Undergraduates on the move ought to learn about the best travel credit cards for students. These cards offer rewards that save money when flying off to college, back home for the holidays, around the US for spring break, and to foreign lands for summer vacations and semesters abroad.
Student credit cards are helpful even if your travel involves nothing more than a local commute to school. For example, you can cash in your rewards to help pay for everyday expenses on or off campus.
Student travel cards are versatile, valuable, and easy to obtain. We review 10 of the best, all solid choices for the student on the go.
Best Student Credit Cards With Travel Rewards
Here we review student credit cards that provide rewards for travel-related purchases ranging from gas at the pump to airplane flights. They cost little to own and can help you stretch your payments over multiple months. Best of all, they’re available even if you have no credit history.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- NEW! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 15.24% – 24.24% applies.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
|
15.24% – 24.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Fair/New to Credit
|
With bonus rewards on restaurant and gas purchases, the Discover it® Student chrome can save you money on trips to and from home — or on your everyday purchases. This option can help students who spend a decent portion of their money on dining and gas. It is the best travel credit card for students, and perhaps the best credit card in the group.
In addition to your regular rewards, new cardmembers get a Cashback Match on all cash back earned during the first 12 months of account ownership. You also can earn rewards for referring friends who become cardmembers.
- Earn 25,000 bonus points ($250 value) if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere
- No blackout dates or restrictions apply, and points never expire
- 0% introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, then a variable APR applies
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 18 billing cycles
|
0% for 18 billing cycles
|
16.24% – 26.24% Variable
|
$0
|
None/Limited
|
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a flexible credit card with no rewards caps. You can also earn a modest points bonus if you are a BoA customer with a checking or savings account.
The card doesn’t charge an annual or foreign transaction fee, which is perfect for students who like to travel. You earn points for each eligible purchase, and the points never expire. There are no blackout dates for travel rewards, which you can use to pay for travel and dining purchases.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings, and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 0% Introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles (balance transfer fee applies), then a variable APR applies
- Optional overdraft protection option helps prevent declined purchases, returned checks, or other overdrafts when you link your eligible Bank of America® checking account to your credit card. Transfer fees may apply.
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 18 billing cycles
|
0% for 18 billing cycles
|
16.24% – 26.24% Variable
|
$0
|
None/Limited
|
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students provides cardmembers cash back rewards in a purchase category of their choosing, including travel purchases. It frequently offers a 0% intro APR promotion and a signup bonus.
The downside is that the card limits the earnings available for the bonus rate each quarter.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- NEW! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 15.24% – 24.24% applies.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
|
15.24% – 24.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Fair/New to Credit
|
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card has quarterly rotating categories that frequently include travel-related expenses like dining and gas. Plan your road trip to coincide with one of these bonus travel categories and maximize your savings.
Cardowners receive essential security features, including activity and fraud alerts, instant account freeze and unfreeze, and $0 liability if your card gets stolen, lost, or used fraudulently. Late payments won’t raise your APR, and there’s no penalty for your first late payment.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Limited Time Offer: Earn $100 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it’s misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
16.49% – 26.49% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Average, Fair, Limited
|
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card provides cash back on every purchase with no rewards caps. Travel benefits begin with a $0 foreign transaction fee.
You can also earn bonus cash back when you book hotels, rental cars, and select entertainment via Capital One Travel.
Best Travel Credit Cards Students Can Apply For
Attending college doesn’t limit you to student credit cards. These credit cards offer travel benefits without charging an annual fee. Upperclassmen who’ve used a student card to build credit may want to consider moving up to one of these travel cards.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% – 25.99%.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
|
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
|
17.24% – 25.99% Variable
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ pays bonus points when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can redeem your points for travel through the same program. Cardmembers can also use their Ultimate Rewards for cash back and gift cards.
The card offers top-tier rewards on each eligible purchase from a quarterly-revolving set of merchant categories, including restaurants and gas stations. Benefits include trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 14.24% to 25.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- NEW! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
14.24% – 25.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
The Discover it® Miles card provides rewards that let you fly any airline, anytime, without restricting you to a particular carrier or certain times of the year. New cardmembers get a Miles-for-Miles Match for all rewards posted during the first 12 months following account opening.
You can cash in your miles at any time and in any amount. Alternatively, you can use them to pay for travel purchases, including flights and hotels. As with all Discover cards, this one doesn’t charge an annual or foreign transaction fee.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
26.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Good
|
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a popular travel credit card due to its generous rewards and flexible redemption options. You can use your miles for cash back, a trip booked through Capital One Travel, or for reimbursement of any eligible travel expense.
