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Student credit cards are primarily designed for students in the sense that such credit cards have lower fees, low-interest rates, and often have many rewards and perks. It is the best starter credit card for young students who typically lack a credit history or credit score.
You can start building a good credit score during your college years and get a head start in being eligible for other better credit options in the future. The potential benefits of acquiring a credit card early in adult life are worth the responsibility of being a cardholder.
For international students, getting a credit card in a foreign country like the United States may seem challenging at first with all the requirements put up by card issuers. For instance, you need to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for a credit card. Fortunately, this isn't always the case.
There are several credit card options for international students, even for those with no credit history or even an SSN. These cards can help you develop good payment habits and build a good credit history.
Here're our pick of the top 5 credit cards options for international students:
Deserve Edu Mastercard may be the best option for international students studying in the United States, especially for students with little or no credit history and without a Social Security Number (SSN) (one might need to have a US bank account). It has no annual fees and does not require a security deposit. Students born in the U.S. can also apply for this credit card.
Current Offer: Get a one-year subscription to Amazon Prime Student after you spend $500 in the first 3 billing cycles (Lifetime Value of $59)
Features
Purchases Intro APR: N/A
Balance Transfers Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 18.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Rewards and Benefits
Deserve Edu Mastercard for students is best as the starter/first credit card for international students because of the low eligibility standards. Since the APR is on the higher side for a student credit card, you should pay off the balance in full each month to avoid paying interest fees. Once you build a credit history and a decent credit score, opt for a credit card from a major issuer that offers better rewards.
Discover it Student Cash Back is one of the popular international student cards in the United States because of its variety of rewards such as rewards for maintaining good grades and large bonuses with no annual fees. However, an SSN is required for international student credit card applicants.
Current Offer: This card will match all of the cashback earned during the first year of being a cardmember, automatically.
Features
Purchases Intro APR: 0% for 6 months
Balance Transfers Intro APR: 10.99% for 6 months
Regular APR: 17.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: 3% (till February 10, 20210, then 5% of the amount of each transfer)
Annual Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Rewards and Benefits
Discover it Student Cash Back with its potential high rewards structure and cashback match for new cardmembers are attractive for students. To enjoy the 5% cashback on the rotating spending categories, you need to manually activate the rate. Otherwise, it is automatically set to 1% cashback on the purchases. Do keep in mind that Discover is not widely accepted as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
Bank of America's Travel Rewards credit card is best for students who are frequent travelers. With one flat reward rate with every dollar spent, earning travel rewards is fairly easy. With a relatively long introductory APR on purchases, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees, this is the best option for students traveling outside the U.S. as well.
Points earned with this card can be used to redeem for hotels, flights, rental cars, or baggage fees.
Current Offer: Get a sign-up bonus on 25,000 bonus points after purchases worth $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening (redeem $250 worth in travel statement credits)
Features
Purchases Intro APR: 0% for 12 Billing Cycles
Balance Transfers Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 14.99%-22.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer (whichever is greater)
Annual Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Rewards and Benefits
Bank of America Travel Rewards is a credit card for students looking to earn travel rewards on every purchase without having to pay an annual fee or foreign. It might also interest students who already have an account with Bank of America and want to build credit while managing their accounts.
The rewards can be redeemed only through Bank of America since the points earned are not transferable. Also, it offers 0% introductory APR balance transfers. If you are not keen on travel rewards, go for cards like Discover it Student Cash Back or Deserve Edu card.
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One credit card is great for students who want to start building their credit history. It offers incentives to students for on-time payments and earns extra cashback for it. And on-time payments is how you start building good credit. The credit limit can be raised after just the first 6 months of on-time payments.
With basic cashback rewards, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee, this card makes a good first credit card from a major issuer like Capital One. International students can apply.
Features
Purchases Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 26.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
Annual Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Rewards and Benefits
International students having no credit history have a better chance of being approved for a Journey Student Rewards credit card and also get the opportunity to build a credit history. Since the APR is fairly high for a student credit card, pay off the balance in full each month, otherwise, it can be very costly.
Bank of America's Cash Rewards is the best credit card option for students who want to earn cashback on everyday purchases without paying an annual fee and also while building a credit history. It offers a tiered rewards structure for earning cash back on purchases that students often spend their money on like groceries, restaurants, entertainment, online shopping.
This card may also appeal to students already banking with Bank of America and may also use it as overdraft protection for their checking account.
Current Offer: Earn $200 cash rewards after spending $1000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Features
Purchases Intro APR: 0% for 12 Billing Cycles
Balance Transfers Intro APR: 0% for 12 Billing Cycles
Regular APR: 13.99%-23.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer (whichever is greater)
Annual Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Rewards and Benefits
Since it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, it isn't the best student cards for use outside the U.S.
Overall, Bank of America's Cash Rewards is ideal for students that do most of their spending on college expenses because of the high cashback rewards with no annual fee plus the introductory bonus.
Conclusion
To get the most out of your student credit cards, pay the balance in full every month on time. Set up automatic payments to avoid missing the payment.
For cards that have a 0% introductory purchase APR for a certain period, make sure to keep the balance down to $0 before the introductory period is over to avoid the credit card APRs.
Furthermore, student credit cards are great starter cards, but it doesn't necessarily mean it will remain the best card for you once you have improved your credit score and credit history. You may be qualified for cards that offer better rewards and perks.
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