We’ll count down the top 9 best credit cards for university students in 2024 with little, no or 0 income from side jobs, parental allowances or stipends.
Navigating the world of credit cards as a college student sans income stream can seem awfully intimidating. However, diving into building credit early pays dividends for decades down the road when you eventually need to finance major life purchases like a car, home or education expenses.
The key is finding the right starter card offering cash back rewards or travel points tailored to typical student spending categories and limited budgets. Ideally, no convoluted annual fees eating into earnings either.
The top 9 best credit cards for students with little or 0 income in 2024
We’ll count down the top 9 best credit cards for university students in 2024 with little or no income from side jobs, parental allowances or stipends. Tips for maximizing value responsibly to build exceptional credit are included as well.
Best Student Credit Cards: Discover the Best Options for Students in 2024
#9 - Discover it Student Chrome Card
Discover consistently ranks as a top issuer for student credit cards thanks to lenient approval requirements and rotating category bonuses tailored to common student spending.
The Discover it Student Chrome card accelerates rewards earning potential by offering 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined category purchases each billing quarter. Effectively a $20 per quarter return when maxing out the limit!
All other everyday purchases also earn an unlimited 1% base cash back on the Chrome card. Redeem as statement credits anytime with no minimum thresholds.
Discover also incentivizes academic achievement by providing a $20 statement credit each year your GPA remains at 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years. Meeting grade benchmarks essentially nets an extra $100 over the course of your undergraduate college career.
Key Perks & Features:
- 2% gas & dining rewards up to quarterly $1k cap
- 1% unlimited base cashback on other purchases
- $20 yearly GPA rewards totaling $100
#8 - Capital One Journey Student Rewards
The Capital One Journey Student Rewards card adds to its standard 1% flat-rate cash back on all purchases with one of the higher initial credit limits amongst student cards for those meeting minimum income requirements during application.
Higher starting limits help keep utilization percentages lower which benefits your overall credit score health. Approved limits can reach $500 - $1,500 for qualified students with steady allowances or income streams from part-time jobs or internships.
The Journey card also packs several premium travel protections like extended warranty coverage, travel accident insurance, and emergency assistance while traveling internationally. Nice benefits typically reserved only for expensive premium credit cards aimed at high-spending professionals.
As an easy-to-manage cash back earning card tailored specifically for first-time student borrowers, the Journey Student Rewards card serves as a perfect foundational card to carry for many years after graduating as well.
Key Perks & Features:
- 1% unlimited cash back
- Higher initial credit lines compared to competitors
- Extended warranty & travel accident protections
#7 - Bank of America Travel Rewards Student Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for students offers an unlimited 1.5x points (1.5 cents) cash value per $1 dollar spent on any purchase. Redeem points as travel statement credits to offset paid flights, hotels, vacation rental stays, or other transportation booking expenses.
As a new cardholder, you also earn a $50 statement credit when at least $1,000 is spent on qualifying purchases made during the first 90 days after opening an account.
Effectively you could earn up to $100 in combined value between points and the signup bonus within your first year through meeting routine college student spending thresholds.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card also provides premium benefits like no foreign transaction fees on study abroad program expenses or international trips. Existing Bank of America customers may also qualify for additional points bonuses through the Preferred Rewards program.
Easy qualification criteria make this one of the best starter travel credit cards tailored to high school seniors or undergraduate students without prior credit history.
Key Perks & Features
- 1.5x points (1.5 cents) cash value per $1 spent
- $50 statement credit when $1k spent in first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fees
#6 - Deserve Edu Mastercard
Breaking the mold of traditional student credit cards relying heavily on credit reports for approval decisions, the Deserve Edu Mastercard considers academic progress and financial responsibility instead.
Cardholders earn a baseline 1% cashback on all purchases made, plus an additional half a percent per month during the first 6 monthly billing cycles when payments are made on time. Responsible repayment effectively earns up to an extra 3% during your first 6 months.
After making 12 consecutive on-time minimum payments over the first cardmember year, regular cashback bumps up permanently to an impressive 2% return on every future purchase.
For a student credit card available regardless of income level or credit reports, the Deserve Edu Mastercard provides unmatched earning upside and approval accessibility.
