As a full time college student (for longer than I care to admit), I know first-hand the importance of managing your money. And a student credit card is an important part of the equation. From building credit at an early age, to handling unexpected expenses, credit cards can help us meet the financial demands of higher education. And the good news is that there are some solid student cards that offer everything from relatively low interest rates to rewards to 0% introductory rates. There are of course plenty of credit cards that have terrible terms and conditions. And that’s why I put together my list of 6 student credit cards that don’t suck.
Discover® Student Open Road(SM) Card
- Double Cashback Bonus automatically on your first $250 in purchases each month at any gas station and any restaurant.
- 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at over 100 top retailers through our exclusive online shopping mall, ShopDiscover(SM)
- Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on all other purchases automatically
- Flexible redemption options: choose from Partner gift cards, merchandise, Discover® gift cards, credit to your Discover card account or an electronic deposit to your bank account
- Turn your Cashback Bonus into bigger rewards by redeeming for gift cards or eCertificates from over 100 brand-name Partners such as Bed, Bath & Beyond®, Red Lobster® and Lands’ End®.
The Discover® Student Open Road(SM) Card is a cash back card that is aimed towards students. The card offers 0% for the first 6 billing cycles for all purchases. After the intro period is up the card has a variable rate of 11.74% plus the prime rate. The rate can vary monthly based on charges to the prime rate. The rewards programs gives you 5% on your first $100 each month that is spent on gas or auto maintenance. If you using the Discover site you can earn 5% to 20% at online retailers. In addition, the card gives 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Discover® Student Card – Monogram Collection
- 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like travel, gas, groceries, restaurants, movies and many more.
- Unlimited cash rewards, automatically
- Up to 20% Cashback Bonus® when you shop online
- Double rewards with more than 100 Cashback Bonus Partners
- Customer Service in less than a minute, anytime you want
The Discover® Student Card Monogram Collection lets you add a personal touch to your card by designing your card with the letter of your name on it. The card gives 0% for the first 6 billing cycles on all purchases as an introductory rate. After that, the variable rate is 11.74% plus the prime rate. Dues to changes to the prime rate your variable rate could change monthly. You can earn cash rewards on all your purchases. You automatically earn 1% unlimited Cash back Bonus on purchases after your total annual purchases exceed $3000. The purchases that are part of the $3,000 earn .25%. The card offers a 5% program, but you have to sign up for it in order to participate. Once signed up you can also 5% Cash back on category purchases. There are restrictions on this so read the terms and conditions to get all the details.
Citi® Forward Card for College Students
- The Credit Card that Rewards You for Good Behavior.
- Up to a 2% Purchase APR Reduction When You Make a Purchase, Stay Under Your Credit Line, and Pay on Time 3 Billing Periods in a Row.
- 3,500 Bonus Points After $250 in Purchases are Made Within 3 Months of Account Opening.
- 2,500 Bonus Points When You Sign Up for Paperless Statements Within 3 Months of Account Opening.
- 5 Reward Points for Every $1 You Spend on Dining, Books, Movies and Music. 1 Reward Point You Spend on other Purchases.
The Citi® Forward Card for College Students takes a unique approach to interest rates and rewards. The Citi Forward actually lowers your interest rate over time if you pay your bill on time and don’t go over your credit limit. It also gives you rewards points for doing the same thing.
Citi® mtvUTM Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students
- 0% APR on Purchases for 6 Months, If You Qualify, Based on Your Application and Credit History
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for Every Dollar You Spend at Restaurants, Bookstores, Record Stores, Movie Theaters, and Video Rental Stores
- Earn 1 ThankYou Point For Every Dollar You Spend on All Other Purchases
- Earn 25 ThankYou Points Every Month When You Pay on Time and Don’t Go Over Your Credit Limit
- Earn Up to 2000 ThankYou Points Twice a Year for Maintaining a Good GPA
- Redeem Points for Gift Cards, Travel, Electronics, Music, and More
- No Annual Fee
- A safe alternative to credit card debt.
- Ability to use anywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted, including ATMs.
- Instant and convenient access to funds and allowances.
- Have funds deposited directly onto your card-easier access to your paycheck.
- Safe and easy way to have funds when studying and travelling abroad.
- Receive Prewards, which are like coupons, put directly on your card.
- Build your credit history
- 0% Interest on Purchases for 6 Months*
- No minimum income or cosigner required
- No Annual Fee
- Easy Online Account Management tools
The Citi® mtvUTM Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students is designed to give rewards to students who work hard in school. For example you can earn ThankYou Points for earning good grades, paying your bill on time and not exceeding your credit limit. The card also gives an introductory rate of 0% for the first 7 months on all purchases based on your creditworthiness. After the intro period the variable rate is between 13.99% and 16.99% plus the prime rate. The APR you receive is based on your credit. The rate can vary each month based on changes to the prime rate. When you are ready to redeem your points you can do so for things like: electronics, gift cards, music CDs, movie DVDs and airline tickets. Plus, you can redeem ThankYou Points for MTV and mtvU awards, such as VIP tickets to mtvU’s Spring Break or the MTV Video Music Awards (limited quantities available).
Facecard Prepaid MasterCard for College Students
The Facecard Prepaid MasterCard for College Students is one of the few prepaid cards specifically designed for college students. Because Facecard is a prepaid MasterCard, there are no interest charges, over the limit fees, or late payment fees. There’s also no risk of going into debt.
Discover® Student Card – Clear
The Discover® Student Card – Clear allows you to earn cash rewards on all your purchases. The card gives 1% unlimited Cash back Bonus on purchases after your total annual purchases exceed $3,000. The purchases that are part of the $3,000 earn .25%. You can earn 5% Cash back Bonus on category purchases, but you must sign up for each 5% program. The card offers an intro rate of 0% for the first 6 months on all purchases. After the intro period the rate is variable and is equal to the prime rate plus 11.74%. The card also offers no annual fee.
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