7 Best Student Credit Cards Instant Approval

Instant approval credit cards can get you easy access to rewards in no time. Here is the list of credit cards that you can get approved for quickly.

Student credit cards are an essential financial tool for young people as they establish their financial footing and build a healthy credit score. Most student credit cards are designed with the same features and rewards like a regular credit card and some of them have special benefits for college students. Unfortunately, approval for a student credit card can take weeks or even months due to the fact that most banks and lenders require young adults to provide proof of income, have an established credit history, and meet certain age requirements. Therefore student credit cards do not have instant approval. However since most regular credit cards are also designed to benefit consumers, we have reviewed the top credit cards that you can get approved for instantly.

7 Best Credit Cards Instant Approval

Since student credit cards have a longer approval process, we have reviewed the top 7 regular credit cards that have instant approval and are easy to get. All of these cards provide you with credit card numbers immediately after approval and they can be added to your digital wallet for use right away.

 

LenderScholarooratingOur viewAPR Rates %Minimum Credit ScoreLearn more

Blue Cash Preferred®

Visit website
4.9/5Good for Cash Back Rewards18.74-29.74690Visit website

Blue Cash Everyday®

Visit website
4.8/5Great for Everyday Purchases18.74-29.74690Visit website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Visit website
4.7/5Good Cash Back Benefits19.74-28.49660Visit website

Quicksilver Cash Rewards

Visit website
4.6/5Simple and Quick Approval Process19.74-29.74690Visit website

Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Visit website
4.5/5Good for Low Credit Scores17.99-29.49640Visit website

Costco Anywhere Visa®

Visit website
4.3/5Best for Costco Wholesale Members19.99-29.99720Visit website

Prime Rewards Visa Signature

Visit website
4/5Good for Amazon Shoppers18.74-26.74700Visit website

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a quick approval process and you can have the card number immediately for ready to use. It is a great card for people looking for cash back rewards. With this card, you can earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases) and 3% cash back on U.S. gas station purchases and at select U.S. department stores, as well as 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Once you are approved you can add the card number to your digital wallet and start using immediately. 

Pros of Blue Cash Preferred®

  • There is 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases
  • You can earn. 3% cash back on U.S. gas station purchases and at select U.S. department stores, as well as 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  • There is no annual fee.
  • You will get access to exclusive Amex Offers, giving you even more value for your purchases

Cons of Blue Cash Preferred®

  • There is a a high cash advance APR of 25.24%
  • Cash advances and balance transfers incur fees of either $5 or 3% of each transaction, whichever is greater
  • Possible penalty APR of up to 29.99%
  • You will be charged foreign transaction fee of 2.7%

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Another American Express card that you can get instantly is the Blue Cash Everyday®. This card can also be added to your digital wallet once you have the number assigned after approval. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to earn cash back rewards on their everyday purchases. You can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases) and 2% cash back on U.S. gas station purchases and at select U.S. department stores, as well as 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. 

Pros of Blue Cash Everyday®

  • You will earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases
  • Get 2% cash back on U.S. gas stations and at selected U.S. department stores, as well as 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • You can have extended warranty and protection
  • You will not be charged any annual fee

Cons of Blue Cash Everyday®

  • This card also has a high cash advance APR of 25.24%
  • You will be charged $5 or 3% of each cash advance or balance transfer, whichever is greater
  • There can be a penalty of up to 29.99%
  • A high foreign transaction fee of 2.7%



Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is also available to use instantly after approval. You can just add it to your digital wallet and start spending. This is a great rewards card and you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter that you activate, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. You also get a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for first 15 months. 

Pros of Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • You get 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months 
  •  5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter that you activate
  • Additional benefits such as extended warranty protection, purchase protection, price protection, and more
  • Easy to add to digital wallet and use

Cons of Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • After the introductory period ends the APR increases
  • The 5% cash back is limited to bonus categories that must be activated each quarter
  • No sign-up bonus for new cardholders
  • Foreign transaction fee of 3% for purchases made outside of the U.S.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is an easy to use credit card without any complicated reward points. The approval process is simple and quick if you meet the eligibility criteria and the number can be used instantly through digital card. In rewards you’ll earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limits or tiers. YOu can also get an introductory bonus of $150 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. The card also offers a 0% APR promotional period on both balance transfers and purchases for the first 15 months, making it a great choice for those who need to pay down debt or finance a large purchase. With no annual fee and extra benefits this credit card is a great choice.