Alternatively, you can transfer your points to more than a dozen travel loyalty programs. You earn bonus miles when you use Capital One Travel to book hotels and rental cars.
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
- Earn 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets
- Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 Annual Fee
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
17.24% – 26.24% Variable
|
$0
|
Good
|
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers a simple way to earn Delta SkyMiles®, plus travel benefits including free checked bags and priority boarding. The card pays bonus miles for dining expenses and direct purchases from Delta.
You can redeem your miles for discounts through the Pay with Miles program when you book travel on delta.com. You also get $0 foreign transaction fees, a discount on in-flight purchases, and car rental loss insurance.
- Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- No Annual Fee
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
18.24% – 27.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card is a no-brainer for fans of this venerable air carrier. You receive bonus miles for AA purchases and a loyalty point for each mile you earn.
The card saves you money on AA inflight purchases. You can redeem your miles for flights on American and its global partner airlines. You can add authorized users for free and rack up AAdvantage Miles even faster.
What Is a Student Credit Card?
A student credit card allows cardholders to make purchases and shop online. Most college students have little income or credit history, let alone a good credit score. Issuers design student credit cards with these facts in mind.
Student cards typically have low credit limits because their owners usually have modest incomes and can’t afford a lot of credit card debt. The cards give students a way to build credit by making on-time payments and keeping unpaid balances well below their credit limits.
Over time, card issuers may raise the credit limits of cardmembers who practice good financial habits.
Student card benefits vary. Some cards provide a statement credit for each approved referral. Many have perks that are not available from traditional cards for limited credit, such as free Amazon Prime student services, cellphone insurance, and a statement credit for certain streaming services.
Some common benefits include $0 fraud liability, rewards for eligible purchases, ATM withdrawals (cash advances), no foreign transaction fee, no annual fee, balance transfer promotions, and special deals for card membership.
How Do I Get a Student Credit Card?
Credit card issuers invest heavily in student credit cards, hoping to build brand loyalty that will outlast the college years. This is why they don’t demand that applicants have good credit. Student cards offer perks well beyond those of traditional cards for limited credit.
Applying for a student credit card online takes only a few minutes. You will probably have to provide information about your enrollment status, income, and housing costs. You should receive quick approval if you meet the card’s eligibility standards.
What Makes a Credit Card Good For Travel?
The typical travel rewards credit card makes travel cheaper, more convenient, and more secure.
Travel-Related Benefits
The best travel cards offer a wide variety of benefits that may include:
- Access to exclusive dining and entertainment venues
- Accident and emergency insurance
- Airport lounge access
- Around-the-clock concierge service
- Free baggage check
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Reimbursement for TSA Precheck and Global Entry fees
- Rental car insurance and roadside protection
- Travel credits
- Trip interruption/cancellation insurance
If you plan to travel, spend some time comparing student credit card features and select the travel rewards credit card that best matches your needs.
Rewards
Travel credit cards provide rewards (usually in the form of miles or points) that reduce the costs of your trips. These include:
- A signup bonus: Travel cards may attract new card membership by providing a large sum of rewards worth $100 or more when owners spend a set amount on purchases during the first three months after account opening. Some premium travel cards offer bonuses of 100,000 or more miles.
- Intro 0% APRs: Your card may offer six months or more in which you don’t have to pay interest on purchases and/or balance transfers (debt transferred from another card to a new card). This allows you to spread your payments over multiple billing cycles without interest charges.
- High reward rates for travel purchases: While some travel cards offer a single flat rate on all purchases, others provide multiple reward tiers with 2X to 5X (or higher) rates. The highest rates usually apply for travel, entertainment, and dining expenses. You may also earn bonus miles for purchases of groceries and gasoline.
General-purpose travel cards offer points or miles you can redeem for flights and seat upgrades on any carrier. You may also redeem your rewards for cash back, gift card offers, and merchandise. Several card issuers enhance the value of rewards when you book travel through their travel agencies.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card issues Chase Ultimate Rewards points that gain 25% in value when you use them to pay for the travel you book through Chase Travel. If you own the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Freedom Flex℠, you can transfer your Flex Ultimate Rewards to your Sapphire card and receive the same value boost.
American Express and Capital One provide similar perks when you use their travel portals.
Co-branded cards offer the frequent flyer miles of the sponsoring airline and its travel partners. In most cases, you can’t get cash for your miles, but you may be able to use them to buy the carrier’s gift card offerings or transfer them to partnering loyalty programs.