Key Perks & Features
- 1% baseline cash rewards all purchases
- Additional 0.5% per on-time payment first 6 months
- 2% regular cashback after 12 on-time payments
- Qualify based on academic merit over credit
#5 - Discover It Student Cash Back Card
The Discover It Student Cash Back credit card likely ranks as most popular among card issuers catering to high-school and college-aged borrowers.
Students earn an unlimited 1% return on every routine purchase, plus additional cashback from rotating 5% bonus category each quarter on up to $1,500 in spending. Common 5% categories include grocery stores, gas stations, Amazon.com, wholesale retailers and more.
Just activate the current quarter’s category in your account and then earn automatic 5% bonuses when shopping at major national chains you likely frequent already anyway.
Also unique to Discover, new student cardmembers get all their earned cashback matched at the end of their first year. So responsibly maximizing category bonuses in year one effectively doubles total rewards.
Redeem anytime with no minimums as statement credits or direct deposit into your checking account.
Key Perks & Features
- 1% unlimited base cashback all purchases
- 5% quarterly rotating bonus categories
- Cashback Match all earnings after first 12 months
#4 - Chase Freedom Student Credit Card
For students wanting premium travel card benefits from issuers like Chase or American Express, meeting initial approval criteria as a young adult borrower can prove tricky without established credit history.
But Chase Bank eases qualification standards for their popular Freedom Student card designed specifically for those wanting to build credit responsibly while attending university or college.
The Chase Freedom Student card provides 1% baseline cash back on all purchases the first card membership year. After your first 12 monthly statements, earned rewards then accelerate to an unmatched 5% back within rotating quarterly spending categories on up to $500 in purchases.
Quarterly 5% categories often include money-saving opportunities like grocery stores, select streaming services, Amazon.com and more. Just activate through your account each quarter then let bonus rewards automatically tally when shopping as normal.
New Chase Freedom Student cardholders also get a $50 cash rewards signup bonus after making their very first card purchase within initial 3 months of opening an account. Meet minimum spending thresholds and earn up to $100+ back in first year.
Meeting approval for premium Chase card benefits gets easier for students when applying for their tailored Freedom product. Consider as a primary card while attending university before upgrading post-graduation.
Key Perks & Features
- 1% unlimited then 5% quarterly cashback
- $50 signup bonus after first card purchase
- Premium travel protections & perks
#3 - Citi Custom Cash Card
Although not specifically a student credit card, the ultra flexible Citi Custom Cash Card offers lucrative cashback tailored dynamically to each cardholder's frequent spending categories every month.
You'll automatically earn a market-leading 5% cash back on combined transactions from your top eligiblespend category each monthly billing cycle, on up to $500 in spending. Effectively up to $25 back monthly.
Gas stations, grocery stores, select transit expenses, dinging out, streaming services and pharmacy purchases are all common categories frequently emerging as 5% bonus earners.
All remaining non-bonus purchases still earn an unlimited 1% base cashback with no category restrictions or quarterly activation requirements.
New Citi cardmembers also get an intro 0% APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. That provides significant interest savings when making large payments over time or consolidating higher-interest debts from other issuers onto your new Citi card.
Meeting eligibility is straightforward for student borrowers: simply be at least 18 years old with a personal bank account and U.S. home address. Limited prior credit history is fine and won't negatively impact approval decisions like most traditional banks.
Key Perks & Features
- 5% cashback automatically on top monthly category
- 15-month introductory 0% APR period
- Pre-qualification available without credit check
#2 - U.S. Bank Cash+ Secured Visa Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card allows cardholders to earn up to 5% cashback across two selectable spending categories each billing quarter on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases.
Category options include fast food, cell phone plans, gas stations, grocery stores, and more. Effectively up to $200 per quarter when maxing out rewards.
As a secured credit card requiring a qualifying deposit, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa helps first-time borrowers build credit history responsibly while earning very generous cashback rewards rarely offered on secured accounts.
There's also a valuable signup bonus: earn $150 after making $500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days after approval.
With the ability to select customized 5% quarterly categories fitting your lifestyle and double signup bonuses in the first year, the Cash+ Secured Card provides an accessible route to premium card-level perks.
Key Perks & Features
- Quarterly 5% cashback on two eligible spend categories
- $150 signup bonuses after meeting minimum spend
- Credit-building access without prior history
And the #1 student credit card for those without full-time income is...
