Best First Credit Cards

Discover it Student Cash Back Credit Card Review

Rating: 4 Stars

Bottom Line:
High Cash Back for Students

Card Details

Regular APR:	14.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	10.99% for 6 months
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	10.99% for 6 months
Rewards Rate:	5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more, up to $1,500 per quarter each time you activate 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. Discover has cash back match at end of first year
Credit Needed:	(300-669) Bad/Fair
Annual Fee:	$0
Card Brand:	Discover

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
Intro Offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more up to the quarterly maximum, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Good Grades Rewards: $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.
No annual fee. No late fee on first late payment. No APR change for paying late.
Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO?
Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more.
Freeze It? on/off switch for your account that prevents new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers in seconds.
Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 14.99% ? 23.99%.

Is Discover it Student Cash Back Credit Card worth it?

Discover it Student Cash Back is a great card for students who want to build credit and take advantage of rotating cash back categories. For students who are more interested in ongoing rewards, this card provides 5% cash back in rotating categories and 1% unlimited cash back and Discover will match all cash back at the end of the year.

Pros

Build your credit
Higher than average cash back rewards for a student card

Cons

5% cash back categories must be activated, online or by phone, to take effect

Why 4 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

4 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

4 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Balance Transfer Fee	3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)
Cash Advance Fee	5% on transaction amount or $10, whichever is greater
Penalty APR	None

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Get Started with Discover it Student Cash Back

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the issuer. Any opinion, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author?s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

Capital One Platinum Review

Rating: 4 Stars

Bottom Line:
Build Credit Without A Deposit

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	26.96% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	None
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	None
Credit Needed:	(580-669) Average/Fair
Annual Fee:	$0
Card Brand:	Mastercard

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
Pay no annual fee
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen
Use online banking to access your account, even from your smartphone, with our mobile app
Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee ? and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use

Is Capital One Platinum worth it?

Platinum from Capital One is a solid card for people looking to improve their credit score without making a cash deposit upfront. It also provides a higher credit limit after you make on time payments for the first five months.

Pros

Build your credit
No annual fee

Cons

Higher than average APR
No hidden fees

Why 4 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

5 Stars

Perks

4 Stars

Overall

4 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	$0
Balance Transfer Fee	$0
Cash Advance Fee	3% of the amount of each transaction or $10, whichever is greater
Penalty APR	None

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Travel Accident Insurance

Extended Warranty Program

Travel Assistance

Get Started with Capital One Platinum

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

Citi Rewards+ Student Credit Card Review

Rating: 4 Stars

Bottom Line:
Student Grocery and Gas

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	16.49% – 26.49% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	0% for 7 months
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	2 ThankYou Points per dollar at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar 1 point per dollar on all other purchases Every purchase is rounded up to nearest 10 points ($3 cup of coffee earns 10 points, $12 pizza earns 20 points)
Credit Needed:	(670 – 850) Excellent/Good
Annual Fee:	$0
Card Brand:	Mastercard

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
The Citi Rewards+ Student Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap
Earn 2,500 bonus points after you spend $500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for a $25 gift card at thankyou.com
0% Intro APR on purchases for 7 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.49% – 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness
Earn 2X ThankYou Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases.
Get 10% Points Back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points you redeem per year
No annual fee

Is Citi Rewards+ Student Credit Card worth it?

Citi Rewards+ Student is a solid card for cardholders who shop at supermarkets and gas stations with high frequency. This card is also good for students to pay off purchases over time with 0% Intro APR for 7 months.

Pros

0% Intro APR on purchases for 7 months
2,500 bonus points after you spend $500 within 90 days of account opening
10% points back for the first 100,000 points you earn every year
No annual fee

Cons

ThankYou points convert to cash back at a lower than average rate than other points

Why 4 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

4 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

4 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	3%
Balance Transfer Fee	3% of the balance transfer amount or $5, whichever is greater
Cash Advance Fee	5% of the transaction amount or $10, whichever is greater
Penalty APR	Up to 29.99% (Variable)

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Get Started with Citi Rewards+ Student Credit Card

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Bottom Line:
Simple Cash Back For Fair Credit

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	26.96% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	None
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day
Credit Needed:	(580-669) Average/Fair/Limited
Annual Fee:	$39
Card Brand:	Mastercard

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise app, free for everyone
$0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app

Is Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it?

QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards from Capital One is a great card with an ongoing 1.5% cash back rate across all spending categories and a reasonable $39 annual fee. QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards is available to cardholders with average or limited credit and has a high APR.

Pros

Simple flat-rate cash back of 1.5% on all purchases
No foreign transaction fee

Cons

High APR
No intro bonus
Does not offer higher rewards in one category vs. another category – no rotating high cash back opportunities

Why 5 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

5 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

5 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Balance Transfer Fee	$0
Cash Advance Fee	3% of transaction amount or $10, whichever is greater
Penalty APR	None

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Extended Warranty Program

Purchase Protection

Roadside Assistance

Travel Assistance

Get Started with Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Bottom Line:
Build Credit and Earn Rewards

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	13.74 (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	None
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	Earn Flexpoints Rewards – 1 point for every $1 spent
Credit Needed:	(0 – 300) Limited/No
Annual Fee:	None
Card Brand:	Visa

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
Credit line starts at $500 and goes up to $100,000
Competitive low rate
Earn Flexpoints Rewards – 1 point for every $1 spent
Use card responsibly and you can be automatically graduated to a Visa Platinum Credit Card
Visa Platinum benefits like Travel and Emergency Assistance Services and Lost Luggage Reimbursement
25-day grace period on purchases
ATM cash advance fee of $3.00 (no cost at teller)
Ability to join SDFCU and apply at the same time

Is State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum worth it?

