Best Student Credit Cards: No Credit History Required (2026)

bankseermain on December 28, 2025

60% of college students have no credit history. Whether you’re a US student or international student on F-1 visa, the right student credit card helps you build credit while earning rewards.

I’ve researched every student card to find the ones that actually approve students with zero credit history and offer real value.

If you’re not a student but still need to build credit CLICK HERE

What Makes Student Credit Cards Different?

Easier Approval Standards

Regular credit cards require:

  • Established credit history
  • Credit score 670+
  • Proof of income

Student credit cards accept:

  • No credit history at all
  • Students with part-time income
  • Lower income thresholds
  • Some accept allowances/financial aid as “income”

Student-Specific Benefits

  • Lower credit limits ($300-$1,000 to start)
  • No annual fees (most)
  • Rewards programs
  • Credit education tools
  • Graduation to regular card after graduation
  • Some don’t require SSN initially (international students)

7 Best Student Credit Cards (2026)

1. Discover it® Student Cash Back – Best Overall

Why it’s #1: Only student card with 5% rotating categories + first year cashback match

Key Features:

  • Rewards: 5% cashback in rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else
  • Cashback Match: Discover matches ALL cashback first year (effectively 10% rotating, 2% everything)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
  • Credit Requirements: None – accepts students with no credit

Real Earnings Example:

  • Year 1: $1,200 spend (typical student)
  • Earn: ~$36 cashback
  • With match: $72 total first year
  • Years 2-4: ~$36/year = $180 total over 4 years

Student Perks:

  • Good Grade Rewards: $20 statement credit for 3.0+ GPA each year
  • Free FICO score monthly
  • Freeze card in app if lost
  • No penalty APR

Graduation Path: Automatic upgrade to Discover it Cash Back after graduation

Apply for Discover it Student →

Requirements:

  • Age 18+ (or 21 in some states)
  • Enrolled in 2-year or 4-year college/university
  • SSN
  • Some income (part-time job, allowance, financial aid counts)

2. Discover it® Student Chrome – Best for Gas

If you drive: Better than the Cash Back version for car owners

Key Features:

  • Rewards: 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000/quarter), 1% everything else
  • Cashback Match: First year doubled (4% gas/restaurants, 2% everything)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Real Earnings (Student with Car):

  • Gas: $100/month = $1,200/year
  • Restaurants: $80/month = $960/year
  • Other: $40/month = $480/year
  • First year earnings: ($1,200 × 4%) + ($960 × 4%) + ($480 × 2%) = $48 + $38 + $9.60 = $95.60
  • Years 2-4: ~$48/year = $239.60 total over 4 years

Best for: Students who drive regularly or spend $50+/month on gas

Apply for Discover it Student Chrome →

3. Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards – Best for Dining

If you eat out: Best rewards for restaurant spending

Key Features:

  • Rewards: 3% dining, 3% entertainment, 3% grocery stores, 1% everything
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Sign-up Bonus: $50 after first purchase (easy to earn)
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

Real Earnings:

  • Dining: $150/month = $1,800/year × 3% = $54
  • Groceries: $100/month = $1,200/year × 3% = $36
  • Entertainment: $30/month = $360/year × 3% = $10.80
  • Other: $20/month = $240/year × 1% = $2.40
  • Total year 1: $103.20 + $50 bonus = $153.20
  • Years 2-4: ~$103/year = $462.60 total over 4 years

Why it’s great for students: Most student spending is dining, groceries, streaming (entertainment)

Apply for Capital One SavorOne Student →

4. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Student – Most Flexible

Customize your rewards: Choose your 3% category

Key Features:

  • Rewards:
    • 3% in category of choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, home improvement)
    • 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500/quarter)
    • 1% everything else
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Preferred Rewards Bonus: 25-75% boost if you have BofA checking/savings
  • Sign-up Bonus: $200 after spending $1,000 in 90 days

Strategy: Choose “online shopping” category for Amazon, Target.com, etc.

Real Earnings:

  • Online shopping: $150/month = $1,800/year × 3% = $54
  • Groceries: $80/month = $960/year × 2% = $19.20
  • Other: $70/month = $840/year × 1% = $8.40
  • Total year 1: $81.60 + $200 bonus = $281.60
  • Years 2-4: ~$82/year = $527.60 total over 4 years

Apply with Bank of America →

5. Deserve® EDU Mastercard – Best for International Students

No SSN required: Apply without Social Security Number

Key Features:

  • Rewards: 1% cashback on all purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
  • No SSN Required: Can apply with passport initially
  • Amazon Prime Student: 1 free year included
  • Cell Phone Protection: Up to $600 coverage

Built for F-1 Visa Students:

  • No US credit history required
  • No cosigner needed
  • Uses enrollment and financial status for approval
  • Can add SSN later when obtained

Real Earnings:

  • $500/month spend = $6,000/year × 1% = $60/year
  • 4 years = $240 cashback
  • Plus: $140 value from Prime Student = $380 total value

Requirements:

  • Enrolled in US college/university (F-1, M-1, J-1 visa OK)
  • Valid passport
  • US address
  • Bank account (can be opened after arrival)

Apply for Deserve EDU →

International Student Testimonial: “Got approved for Deserve EDU 2 weeks after arriving in US from India. No SSN yet. Used it to build credit, got SSN 3 months later, added to account. Now have 720 credit score after 2 years.” – Reddit user

6. Capital One Journey Student Rewards – Rewards Grow with Grades

Grade boost: Higher cashback for good grades

Key Features:

  • Rewards: 1% cashback on all purchases, 1.25% with on-time payments
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • GPA Bonus: Extra 0.25% cashback boost per month with 3.0+ GPA (total 1.5%)
  • Credit Monitoring: CreditWise free credit score weekly

Real Earnings with Good Grades:

  • $400/month spend = $4,800/year
  • With on-time payments + GPA bonus: $4,800 × 1.5% = $72/year
  • 4 years = $288 cashback

Motivation: Literally get paid for good grades

Apply for Capital One Journey →

7. Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® – No Credit Check Alternative

Not technically a student card but great for students:

Key Features:

  • No credit check: Uses bank account analysis instead
  • Rewards: 1-1.5% cashback (increases after 12 months on-time payments)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • No deposit required

How it works:

  • Links to your bank account
  • Analyzes income and spending patterns
  • Approves based on cash flow, not credit

Requirements:

  • SSN required (not for international students)
  • Bank account with 3+ months history
  • Regular deposits showing income

Best for: US students who’ve been working part-time for 3+ months

Apply for Petal 2 →

Quick Comparison Table

Card Best For Rewards Annual Fee Intl. Students Bonus
Discover it Student Cash Back Overall 5% rotating + 1% $0 No Cashback match
Discover it Student Chrome Drivers 2% gas/dining + 1% $0 No Cashback match
Capital One SavorOne Student Dining 3% dining + 3% groceries $0 No $50
BofA Student Flexible 3% custom + 2% grocery $0 No $200
Deserve EDU F-1 Visa 1% all $0 Yes Prime Student
Capital One Journey Good grades 1-1.5% all $0 No None
Petal 2 No credit check 1-1.5% all $0 No None

How to Choose Your Student Card

Choose Discover it Student Cash Back if:

  • You want maximum rewards
  • You’re OK tracking rotating 5% categories
  • Want cashback match first year
  • US student with SSN

Choose Discover it Student Chrome if:

  • You have a car and buy gas regularly
  • You eat out frequently
  • Want simple 2% categories (no rotating)

Choose Capital One SavorOne Student if:

  • Most of your spending is dining out
  • You buy groceries for yourself
  • Want easy $50 sign-up bonus

Choose Bank of America Student if:

  • You want highest sign-up bonus ($200)
  • You can meet $1,000 spend in 3 months
  • You bank with BofA (easier approval)

Choose Deserve EDU if:

  • You’re an international student (F-1, J-1, M-1 visa)
  • Don’t have SSN yet
  • Want to start building US credit immediately

Choose Capital One Journey if:

  • You maintain good GPA (3.0+)
  • Want motivation to keep grades up
  • Prefer simple 1% on everything

Choose Petal 2 if:

  • You’ve been denied for other student cards
  • Have 3+ months of bank history
  • Don’t want credit check

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

Before You Apply

1. Gather Information:

  • Social Security Number (or passport for Deserve EDU)
  • School name and enrollment status
  • Expected graduation date
  • Income information
  • Bank account details (for deposit if approved)

2. Calculate Your Income: Student cards count these as income:

  • Part-time job earnings
  • Regular allowance from parents
  • Scholarship/grant money (not loans)
  • Income from summer jobs
  • Work-study earnings
  • Regular deposits to your account

Example:

  • Part-time job: $800/month
  • Parents’ allowance: $300/month
  • Total annual income: $13,200 (put this on application)

3. Have Your School Info Ready:

  • School name
  • Expected graduation date (month/year)
  • Student status (full-time/part-time)
  • Major (optional)

Application Process

Step 1: Choose card from list above

Step 2: Click “Apply for Students” on issuer website

Step 3: Fill out application (10-15 minutes):

  • Personal information
  • School information
  • Income (be truthful, include all sources)
  • Housing costs

Step 4: Submit and wait for decision:

  • Instant approval: Most common (70% of student applications)
  • Pending review: 7-14 days (may need to verify enrollment)
  • Denied: Rare for student cards; usually due to insufficient income or identity issues

Step 5: If approved:

  • Card ships in 7-10 business days
  • Activate immediately when received
  • Set up online account
  • Set up autopay for at least minimum payment

Using Your First Credit Card Responsibly

The Golden Rules

Rule #1: Pay Full Balance Every Month

  • Due date is ~25 days after statement closes
  • Pay entire “statement balance” (not minimum)
  • Avoid interest charges (APRs are 15-25%)

Example:

  • Statement closes Feb 1st, balance $150
  • Due date: Feb 25th
  • Pay $150 (not $25 minimum)
  • Result: $0 interest, credit score improves

Rule #2: Keep Utilization Under 30%

  • Credit limit $500 → Spend max $150/month
  • Credit limit $1,000 → Spend max $300/month
  • Lower is better (ideally under 10%)

Why: High utilization hurts credit score, even if you pay in full

Rule #3: Never Miss a Payment

  • Set up autopay for at least minimum
  • One late payment = -90 to -110 credit score points
  • Late fee: $25-40
  • Stays on credit report for 7 years

Rule #4: Start Small

  • Month 1-3: Charge only $20-50/month
  • Month 4-6: Increase to $50-100/month
  • Month 7+: Use normally but stay under 30% utilization

Building Credit as a Student

Timeline: No Credit to Good Credit

Month 0: Apply and get approved

Months 1-2:

  • Make small purchases ($20-50)
  • Pay in full before due date
  • Credit: Building (no score yet)

Months 3-6:

  • Credit score appears (usually 640-680 range)
  • Continue on-time payments
  • Keep utilization low

Months 7-12:

  • Score improves to 680-720
  • Established payment history
  • May qualify for credit limit increase

Month 12-24:

  • Score 700-750 with perfect history
  • Can apply for second card if needed
  • Graduate to better cards after graduation

After Graduation:

  • Convert to regular card (higher limits, sometimes better rewards)
  • Established 2-4 years of credit history
  • Qualify for premium cards, auto loans, apartments

If you have bad credit instead of no credit CLICK HERE for a more accurate guide!

Maximizing Rewards as a Student

Strategy #1: Match Card to Spending

If you have a car: → Discover it Student Chrome (2% gas)

If you eat out often: → Capital One SavorOne (3% dining)

If you shop online (Amazon, Target): → Bank of America (3% online shopping category)

Strategy #2: Use for Recurring Bills

Set these to autopay on your card:

  • Netflix, Spotify, Hulu (~$30/month)
  • Phone bill ($40/month)
  • Internet ($50/month if you pay it)

Benefits:

  • Consistent usage every month
  • Easy to track
  • Autopay ensures you never miss
  • Earns rewards on bills you’d pay anyway

Strategy #3: Track Discover’s 5% Categories

Rotating categories each quarter:

  • Q1 (Jan-Mar): Grocery stores, Walgreens, CVS
  • Q2 (Apr-Jun): Gas stations, Uber, Lyft
  • Q3 (Jul-Sep): Restaurants, PayPal
  • Q4 (Oct-Dec): Amazon, Target, Walmart

Maximize: Activate each quarter (must do this!) and concentrate spending in 5% category

Strategy #4: Good Grade Bonus

Cards with GPA rewards:

  • Discover: $20 statement credit annually for 3.0+ GPA
  • Capital One Journey: Extra 0.25% cashback with 3.0+ GPA

Upload: Transcript or report card when requested

Common Student Credit Card Mistakes

❌ Mistake #1: Using It Like Debit

Problem: Charging things you can’t afford to pay off

Fix: Only charge what you have money for in your bank account

Example:

  • Bank account: $500
  • Credit card: $1,000 limit
  • Max you should charge: $500 (what you can pay off)

❌ Mistake #2: Only Paying Minimum

Bad: $500 balance, pay $25 minimum

  • Remaining $475 charged interest (20% APR = $95/year interest)
  • Takes 2+ years to pay off
  • Costs $190+ in interest

Good: $500 balance, pay $500 full balance

  • $0 interest
  • Paid off immediately
  • Credit score improves

❌ Mistake #3: Applying for Multiple Cards

Each application = hard inquiry = -5 to -10 credit score points

Better approach:

  • Choose ONE card to start
  • Use it perfectly for 6-12 months
  • THEN apply for second card if needed

❌ Mistake #4: Missing Due Dates

One late payment:

  • Late fee: $40
  • Credit score: -90 to -110 points
  • High APR triggered (up to 29.99%)
  • Stays on report for 7 years