#1 - Capital One SavorOne Students Rewards
The Capital One SavorOne Students Cash Rewards credit card takes first place based on its unmatched dining, entertainment and grocery rewards bonuses competitive with premium luxury travel cards exclusively available to high-income professionals and spenters.
You'll earn a market-leading 8% cashback on all Vivid Seats purchase made through January 2024 – a category perfect for concerts, theaters, and sporting events typically popular with college students. An unheard of earning potential.
The SavorOne card also provides 3% cashback on dining, entertainment services like Netflix or Spotify, and everyday grocery store runs. Non-bonus purchases still earn 1% back with no category restrictions or caps.
New student cardholders also get $100 in cash rewards bonuses after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening.
Meeting approval for the SavorOne student card is also straightforward: simply verify enrolled college student status. Credit limits scale based on stated income but often start around $300 for those without existing accounts.
With phenomenal 8% LIMITED-TIME entertainment rebates, 3% core student spends and a $100 welcome offer, no other card comes close to first year earnings potential.
Key Perks & Features
- 8% cashback on Vivid Seats purchases (ending January 2024)
- 3% dining, entertainment & grocery stores
- $100 signup bonus after $500 spent
Best Travel Credit Cards for Students in 2024
Beginner's Guide to Getting Your First Credit Card and Building Credit 2024
Understanding the FICO Score: A Comprehensive Guide to Credit Assessment
Develop Responsible Financial Habits Early
Having a student rewards credit card ultimately means little unless paired with smart money habits early on:
Pay Balances In Full - Avoid all interest charges by paying statement balances in full every billing cycle. Set calendar reminders if necessary to help build responsible repayment habits.
Keep Utilization Low - Letting balances creep above 30% of your initial credit limit signals reliance on credit rather than responsible usage. Keep spending below 30% levels monthly.
Review Transactions Regularly - Log in to your account weekly and review charges to catch fraudulent or inaccurate activity promptly. Report suspicious transactions to issuers ASAP.
Building positive financial behaviors with your first student credit card does require diligence but pays dividends through decades of credit history and thousands saved on interest fees.
FAQs About Student Credit Cards with 0 Income
How do student credit cards work for borrowers without income?
Issuers focus mainly on verifying active student status rather than formal income. Valid .edu email addresses and record requests often suffice. Stated income mostly determines initial spending limit ceilings.
When should I apply for my first student credit card?
Apply as early as possible once turning 18 before beginning college to maximize the credit building years while attending school. Letting positive history develop for 4+ years sets you up nicely for post-graduate life needing access to financing.
Are student credit cards or secured credit cards better to start?
Qualifying for student credit cards with rewards bonuses and lenient approval criteria is generally easier upfront versus secured cards requiring cash deposits. Capitalize on exclusive student perks before resorting to secured credit routes if declined by issuers.
Can I eventually upgrade my student credit card?
Absolutely. Most issuers allow upgrading student cards to premium rewards products after graduation once you’ve built sufficient credit history to qualify for lucrative travel point and airline mile cards. Contact issuers about product change options rather than closing student accounts if possible to retain the length of credit.
How to get a student credit card with no income?
To get a student credit card with no income:
Apply for a Student Card: Some issuers offer student-specific credit cards. Applying for these cards can increase your chances of approval, even with no income.
Consider Other Income Sources: Some cards may accept other income sources like allowances, grants, or scholarships. Mention these on your application to improve your chances.
List Financial Aid and Parental Support: If you lack a steady job, mention financial aid and regular parental deposits as income on your application.
Final Thoughts
Finding the single best student credit card involves identifying opportunities providing healthy rewards that align with routine purchases for those on limited budgets. Seek out 1-2% unlimited base case rates with 5% bonuses for categories like commuting, dining out or online shopping.
The Capital One SavorOne Student Card takes first place overall based on outsized cashback for entertainment and events combined with valuable dining and grocery rebates. Responsible usage means potentially hundreds back yearly.
Stick to always paying statement balances in full and keeping utilization moderate during student years. Doing so builds exceptional credit to qualify for premium tier cards after college loaded with lucrative travel and entertainment perks as young professionals.
You’ve got this! Start your financial journey off right.
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