8 Best Student Credit Cards Instant Approval
Instant approval credit cards can get you easy access to rewards in no time. Here are our top choices for credit cards that you can get approved for instantly.
Table of Contents
- 8 Best Student Credit Cards With Instant Approval
- #1 Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- #2 Discover it® Student Cash Back
- #3 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- #4 Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- #5 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
- #6 Bank of America® Travel Rewards
- #7 OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
- #8 Discover It® Secured Credit Card
- Can You Get Student Credit Cards with Bad Credit and Instant Approval?
- What Can Cause Delays in Credit Card Approval?
- FAQs
Many credit cards offer instant approval for online applications that meet all the eligibility requirements. The easiest options for students looking for quick approval are student credit cards and secured credit cards as they both have very basic eligibility criteria and are more flexible in their credit and income requirements.
Credit card issuers like Capital One claim to provide decisions within a minute on applications submitted through their websites. Many other credit card issuers, like Discover it® and Bank of America, also provide quick decisions on online applications that are almost instant. Once approved, you can even start using most cards instantly through the company’s app or a digital wallet before they arrive in the mail which may take up to 10 business days. However, the decision may be delayed in case there is missing information or the information provided is not able to be verified right away.
Below is our list of the best student credit cards with instant approval, along with their fees, benefits, and specific eligibility requirements.
8 Best Student Credit Cards With Instant Approval
Lender | Scholaroo rating | APR Rates % | Minimum Credit Score |
---|---|---|---|
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Best card overall for instant approval Visit website | 17.99% | 690+ | |
Discover it® Student Cash Back Best for students with no credit Visit website | 18.24% | No minimum credit score | |
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Best for students new to U.S. Visit website | 19.99% - 29.99% | 580+ | |
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Best for overall rewards | 19.99% - 29.99% | 580+ | |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Best for a welcome bonus Visit website | 18.24% - 28.24% | 690+ | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Best for travel rewards | 18.24% - 28.24% | 690+ | |
OpenSky Secured Visa Best for no checking account Visit website | 22.64% | No minimum credit score | |
Discover It® Secured Best secured card with rewards Visit website | 28.24% | No minimum credit score |
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards
Best card overall for instant approval
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for students with no credit
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards
Best for students new to U.S.
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards
Best for overall rewards
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
Best for a welcome bonus
Bank of America® Travel Rewards
Best for travel rewards
OpenSky Secured Visa
Best for no checking account
Discover It® Secured
Best secured card with rewards
#1 Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
#2 Discover it® Student Cash Back
#3 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
#4 Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
#5 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
#6 Bank of America® Travel Rewards
#7 OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
#8 Discover It® Secured Credit Card
Can You Get Student Credit Cards with Bad Credit and Instant Approval?
If you are a student and have bad credit, there are credit cards you can apply for that come with instant approval. Although there is no guarantee that you’ll be approved, the cards on our list above don’t require a minimum credit score and an online application takes a few minutes.
The best student credit cards for bad credit which you can get instant approval for are typically secured credit cards. These cards are ideal for students and young adults as they usually do not require applicants to have a good credit score or a significant credit history.
Secured credit cards require a deposit that is usually equal to the credit limit you get on the card – the higher the deposit, the higher the limit. This reduces the risk to lenders and they happily issue cards to people with bad credit. If you can meet all of their other requirements and submit a complete application, the approval process is quite quick.
With these cards, you can build your credit by making on-time payments so you can switch to unsecured cards with higher limits. By having a reasonable amount of credit, you can easily apply for unsecured credit cards with better rates and higher rewards.
What Can Cause Delays in Credit Card Approval?
Following are some of the common reasons that can cause a delay in credit card approval.
- Missing information: If you provide incomplete information or documentation, your card would not be approved until you provide everything that is required for a full review
- Verification failure: Sometimes card issuers are unable to verify the information you have provided, like your social security number. This might sometimes be because of a typing mistake and should be able to get resolved easily and relatively quickly. Other problems in verification like failure to verify income can also cause delays in approval and credit card providers may ask you for additional information to ensure that you will be able to pay for your card responsibly.
- Credit score close to the minimum requirement: In some cases when your credit card is very close to the borderline, human involvement is required to make the final decision based on other factors. This can also cause a delay in your application.
- Excessive demand for a particular card: Sometimes, when there is a new offer on a card or a new economical card altogether, many people apply for it at once. This may cause the issuer to pause new approvals to deal with the existing ones which may slow down your approval process.
FAQs
What is the easiest credit card to get as a student?
If you’re a student building credit, you can consider the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card as it has an easy online pre-approval check and comes with cash rewards. If you don’t have a bank account, consider the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card, but keep in mind it requires a $200 security deposit.
What credit cards will approve me right away?
A few of the best cards with instant approval include Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards, Discover It® Secured Credit Card, and OpenSky Secured Visa.
Most credit cards now have an online application process that takes a few minutes to fill and submit provided that you have all the relevant information and documentation required. If you can provide a complete application, you can get a decision in minutes. A few of the best cards with instant approval include Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards, Discover It® Secured Credit Card, and OpenSky Secured Visa.
How long does it take to get approved for a student credit card?
You can get a decision right away within minutes of submitting a complete application online. However, it may take longer if there is information missing and your application needs further review.
What score do you need for a student credit card?
If you want good interest rates and decent rewards, you typically need good credit with a FICO score of at least 690. However, if you don’t have a good credit score, there are credit cards that don’t require a good credit history, but their interest rates may be higher and you may be required to put down a security deposit that will serve as your initial credit limit.
Are student credit cards hard to get?
Credit cards that are designed for students or young adults without a good credit history are generally designed for easy approval. The card issuer may ask for proof of enrollment and you may have to pay higher interest rates than with other credit cards. Some card issuers may request a security deposit or a cosigner.
Can foreign students get a card in the U.S. instantly?
It is possible for foreign students to get a credit card in the U.S. instantly, although the requirements may vary depending on the card issuer. Generally, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and have a good to excellent credit score (700 or higher). Some card issuers may require applicants to have a current U.S. address, so foreign students should check all eligibility requirements before applying.
Why do I get denied credit cards as a student?
Different issuers have different eligibility criteria that you need to meet to get approved. There may be many reasons for a credit card to be declined. A few reasons for denial could be insufficient proof of income, low credit score or history, being underage, failure to provide proof of enrollment as a student, etc.
Can I use my credit card immediately upon approval?
It depends on the credit card company. For most credit card lenders, you can get instantly approved via online application but the card actually may take up to 10 days to arrive in the mail so you can start using it. However, there are some issuers that allow instant use of your card account through cardless payment apps after approval.
How long does it take to get the card once approved?
It may take up to 10 business days to get the card in the mail.