Prevention: Set up autopay for at least minimum payment

❌ Mistake #5: Closing Card After Graduation

Bad: Graduate, close student card

  • Hurts length of credit history (15% of score)
  • Reduces total available credit (hurts utilization)

Good: Graduate, upgrade to regular version

  • Keep account open
  • Request credit limit increase
  • Maintain long credit history

International Students: Special Guidance

We have a guide that is specific to International students and immigrants, click below to learn more! Best Credit Cards for Immigrants

F-1 Visa Students

Best card: Deserve EDU

  • No SSN required to apply
  • Uses passport and school enrollment
  • Get approved within days of arrival
  • Add SSN when you get one

Timeline:

  1. Arrive in US
  2. Apply for Deserve EDU with passport
  3. Get approved (usually within 48 hours)
  4. Apply for SSN after starting school/work
  5. Add SSN to Deserve account
  6. After 6-12 months, apply for second card

Getting SSN as International Student

You need:

  • Job offer (on-campus or CPT/OPT)
  • I-20 form from school
  • Passport and visa
  • I-94 arrival record

Process:

  1. Get job offer letter
  2. Apply at Social Security office
  3. Receive SSN card in 2-3 weeks
  4. Add to existing accounts
  5. Can now apply for more cards

Building Credit Without SSN (First 3-6 Months)

Options:

  1. Deserve EDU: Best option, designed for international students
  2. Become authorized user: Ask friend/roommate with US card to add you
  3. Wait for SSN: Then apply for regular student cards

After Graduation: What Happens to Your Card?

Automatic Upgrades

Discover it Student → Discover it Cash Back

  • Happens automatically after graduation
  • Same account, same history
  • Higher credit limits usually
  • Same rewards structure

Capital One Student → Capital One Regular

  • Automatic product change
  • Often better rewards
  • Higher limits

Bank of America Student → Bank of America Regular

  • Upgraded version
  • Keep all your history

Request Upgrades

After graduation:

  1. Call card issuer
  2. Request “product change to non-student card”
  3. Ask for credit limit increase
  4. Get better rewards/benefits

Your Credit After 4 Years

With perfect payment history:

  • Credit score: 720-780
  • 4 years of credit history
  • Low credit utilization
  • Qualify for:
    • Premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold)
    • Auto loans with good rates
    • Apartment rentals (no huge deposits)
    • Future mortgage pre-approval

Real Student Success Stories

Sarah (Sophomore, US Student): “Got Discover it Student Cash Back freshman year. Used for gas ($100/month) and restaurants. Earned $120 cashback in first year with the match. Score went from 0 to 710 in 18 months. Worth it!”

Raj (International Student from India): “Applied for Deserve EDU day 3 in US. Approved without SSN. Used for groceries and books. Got SSN after 2 months, added to account. Now have 680 score, just got approved for Capital One regular card. Building credit as F-1 student works!”

Mike (Senior, Works Part-Time): “Started with Capital One Journey freshman year. $500 limit. Maintained 3.5 GPA for the cashback boost. After 2 years, requested credit line increase to $2,000. No additional credit check. Score 745 now. Ready for post-grad cards.”

Elena (Graduate Student): “Got Bank of America student card for the $200 bonus. Hit spending requirement in first month (tuition books). Earned $280 total first year ($200 bonus + $80 rewards). Used it to pay moving expenses after graduation.”

Bottom Line: Best Student Card for Most People

For 70% of US students: Discover it Student Cash Back

Why:

  • Best overall rewards (5% + 1% + first year match)
  • $0 annual fee forever
  • Easy approval for students
  • Excellent customer service
  • Free FICO score tracking
  • Good grade rewards bonus

Total value over 4 years: $150-300 in cashback depending on spending

For international students: Deserve EDU

  • Only major card accepting F-1 students without SSN
  • 1% cashback + Amazon Prime Student
  • Build credit immediately upon arrival

Apply Today: Start Building Credit

The biggest mistake is waiting. Every semester you wait is lost credit history.

Your action plan:

  1. Choose card from list (Discover for most US students, Deserve for international)
  2. Apply online (takes 10 minutes)
  3. Get approved (usually instant)
  4. Receive card in 7-10 days
  5. Make small purchase immediately
  6. Set up autopay
  7. Pay in full every month

By graduation, you’ll have:

  • 4 years of credit history
  • 700+ credit score
  • $200-500 in cashback earned
  • No student loans interest (if used wisely)
  • Ready for adult financial life

Don’t wait until you “need” good credit. Start building it today while approval is easy.

Need help deciding? Compare our guide to the best credit cards for immigrants with no credit → or learn more about how secured credit cards work →

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