7 Best Credit Cards for Students with No Credit

Discover It® Student Cash Back is a card specifically for students who do not have a credit history. It is a popular choice for an easy first card among students due to the high cash back rewards it offers and no security deposit.

You can earn 5% cash back each quarter on spending at grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. On all other purchases, an unlimited 1% cash back is earned automatically. The rewards you earn can be redeemed as cash or for online shopping with PayPal any time you want. It charges 0% APR for the first 6 months on purchases after which regular rates apply.

This card has multiple designs that students can choose from. Moreover, Discover It® Student Cash Back charges no annual or foreign transaction fees making it more affordable for students.

Discover it® Student Chrome is another great card for students with no credit that offers great rewards. Students can enjoy a 2% cash back on spending $1000 quarterly at gas stations and restaurants combined and an unlimited 1% on all other purchases. There is also a dollar-for-dollar match at the end of the first year equalling the total cash back earned during that year. This doubles the rewards students earn in their first year of card use.

Moreover, the card charges no annual or foreign transaction fees and there is no interest rate charged for the first 6 months. Discover it® also allows students to customize their student cards by choosing a design from around 20 different choices. With responsible card use, you can build up good credit as this card reports to the major bureaus. You can set payment alerts on the Discover mobile app so you never pay late or miss a payment and also keep track of your FICO score through it for free. The app can also help you track and redeem your rewards.

Discover it® Student Chrome, however, does have limited acceptance abroad compared to other types of payment networks like Visa or Mastercard. Moreover, in case of a returned payment, you will be charged a penalty fee of up to $41. The very first late payment does not incur a penalty on this card but after that, up to $41 is charged on payments that are made late.

The Platinum Secured Mastercard® by Capital One is a card for building credit from scratch. It requires no credit history or minimum score to apply and therefore is much easier to get than other types of cards. Moreover, unlike other secured credit cards, it has a much lower minimum security deposit requirement starting at $49, making it affordable for more people. The security deposit is fully refundable upon the responsible use of the card.

Capital One® Platinum Secured Mastercard® comes with no hidden fees and allows its user to upgrade to an unsecured card in as little as six months after making on-time payments. With a maximum credit limit of $1,000, it is a good card for individuals with low monthly spending. Lower limits can also help keep the spending in check and repayments manageable.

Bank of America® has designed the Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit card specifically for people with no credit history or poor credit, including students. The security deposit for this card ranges from $200 to $5,000 and determines the credit limit on the card. It is one of the few secured cards that allow a higher maximum credit limit of almost $5,000. With responsible use of the card, its borrowers can build a credit history from scratch along with earning various rewards.

This card offers high cash back rewards that can be beneficial to students and other users alike. It allows cash back rewards as high as 3% in a category of your choice along with a 2% reward at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on the first $2,500 in combined purchases every quarter. On all other purchases, it gives an unlimited 1% in cash back.

The Chime® Credit Builder Visa® credit card is easy to get even without credit. You pay a security deposit into your Chime account, which becomes your credit limit and you can use it to pay your outstanding balance. This helps avoid missing any payments, establishing good credit habits, and developing a positive credit history. They report to the three major credit bureaus to help you establish a credit history and also track it easily.

This is a cheap card to use as it charges 0% interest and there is no annual fee included either. Moreover, Chime Credit Builder is a Visa card that has a wider acceptance worldwide. You can also use it at ATMs.

There are, however, no rewards or benefits associated with this card and you also need a checking account for it. It is a basic card to use for building credit mainly.

Discover It® Secured is another secured credit card for students with no credit. It has very basic eligibility criteria allowing a higher chance of approval for most students who apply. You can build a credit history with this card as it reports to the three major credit bureaus. To get the card, a minimum of $200 is required as a security deposit.

It is one of the few secured credit cards that give high cash back rewards. Moreover, Discover It® Secured charges no annual fee, and its security deposit is also refundable after using the card responsibly for 7 months. For the first 6 months, the card charges a lower APR of 10.99%, after which full rates are charged. You can also become automatically eligible for an upgrade after 7 months of using the card and making on-time payments.

There is a lower maximum credit limit of $2,500, and Discover also has a limited acceptance abroad compared to other payment networks.

This is a secured credit building card that does not require a credit history, has a $0 annual fee, and has a higher maximum credit limit of $5,000. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Credit Card reports to all three major bureaus and if you use your card well and make on-time payments, it can help build a good credit score in no time.

After you have an established credit history and a reasonable score, U.S. Bank Altitude® will automatically qualify you for their Go Visa Signature Card with higher spending limits and more benefits. This card also awards points for spending on multiple categories and everyday purchases. The highest points are awarded on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery which can be an attractive feature for many students. You can also earn a $15 annual streaming credit.

Compared to other cards, however, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card charges a higher minimum security deposit amount.