additionally, you can use your cash back to buy gift cards or as credit for previous purchases.

Other Features Explained

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card has many other features and benefits, including:

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Automatic credit line review
    Capital One analyzes your credit profile and determines if you qualify for a higher credit line in as little as six months.
  • Set up autopay
    Use your card to set up automatic payments to go out from your account every month, and do away with the hassle of remembering due dates. You also get easy access to the list of merchants that charge your card monthly.
  • Authorized user
    Adding an authorized user to your card is simple, as is tracking the user’s spending.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

Ensure that your account is not past due on the last day of each billing cycle to maximize your cash back earning potential. By doing so regularly, you can increase what you earn from 1% to 1.25%.

Understanding the Fine Print

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    29.99% Variable
  • Annual Fee
    $0
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    up to 1.25% Cash Back
  • Airline Benefits
  • fairCredit icon

    Regular APR

    The Journey Student Rewards Credit Card comes with a fairly high variable APR of 29.99% that applies to purchases, balance transfers and cash advances. Additionally, balance transfers and cash advances start accruing interest from the date of the transaction. This APR may vary based on the prevailing prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal each quarter.

  • cashBack icon

    Cash Back Reward Rate

    This card lets you get up to 1.25% cash back with no cap on the rewards you earn. If you spend $2,000 using this card, you stand to earn up to $25. With a card that offers 3% cash back, you would earn $60.

  • balanceTransfer icon

    Balance Transfer APR and Fees

    The variable APR that applies to balance transfers for this card is 29.99%. If you use this APR for a balance transfer, you pay no balance transfer fees. If you qualify for a promotional balance transfer APR at a later stage, a 3% fee on the transferred amount will apply. In this case, if you transfer $1,000, you'll end up paying $30 in balance transfer fees.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

When comparing this card with other cards for students, pay close attention to the APR and all associated fees. If you're comparing it with a card you have, simply go through your last billing statement or check your card provider's website or app. Alternatively, find information through the credit card agreement database maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Journey Student Rewards from Capital One?

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Other Considerations for Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Make a decision about whether or not you should apply for the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card after considering how you plan to use it going forward. This is because using it as your only card or along with other cards you have might have a bearing on eventual repercussions.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

If you plan to make this your first or only credit card, keep the high APR in mind when making purchases. This card’s high APR means you’ll end up paying a significant amount in interest if you roll your balances from one month to the next. If you plan to pay your balances before the end of each billing cycle, this card 一 with its unlimited cash back 一 might work well for you.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

As an additional card with no international transaction fees, the Journey Student Rewards card is ideal for use when traveling outside of the U.S. Not having to pay an annual fee and earning up to 1.25% cash back on all purchases are additional benefits, as are the statement credits on streaming subscriptions for 12 months.

However, you still need to account for the card’s high APR on purchases, especially if you don't plan to pay off your balances every month. We don’t advise using this card for transferring outstanding balances from other cards, given its high balance transfer APR.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

We follow a well-defined and streamlined methodology when reviewing credit cards. The process includes collecting information from Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s database, standardizing data points for easy comparison, estimating average spend profiles, determining long-term value and carrying out regular re-ranking.

How Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Compares to Other Cards

This card holds its own against most other student cards because of its lack of annual and international transaction fees, as well as its high cash back rate. However, determining how it compares against other student cards essentially boils down to what you're looking for in a card.

In-Depth Credit Card Comparisons:
Quick Comparison of the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Card

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Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Purchase APR: 29.99% variable
  • International transaction fee: $0
  • Cash back rate: Up to 1.25%
  • Mini Verdict: Best suited for students who plan to travel overseas.
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Chase Freedom® Student credit card

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Purchase APR: 19.99% variable
  • International transaction fee: 3% of each transaction
  • Cash back rate: 1%
  • Mini Verdict: Ideal for students who plan to maintain revolving balances.

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Credit Card that might help you arrive at a decision.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you're unsure about how well this card might work for you, consider taking a look at what some of the other leading cards for students have to offer. If you're not looking for a student card, you might be better off with a rewards card or a balance transfer card.

Learn more about credit cards in general

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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