7 Best Student Credit Cards With No Credit History in 2023
If you don’t have a credit history, a student credit card can help you build your credit score and get access to better credit rates in the future. Here are the best student credit cards with no credit history required.
Table of Contents
- 7 Best Student Credit Cards With No Credit
- #1 Discover It® Student Cash Back Credit Card
- #2 Capital One® Platinum Secured Mastercard®
- #3 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
- #4 Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
- #5 Discover It® Secured Credit Card
- #6 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- #7 U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card
- What Is a Student Credit Card?
- How To Choose a Student Credit Card With No Credit
- Types of Student Credit Cards
- How to Build Credit With a Student Credit Card
- FAQs
Student credit cards provide an excellent way for college students to build a good credit history. However, getting a credit card can be hard for students as they generally do not have a credit score built up at the start, and many card companies have a minimum credit requirement.
Some credit card issuers, however, recognize that young adults do not have an established credit history and need to start somewhere, and that’s why there are credit cards available specifically for students. Some of them provide cashback rewards and other benefits like zero annual fees. These student credit cards can help build up your credit score from scratch. When looking for the best card to build credit, the most important factor to consider is that the company reports to the major credit bureaus.
Below is our list of the best student credit cards with no credit history, along with their fees, benefits, and specific eligibility requirements.
Best Student Credit Cards With No Credit History Required
Consider any one of the following student credit cards if you don’t have a good credit score yet. Before applying for any card, compare all the features and benefits and determine which one is right for you.
| Lender | Scholaroo rating | APR Rate % | Minimum Credit Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Discover it® Student Cash Back Best for cash back rewards Visit website | 18.24% - 27.24% | No minimum credit score | |
Capital One® Platinum Secured® Best for a low minimum security deposit Visit website | 30.49% | No minimum credit score | |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Great secured card for rewards Visit website | 28.24% | No minimum credit score | |
Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Best for no fees and no interest Visit website | 0% | No minimum credit score | |
Discover it® Secured Great for building credit with no fees Visit website | 28.24% | No minimum credit score | |
|
Capital One Quicksilver Student Great for above-average rewards Visit website | 19.99% - 29.99% | No minimum credit score | |
 U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card Best for dining and takeout rewards Visit website | 29.99% | No minimum credit score |
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for cash back rewards
Capital One® Platinum Secured®
Best for a low minimum security deposit
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured
Great secured card for rewards
Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa®
Best for no fees and no interest
Discover it® Secured
Great for building credit with no fees
Capital One Quicksilver Student
Great for above-average rewards
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card
Best for dining and takeout rewards
#1 Discover It® Student Cash Back Credit Card
#2 Capital One® Platinum Secured Mastercard®
#3 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
#4 Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
#5 Discover It® Secured Credit Card
#6 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
#7 U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card
What Is a Student Credit Card?
Student credit cards are cards that are typically aimed at young adults or students who don’t yet have a credit history. These cards help you build your credit so you can qualify for better rates and unsecured loans or cards in the future.
Student credit cards often come with perks like cashback bonuses or no annual fees, so you can earn rewards while working towards building your credit history. They also come with easy approval and more generous terms than other cards for people with no credit.
Most student credit cards don’t require a minimum credit score, but some may ask for a security deposit that serves as your initial credit limit. These cards are meant to be used for a short period so you can build your credit score and qualify for better deals.
How To Choose a Student Credit Card With No Credit
When you’re choosing your first credit card as a student, you should compare different cards and their features, and read the terms and conditions carefully before making a choice.
Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a student credit card:
- Interest rates: You should always look for a student credit card with low interest rates to make sure you are getting the best deal on your purchases. Some cards offer a very low introductory APR but beware of higher interest rates when the intro period is over.
- Annual fees: Check what kind of annual fee is associated with a particular student credit card and decide if it’s worth it for you. If the card offers a lot of rewards that you can benefit from, it might be worth the fee. Most student credit cards, however, come with no annual fee.
- Rewards programs: Many student credit cards offer rewards programs that can help you save money when shopping. Look for a card that offers discounts and bonus points to maximize your savings.
