7 of the best credit cards for students

College students have enough stress, and the surging rates of student loan interest and credit card delinquencies aren't helping. To help, we compiled a list of the best student credit cards. We reviewed card issuer details such as fees, rewards, and interest rates. We also considered customer feedback and expert reviews from leading personal finance sites like NerdWallet, The Points Guy, and Credit Karma to inform our analysis.

As an initial matter, a good student credit card should address several criteria. Ideally, it should:

• Have no annual fee
• Have a low or fair interest rate (APR)
• Report to all major credit bureaus
• Offer rewards or incentives like cash back
• Include educational tools and credit tracking

When you're shopping for your first student card, remember the advice of Ellen Cannon, Editorial Director of NerdWallet: "Make sure you can qualify, then look for one with no annual fee that reports payments to all three major credit bureaus." Experts agree these features are key when evaluating your first card.

While this list includes seven of the best starter credit cards for students, it's not exhaustive. So continue your research until you've found the card that best meets your unique needs.

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Petal 2 lets students earn increasing cash back with no fees. Paying on time helps boost the cash back rate and builds credit. 

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Starts with 1% cash back, which can grow to 1.5% with a history of on-time payments.
• Who it's best for. Students with no or limited credit.
• Credit building. Reports to all major credit bureaus.
• Ease of approval. It's designed for applicants with limited credit history. Approval is typically easier than for cards intended for experienced borrowers.
• Extras. It includes helpful mobile tools to track spending and analyze credit habits.

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Deserve EDU is particularly student-friendly and welcoming to international users. It reports to all major credit bureaus to help students build credit. 

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Offers 1% cash back on all purchases. 
• Who it's best for. International students and those without a Social Security number benefit most, as the card doesn't require a SSN to apply.
• Credit building. Reports to all major credit bureaus.
• Ease of approval. This card is accessible to applicants without prior credit or a Social Security number.
• Extras. Includes cell phone protection and offers up to one year of Amazon $AMZN Prime Student access for qualifying cardholders.

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The Bank of America $BAC Travel Rewards for Students card is great for students who plan to travel. It comes with up to 6% cash back and 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles.

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases and a welcome bonus of 25,000 points after $1,000 in purchases within 90 days.
• Who it's best for. Students who travel or want flexible travel rewards.
• Credit building. Reports to all major credit bureaus.
• Ease of approval. Standard approval for students with steady income or expectations.
• Extras. No foreign transaction fees, and points don't expire.

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The Capital One $COF SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card is good for students who spend on groceries, dining, and entertainment. It also keeps inexperienced students safe from overspending and fraud with instant push notifications for every purchase.

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores), dining, entertainment, and streaming services, plus 1% on everything else. There's also a $100 bonus after spending $300 in 3 months.
• Who it's best for. Students who dine out a lot, use streaming services, and spend on groceries.
• Credit building. Reports to all major credit bureaus.
• Ease of approval. Available to students with limited or no credit.
• Extras. A one-time welcome bonus helps jumpstart rewards.

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The Capital One $COF Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card is simple and offers straightforward cash back.

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases plus a $100 bonus after $300 is spent in 3 months.
• Who it's best for. Students who prefer simple, reliable rewards across all spending categories.
• Credit building. Reports activity to major bureaus.
• Ease of approval. Designed for applicants with limited credit history.
• Extras. Quick setup and easy reward redemption.

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Discover $DFS it Student Chrome is focused on gas and dining rewards with community trust.

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 per quarter), 1% on other purchases. Discover also matches all cash back earned in the first year.
• Who it's best for. Commuter students or frequent diners.
• Credit building. Reports to all major bureaus.
• Ease of approval. Accessible to students with limited credit.
• Extras. First-year cash-back match boosts value.

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Discover $DFS it Student Cash Back is widely accepted and matches cash back rewards.

• Annual fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 1% on all purchases. Discover matches first-year cash back, doubling rewards earned.
• Who it's best for. Students who want straightforward rewards and a boost in year one.
• Credit building. Reports to the major credit bureaus.
• Ease of approval. Good option for students new to credit.
• Extras. Discover's first-year match adds extra reward value.