The number of points or miles you need for a free flight varies by credit card, carrier, and flight details. For general-purpose travel cards, the monetary cost of a flight determines the required points or miles, usually worth one cent each. If a flight costs $500, you would need 50,000 points to fly free.
The value of carrier-specific frequent flyer miles is even more variable because airlines set (and often change) the number of miles you need for a free flight.
Can Students Qualify For Travel Credit Cards?
Normally, you must be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate college or trade school to get a student credit card. Card issuers may require proof of enrollment, such as a copy of your college student identification card, recent transcripts, or current semester schedule.
Each credit card company sets its own eligibility requirements for its student credit cards. For example, Journey Student Rewards from Capital One doesn’t require proof of college enrollment, but applicants must meet its credit and income standards.
Other requirements for student cards may include:
- US citizenship or permanent residency
- Minimum age of 18
- If under 21, an income source such as a part-time job, scholarship, or grant
- A Social Security number (although the Deserve® EDU Mastercard doesn’t require this from international student applicants)
The 2009 CARD Act requires you to have an adult cosigner if you’re under 21 and can’t provide verifiable proof of independent income.
Which Travel Credit Card Is Easiest For Students to Get?
Almost all college student credit cards are easy to obtain. The student card issuers may skip credit checks or ignore the results. They don’t expect students to have any prior experience with credit cards or any history of using credit.
However, issuers may reject applicants who’ve had significant credit problems, a scenario more likely for folks who delayed the start of college.
Alternatively, students with poor credit may prefer to apply for a secured credit card. For example, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, and the Discover it® Secured Credit Card are similar to their student card siblings.
These cards require a cash deposit, typically $200 or more, to establish a credit limit of equal size. Security deposits almost always remove the approval barriers that poor credit erects.
While student credit cards usually offer the best perks, secured cards can often match or beat student card rewards.
Student cards boast unique features, such as cash rewards for academic achievement. But secured cards may offer benefits not typically available from student cards. For example, the Secured Sable ONE Credit Card provides cellphone protection and car rental insurance without a credit check.
Does a Student Need More Than One Credit Card?
Students undoubtedly benefit from having at least one credit card because it helps them build the credit they’ll need after graduation. Good credit reduces the cost of car loans and makes renting an apartment or obtaining a mortgage easier.
The case for additional cards hinges on how responsibly you use the first one. Your lifestyle may not require a second credit card, even if you are entirely creditworthy. Nonetheless, additional credit cards can be helpful for several reasons:
- More available credit: A second card provides another credit line, increasing your ability to finance purchases. The additional line can also reduce your credit utilization ratio (i.e., credit spent divided by total credit available) below the critical 30% level. A low CUR helps to improve your credit score.
- More positive information: Assuming you can successfully juggle multiple credit cards, the increased volume of payment reporting can accelerate credit building.
- More rewards: Different cards have different reward schemes. You may be able to increase your harvest by using the credit card with the highest rewards for each category of spending.
- More emergency funds: If you suddenly need money, an additional card may source a second cash advance to help get you through.
A balanced view demands you also consider the possible downsides of multiple credit cards:
- Overspending: If you charge too much on multiple credit cards, you may be unable to make your monthly payments. Even if you can afford the minimum monthly payments, your interest expenses could eat into your income and hamper your lifestyle. You also may inflate your CUR above 30% and harm your credit score.
- Credit card applications reduce credit scores: Most card issuers check your credit when you apply for a new credit card. Each credit check can reduce your score by a few points and remains on your credit report for two years. It’s best to wait at least six months between new credit applications.
- Greater risk of theft and fraud: Each card is the potential target of a thief or fraudster. Or one may simply fall out of your wallet. Having extra cards means more work tracking your spending and looking out for misuse.
For students who frequently travel on a favorite airline, it may be a good idea to have one co-branded airline card and another general-purpose rewards card for flights on a less-favored carrier.
If you are more likely to take a road trip than a flight, consider getting one or more gas credit cards to supplement your student card. Co-branded gasoline cards usually offer the best rewards at the pump but provide few other perks.
Ultimately, you must balance your need for extra credit cards with their cost. Happily, you can always close a credit card account if you’re in too deep.
Students Can Travel in Style With the Right Credit Card
Our review of the best travel credit cards for students should assure you that the right card is out there, waiting for you to apply. These cards have low costs, good rewards, and the ability to build credit. They also provide a way to learn about managing personal credit so you can develop financial skills by the time you graduate.
Many young people underestimate the potential risks of travel. Owning a credit card that provides critical protective features such as accident insurance and roadside assistance should reassure student cardholders, or at least their parents.
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