College student credit card guide

Below is our guide to the best student credit cards online. Compare the features of each offer and apply for the student card that fits you best.

Having good credit is essential to financial success. When one applys for a loan, whether for a car or a house, the applicant's credit score tells the lender how well the applicant handles his/her finances—how trustworthy the applicant is.

Building good credit early is an important head-start for today's college students, and not just for loans: Many potential employers perform credit checks on those they are considering for hire. Unfortunately, many students who are just entering college don't know the importance of, or how to manage, their credit. Falling into credit card debt early can haunt the cardholder well past graduation and throughout their twenties.

Student credit cards are aimed at unemployed college students, therefore these credit cards tend to have low credit limits and relaxed approval standards. But the same rules for building optimum credit apply, and a student that uses his/her card wisely will benefit.

Credit cards for college students are geared towards the typical activities of a college student: some offer discounts at bookstores and theaters, others offer rewards for good behavior (staying under the credit limit, good GPA, etc). Student cards can be a good tool for building credit, but if used improperly they will become a burden.

Discover® Student Tropical Beach Card

5% Cashback Bonus®* in categories that change like travel, department stores, gas, groceries, restaurants, and more means extra money for you, and extra toppings for your pizza. 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at our exclusive (as in you need to be on the list) online shopping mall. Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on everything else you buy - from textbooks to toothpaste, automatically. No Annual Fee

Discover® Open Road^SM Card for Students

Double Cashback Bonus®at any gas station and any restaurant (yes, even on those infamous 1 AM burritos.) Hello 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at our exclusive online mall; goodbye mall-walkers. Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on everything else you buy along the way, automatically. Turn your Cashback Bonus into even bigger rewards by redeeming for gift cards or eCertificates from more than 100 brand-name retailers. No Annual Fee

Discover® Mix Tape Student Card

Build your credit with our contest-winning student card design - 250,000 votes on 7,000 submissions resulted in the new Mix Tape. Get yours today! 5% Cashback Bonus®* in categories that change like travel, department stores, gas, groceries, restaurants, and more means extra money for you, and extra toppings for your pizza. 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at our exclusive (as in you need to be on the list) online shopping mall. Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on everything else you buy - from textbooks to toothpaste, automatically. No Annual Fee