Pros of Quicksilver Cash Rewards

  • You will earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limits or tiers.
  • You can get the Introductory bonus of $150 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • 0% APR promotional period on both balance transfers and purchases for the first 15 months
  • The approval process is simple and easy

Cons of Quicksilver Cash Rewards

  • ow rewards rate of 1.5%, compared to other cards with higher rates
  • No sign-up bonus for balance transfers
  • High regular APR after the promotional period ends
  • No additional benefits on travel or restaurants

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Most Capital One cards have an instant approval process. The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard is a great option to start building credit and get instantly approved as well. With this card, you’ll earn 5% back on all purchases made at Walmart.com and 2% back on in-store Walmart purchases, as well as at restaurants, gas stations, and travel purchases. Additionally, you’ll get 1% back on all other purchases. The card also offers no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR on both balance transfers and purchases for the first 12 months after opening your account. 

Pros of Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

  • There is a instant approval process for student applications
  • You can Earn 5% back on all Walmart.com purchases and 2% back on in-store Walmart purchases, as well as at restaurants, gas stations, and travel purchases
  • It’s easy to get and apply for
  • 0% introductory APR on both balance transfers and purchases for the first 12 months

Cons of Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

  • High APR after the introductory period ends
  • 5% cash back is limited to Walmart.com purchases, meaning you won’t get top rewards for other types of spending
  • Limited additional benefits, such as no travel and purchase protection
  • Penalty fees apply if you don’t pay your balance in full each month

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a good option if you want a credit card approved and ready to use instantly. There are great benefits for members of Costco Wholesale and you can earn 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases worldwide (on up to $7,000 per year), 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back everywhere else Visa is accepted. 

Pros of Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

  • You can earn generous rewards of 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases, 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
  • Get 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com and 1% cash back everywhere else Visa is accepted
  • You can have special financing options  for  large purchases made with the card.
  • You also have Fraud protection, extended warranty coverage and emergency assistance



Cons of Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

  • The card has high interest rate of APR of 19.99% – 29.99%. This could be costly if you don’t pay off your balance each month
  • There is no introductory APR or promotional rate available on the card, meaning you will pay interest right away
  • You won’t be able to earn rewards on some items such as prescriptions and tobacco products
  • You can be charged a foreign transaction fee outside United States

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is an all-in-one rewards credit card that can be used instantly after approval. Through this card you can earn points on purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods Market and redeem them for rewards. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on all Amazon.com purchases and 2% back at U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and drug stores. You can enjoy extra benefits such as free two-day shipping, exclusive discounts, and special offers. The card comes with no annual fee and is available to both Amazon Prime and non-Prime members.

Pros of Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature

  • You can earn 5% cash back on all Amazon.com purchases and get 2% back at U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and drug stores
  • You can get this card even without Prime membership
  • You also get exclusive benefits such as free two-day shipping and special offers
  • There is Increased security  to protect your account from fraud

Cons of Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature

  • High APR of 18.74%-26.74% if you don’t pay off balance each month
  • Rewards are limited to Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases, which may not suit everyone’s spending habits
  • No introductory APR meaning you will pay interest right away
  • If you are using it outside U.S. you might be charged a fee

Eligibility Requirements of Credit Cards

Most credit cards have some general eligibility requirements and some specific ones depending on the card and its features. We have listed the general criteria of qualification but you may need to check each card for their detailed requirements before finalising the application:

  • You must be 18 years old and 19 for some cards
  • You should have a U.S. Bank account, a valid U.S. address and a social security number
  • You should be able to pass a credit check
  • Proof of income will be required and the minimum annual income will be dependant on the type of card
  • You should not have any bankruptcy or fraud charges

Which credit card can I get instantly?

There are several credit cards that offer instant approval, these include American Express cards, Capital One, Chase, Amazon Prime Rewards and Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi. All of these have quick approval processes and card numbers are available instantly to be used through a digital wallet.

Can foreign students get a card in the U.S. instantly?

It is possible for foreign students to get a credit card in the US instantly, although the requirements may vary depending on the specific cards. Generally, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, and have a good to excellent credit score (700 or higher). Additionally, many cards require applicants to have a current U.S. address, so foreign students should check all eligibility requirements before applying.

Which is the most used student credit card in the U.S.?

The most used student credit card in the U.S. is the Discover it® Student Cash Back and Student Chrome credit card. These cards have different cash back offers and benefits which can be useful for students. So make sure to compare the two before finalizing.

Final Thoughts

Student Credit Cards dont offer instant approvals as the banks usually have a longer list of requirements. However if you have a good credit history and score you can apply for the normal credit cards that can be approved quickly and are instantly usable.