The Best Credit Cards for Students With No Credit of May 2023

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Students with a limited credit history are unlikely to be approved for the best credit cards, and even some student credit cards require good to excellent credit. Nonetheless, you can qualify for a credit card as a student with no income and zero credit, and many cards available to those with no credit history still offer valuable rewards and benefits.

Read on to see which cards we recommend to help you build credit while getting a respectable return on your spending.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Best Credit Cards for Students With No Credit

Best Credit Cards for Students With No Credit of 2023

• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only: Best overall
• Discover it® Student Cash Back - Product Name Only: Best potential return for the first year
• Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card - Product Name Only: Best for no fees
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card - Product Name Only: Best secured card
• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only: Best for simple cash-back rewards
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card - Product Name Only: Best for dining rewards
• Step - Banking for Teens - Editorial Name Only: Best for students under 18 

Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for students with no credit

Insider's credit cards team looked at dozens of student credit cards, secured credit cards, and starter credit cards and narrowed down the list by choosing only those that students with limited or no credit have a good chance of qualifying for. From there, we picked the best cards based on several factors:

• Ease of use — Simplicity is key if you're a student new to credit cards. Does the card make it easy to earn and redeem rewards without any complicated rules or restrictions to keep track of?
• Earning potential — Does the card offer a welcome bonus and/or earn rewards? Are there categories that earn a bonus, and are they useful for students? Are any categories capped at a maximum amount of spending? a
• Benefits — Most student and secured credit cards aren't packed with benefits, but if the card offers unique perks that can save cardholders money or make their lives easier, that's a huge plus in our book.
• Options for different types of students — We included cards that earn cash back and flexible points from various banks, including secured and unsecured options.

You can find out more about Insider's methodology in our guide to how we rate credit cards.

Credit Cards for Students With No Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which credit card is best for students with no credit?

If you're a student with no credit history, you're eligible to apply for all of the cards we've listed in this guide. There's no single best credit card for students with no credit — the right card for you depends on your spending habits and rewards preferences.

That said, if your spending patterns are typical of most students, it's hard to go wrong with the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only, which earns an unlimited 3% cash back on dining, groceries, entertainment, and eligible streaming services, plus 10% on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024.

Can you get a Discover student card with no credit?

Yes! Discover credit cards for students (the Discover it® Student Cash Back - Product Name Only and Discover it® Student chrome - Product Name Only) are specifically geared to college students who have limited or no credit at all. In fact, Discover clearly says that applicants without a credit score may qualify, as long as they meet other applicable underwriting criteria.

How do I get a student card with no credit?

You can apply for a student or secured credit card geared to those with no credit either online, by phone, or in a bank branch. You'll want to be sure you pick a card that doesn't require a long credit history or good credit score, as you're likely to be denied. Another option is to check out credit cards with preapproval — these will give you a good idea if you're likely to be approved without adding a hard inquiry to your credit report, which can lower your score by a few points.

Can a student get a credit card with no income?

Even if you're a full-time student and don't have a job, you could be approved for a student credit card. Banks will consider all your financial resources, such as allowances, bank balances, help from family members, and student aid (be sure to include these sources of income on your application). Another option is for a parent to add their child as an authorized user on their credit card account; this has the added bonus of potentially boosting the child's credit score, as long as the parent has good credit.

Best Overall

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only earns our top pick thanks to its lack of fees and well-rounded bonus categories. The card earns a base rate of 1% cash back, but you'll earn unlimited 3% cash back on groceries, dining, entertainment, and streaming services. While there are a few exclusions (like groceries purchased at "super stores" such as Walmart and Target), those categories cover a lot of territory.

Beyond the 3% categories, you'll earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal, and 8% cash back when you buy tickets to concerts, sporting events, and more through Capital One Entertainment. You'll also get a complimentary Uber One membership and earn 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024. Altogether, the cash-back opportunities rival what you'll get from many non-student cards.

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Editorial Name Only offers a welcome bonus of Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Intro Bonus. There's no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and it comes with a variety of retail and travel benefits such as Mastercard price protection, extended warranty protection, and travel accident insurance. Those don't stack up to benefits like trip delay insurance and purchase protection, but they're handy additions to a no-fee card intended for students with no credit history.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Student Credit Card Review

Best Potential Return for the First Year

Discover it Student Cash Back

Rather than offer cash back in fixed bonus categories, the Discover it® Student Cash Back - Product Name Only earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of combined spending in categories that change each quarter when activated, then 1% back Discover It Cashback rotation. You'll also earn 1% cash back on non-bonus purchases.

The card doesn't offer a welcome bonus, but Discover's Unlimited Cashback Match matches all the rewards you earn after your first 12 months as a cardholder. That means you're effectively earning 10% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories and 2% back on all other purchases for the first year, which is an excellent return for a no-fee card. You can redeem cash-back rewards easily as statement credits to your card account or direct deposits to a linked bank account.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back - Product Name Only offers a Discover it® Student Cash Back - Intro APR (then a Discover it® Student Cash Back - Regular APR APR). The interest-free period is short compared to other 0% APR cards, but could be useful for students who need to briefly float moving or other expenses. You'll also get Discover's Late Payment Forgiveness, which waives fees for your first late payment, and you won't be charged foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad.