- Security deposits: Unsecured credit cards can save you money at the beginning as they do not require any security deposits which will save you money initially. On the contrary, secured credit cards generally require a security deposit of $200 or higher, which you can get back as soon as you qualify for a better deal. Cards that require a deposit (secured credit cards) are often given to people with no credit history, like students or young adults, to give them a chance to build their credit profile while providing some security to the card issuer.
Types of Student Credit Cards
Finding the right credit card for a student without a credit history involves understanding what types of cards exist and their associated benefits.
Here are the different student credit cards available and their features:
- Secured credit cards: One of the more common credit cards, secured cards requires a security deposit that will serve as your credit limit. As a result, credit limits on secured cards of typically lower than unsecured cards. They allow students with no credit history the opportunity to build their credit score and show that they can handle credit responsibly. These are easier to get approved for and can help you build credit.
- Unsecured credit cards: The most common type of credit card, unsecured cards don’t require a security deposit and typically offer higher spending limits than secured cards. You need to have a good credit score to qualify for an unsecured credit card but may get better interest rates. These are more difficult to be approved for people with poor credit.
- Prepaid credit cards: This is a card that can be used like a credit card without the need to be approved. The cardholder funds the prepaid credit card and it typically has a lower spending limit. The benefit is that you can have a credit card that doesn’t require a credit score to be approved, but the downside is that it won’t help you build a credit history. These cards are good for developing budgeting skills. They usually do not offer rewards and have lower spending limits.
- Store credit cards: These types of cards are usually issued by retailers and department stores and can be used to purchase items at the store. Store credit cards have lower spending limits than other types of cards and are often easier to be approved for, making them a good choice for students with no credit history who want to start building their credit profile. These cards may come with various store-specific discounts but may have low spending limits and higher interest rates.
How to Build Credit With a Student Credit Card
There are a few ways that a student credit card can help you build a good credit score:
- Always pay on time: It is important to make your payments on time every month. Try to pay off your balance as soon as you can and pay more than the minimum amount required. Keep in mind that late payments may also attract a penalty fee. Making payments on time is the most important way of building and maintaining a good credit profile as your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO credit score.
- Keep a low credit utilization: If you maintain a high credit utilization ratio, you may be seen as a risky borrower. Try to maintain a credit utilization ratio of 30% or lower as this may also get you better interest rates from lenders. You can also increase your credit limit, which in turn will lower your credit utilization and raise your FICO score.
- Use your card regularly but responsibly: It is important to use your card regularly, but only if you can afford to do so. Using your credit card can help you build your credit and the best option is to repay the full balance at the end of the month to avoid unnecessary interest charges.
- Set up AutoPay: Using AutoPay will ensure that you are paying your account on time every month. Many credit card companies offer a discount for cardholders who use AutoPay, as an incentive for making payments on time.
FAQs
What are the best type of cards for students with no credit history?
Secured credit cards are the best types of credit cards and are easiest to get with no credit history. As these credit cards require a security deposit, it helps reduce the risk for the lender, making it easier to get approved for them. Your credit limit is equal to your security deposit, so it helps you avoid overspending and build a good credit history. Student credit cards are also an option for such students as some lenders like Discover it do not have a minimum credit requirement on their student cards.
Can you get a student credit card without a credit score?
Yes, you can get a student credit card that doesn’t require a credit history and use it responsibly to build up your credit. Keep in mind that you may have to put down a security deposit, usually at least $200, but some cards do come with great cashback rewards.
Can I get a Capital One student card with no credit?
The Capital One® Platinum Secured Mastercard® doesn’t require a credit history. This is ideal for students as pre-approval doesn’t trigger a hard credit check and you can put down a security deposit as low as $49.
Can I get Discover It® student cash back with no credit?
The Discover It® Student Cash Back card is aimed at college students without a credit history. You don’t need a credit score to apply and there is no annual fee. You can also apply for the Discover It® Chrome for Students. Both these cards come with cash back rewards.
How can an 18-year-old with no credit get a credit card?
Students and young adults can get a credit card at 18 even if they don’t have a credit history yet. Look for student cards that are designed for first-time borrowers. However, you will need to provide proof of income to qualify, which can even be your monthly allowance transferred into your account.