State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum is a great card for people looking to build credit who are State Department Federal Credit Union Members. The minimum deposit is $250, and the rewards program offers 1 point for every $1 spent, which is good for a secured card.

Through the redemption portal, cardholders can redeem rewards for airfare, merchandise, gift cards, gift certificates and repaid cards. Most gift cards or gift certificates are delivered within 7-10 business days. The prepaid cards, issued by Visa, may take up to 4-6 weeks for delivery and can only be shipped within the United States.

State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum also comes with several benefits that can be found on travel cards. With a low APR, this is a great card for people looking to put down a deposit to build credit.

Pros

Build your credit
Monthly reporting to all three credit bureaus
A security deposit is required for this product: minimum of $250 is on the low-average end for secured cards. The security deposit is always equal to your credit limit
Low APR

Cons

Need to be eligible to join SDFCU either via employment in the Department of State, as a family member of a State Department employee, or as a member of an SDFCU organizational affiliate association. On the SDFCU website, they list American Consumer Council members as eligible, and you can become a member for $8 if you have made a large purchase as a consumer in the last 12 months. The purchase categories are very general, but if you don’t think you qualify you can pay $15 for lifetime membership.

Why 5 Stars?

Regular APR

5 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

4 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

5 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Balance Transfer Fee	None
Cash Advance Fee	Over the Counter: None; ATM: $3.00
Penalty APR	None

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Extended Warranty Program

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Travel and Emergency Assistance

Get Started with State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Bottom Line:
Student Travel Rewards Redeemable Through Travel Sites

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	16.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	0% for first 12 billing cycles
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases No blackout dates or restrictions and points do not expire
Credit Needed:	(670 – 850) Excellent/Good
Annual Fee:	$0
Card Brand:	Visa

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don?t expire
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees
Comes with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase

Is Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students worth it?

Travel Rewards from Bank of America for Students is an excellent card for students who want travel rewards. This card is identical to the Bank of America Cash Rewards card, which is a great card for travelers who want a flexible travel rewards program that allows them to redeem points on third-party travel sites for no annual fee.

Pros

25,000 online point bonus after spending $1,000 in first 90 days after account opening that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Build your credit
Unlimited 1.5X points an all purchases
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee

Cons

Travel rewards when redeemed for cash are much less than cash value from cash back rewards cards

Why 5 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

5 Stars

Fees

5 Stars

Perks

4 Stars

Overall

5 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Balance Transfer Fee	3% on transaction amount or $10, whichever is greater
Cash Advance Fee	See Terms
Penalty APR	Up to 29.99%

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Extended Warranty Program

Purchase Protection

Roadside Assistance

Travel Assistance

Get Started with Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.

Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Bottom Line:
Cash Back In Categories That Are Common Expenditures For Students

Apply Now

Card Details

Regular APR:	15.74% – 25.74% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	0% for 15 billing cycles
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	0% for 15 billing cycles on any balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening
Rewards Rate:	3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs Up to $2,500 in combined 3% category and 2% grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases
Credit Needed:	(670 – 850) Excellent/Good
Annual Fee:	$0
Card Brand:	Mastercard?

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

Click APPLY NOW to apply online
No annual fee
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Earn 3% cash back on gas or your choice of one of five other popular categories, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 15.99% ? 25.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
No expiration on rewards
If you?re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% ? 75% more cash back on every purchase

Is Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students worth it?

Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students is an excellent card for students who want rewards. This card is identical to the Bank of America Cash Rewards card, which is a great cash back card. Purchases on gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvements and furnishings earn 3% cash back and are selected by the cardholder monthly.

Pros

$200 signup bonus after spending $1000 in first 90 days of account opening
Build your credit
0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
No annual fee

Cons

3% and 2% rewards rate is capped at $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter

Why 5 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

5 Stars

Fees

4 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

5 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	3%
Balance Transfer Fee	3% of the amount of each transfer or $10, whichever is greater
Cash Advance Fee	See Terms
Penalty APR	Up to 29.99%

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Concierge Service

Extended Warranty Program

Travel Accident Insurance

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Purchase Protection

Roadside Assistance

Travel Assistance

Get Started with Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

Credit Cards Research:

Best Credit Cards for 2021
These are the best credit cards for 2021.

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
If you have excellent credit, check out these cards. These are the best cards for excellent credit with travel rewards and cash bonuses.

Best Credit Cards to Pay off Debt
The fastest way to pay off credit card debt is by transferring a balance to a 0% APR credit card. These are the best balance transfer cards on the market.