Discover it Student Cash Back Card Review

Best for No Fees

Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa Credit Card 

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card - Product Name Only is a good fit for those with minimal experience using credit, since it rewards you for building good habits and doesn't punish you for mistakes. You'll start by earning 1% cash back on all purchases, but that rate increases to 1.25% after you make six on-time monthly payments, and increases further to 1.5% after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. 

Petal also partners with select merchants to offer higher cash-back rates ranging from 2-10%. The list may include popular retailers, but isn't disclosed until you have the card. You can redeem cash back for a statement credit in any amount up to your current rewards balance. Alternately, you can request a check or ACH transfer by phone with a minimum redemption of $20. 

You'll receive an initial credit line of at least $300 depending on your creditworthiness. Like your rewards rate, you can increase your credit line by making on-time payments and maintaining your credit score.

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card - Editorial Name Only has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and goes a step further by charging no late fees and no returned payment fees. You'll still want to pay your bill in full and on time to avoid interest charges, but at least the fee won't be tacked on if you do miss a payment.

Petal 2 Visa Credit Card Review

Best Secured Card

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

This is a secured credit card, which means you'll need to put down a security deposit of at least $200 to open your account. The amount you deposit influences the credit limit you receive and is held as collateral while the account is open, though Bank of America may refund your deposit after a periodic review based on factors like your credit history and banking relationship.

Like most secured credit cards, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card - Product Name Only is light on benefits. However, it earns rewards at rates that compete with student credit cards and other unsecured starter credit cards, including some that charge an annual fee.

You'll earn 3% cash back on purchases in one category of your choice, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement purchases, and you can change your selection each calendar month. You'll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, with a cap of $2,500 in combined spending per quarter applied to the 3% and 2% categories. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

You can redeem cash back rewards in any amount as a statement credit to your card account or a deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. Rewards can also be redeemed by check, but only in amounts of $25 or more. The card has no annual fee, and rewards don't expire so long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, the card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not ideal for travel abroad.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Review

Best for Simple Cash Back Rewards 

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only is similar in many respects to the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Editorial Name Only above, but with a consistent earning rate for nearly all purchases, it's better suited to those who prefer a simple rewards structure. 

You'll earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal, plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on other purchases with no need to keep track of bonus categories or calendars. You'll also get a complimentary Uber One membership plus 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024.

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Editorial Name Only offers a welcome bonus of Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Intro Bonus. It has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and comes with the same array of retail and travel benefits as the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card - Editorial Name Only, including price protection, extended warranty protection, and travel accident insurance.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

Best for Dining Rewards

US Bank Altitude Go Secured Card 

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card - Product Name Only offers an excellent return for a secured product. You'll earn 4 points per dollar on dining purchases (including takeout and delivery), plus 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations, and EV charging stations, and on a long list of streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. The bonus categories are uncapped, so you'll earn at those rates for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases, plus 1 point per dollar elsewhere.

You can redeem points for statement credits to your account at a flat rate of 1 cent per point, with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points. You can also redeem for travel and gift cards at the same rate, but with a lower minimum threshold of 1,000 points. These rewards don't expire, so there's no rush to use them, but also no incentive to save them up.

On top of competitive rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card - Editorial Name Only offers a $15 annual streaming credit valid on the same services that earn 2 points per dollar spent. The credit is applied automatically following 11 consecutive months of payments to eligible streaming services.

There's a minimum security deposit of $300, and US Bank will periodically assess your eligibility for an upgrade to the unsecured version of the card (U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card - Product Name Only). There's no annual fee, but you will be charged foreign transaction fees, and the card doesn't offer any further noteworthy benefits.

US Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card Review

Best for Students Under 18

Step - Banking for Teens - Editorial Name Only

While credit card accounts are only available to those aged 18 and over, the Step - Banking for Teens - Editorial Name Only offers a solution for students looking to build credit who haven't yet reached legal adulthood. You'll need a sponsor over age 18 in order to fund your account, but you'll have control over most aspects of your account once it's open.

Step functions much like a debit card: you transfer money into your account, and you can only spend up to your available balance. Unlike a debit card, however, Step can report your account activity to credit bureaus, which helps you build a credit history. You must be 18 to opt into credit reporting, but once you do, Step reports up to two years of your account history. That means you'll still reap the credit benefits of holding the account before you turn 18.

The Step - Banking for Teens - Editorial Name Only has no account fees, overdraft fees, or ATM fees. Since it operates like a debit card, you'll also avoid interest and monthly payments. Step offers targeted rewards at select merchants, such as 5% back on Starbucks purchases over $5. However, offers must be activated individually and may include a cap on earnings or other restrictions. The card doesn't offer a welcome bonus or other benefits, but it can help you develop the financial profile you'll need to qualify for the best rewards credit cards down the road.