Best student cards for no credit of November 2023
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 6:03 p.m. UTC Nov. 28, 2023
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Your credit score plays a big role in your life, and good credit history is necessary to borrow money from financial institutions and can even impact your ability to rent an apartment. But this can be a challenge for college students who haven’t had time to build good credit.
Student credit cards allow you to begin building your credit score so you’ll be prepared for life after college. And unlike a secured card, there is no security deposit required.
The best student cards for no credit charge no annual fee, earn cash back and report to the major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). We analyzed a variety of student credit cards from different companies to identify the very best. Here are our selections.
However, no credit card will be right for every consumer or every situation, so be sure to view our other roundups of best credit cards for context outside of this specific list.
Best student cards for no credit of November 2023
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Discover it® Student Cash Back *
The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best student card for no credit
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Discover it® Student Chrome *
The information for the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best for commuters
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Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
: Best for no fees
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Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card *
The information for the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best for beginners
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 250+ cards analyzed.
- 20+ years of credit card experience on the team.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best student card for no credit
Discover it® Student Cash Back
*The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for commuters
Discover it® Student Chrome
*The information for the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for no fees
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
Best for beginners
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card
*The information for the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compare the best student cards for no credit:
Credit Card
Credit score
Best For
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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.
Discover it® Student Chrome
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.
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
None
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card
N/A
The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back * The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a great option for anyone looking to build credit while earning cash-back rewards and is our top pick for the best overall value for college students with no credit history. It provides a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then a variable APR of 18.24% to 27.24% applies. You also get access to your FICO Score and the ability to opt in to Discover’s identity alerts, which will monitor your Experian credit report for new inquiries and accounts and scan the dark web for your Social Security number.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum once activated and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Past categories have included Amazon, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
- Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Discover it® Student Chrome * The information for the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. advertises no credit score is needed to apply, and could be a great option for students who spend a good chunk of their budget driving and dining. You’ll earn cash back at restaurants and gas stations (up to the quarterly maximum).
Plus, the card comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and 10.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months, then a variable APR of 18.24% to 27.24% applies . As with Discover’s other student card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back * The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , cardholders with the Discover it® Student Chrome * The information for the Discover it® Student Chrome has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. get FICO Score access and the ability to opt in for Discover identity alerts. The latter service notifies you if your Experian credit report shows new inquiries or accounts or if your SSN is found on the dark web.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Unlike many issuers, Petal uses your banking history to determine approval for a card, making it a possibility for those just starting to build their credit history. You can also earn up to 1.5% cash-back rewards on daily purchases, plus earn bonus cash back with select merchants.
The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card * The information for the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (issued by WebBank) isn’t marketed exclusively to college students, but it is one of our top picks for a first credit card. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, late fees, or annual fees, all of which are common on cards designed for those just starting their credit journey. Lastly, Petal lets you check if you’re preapproved, which can help you gauge your odds of a successful application.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn between 1% cash back right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Plus, earn 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: $0.
The information for the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card * The information for the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (issued by WebBank) isn’t technically a student card, but it’s a great option for students looking to build credit. The card helps you start to create credit history by reporting your activity to the credit bureaus, and also provides an opportunity to qualify for a credit limit increase in the future.
And, as mentioned with the Petal 2 listed above, Petal lets you check if you’re preapproved.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Earn 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings.
Factors we considered include:
- The ability to apply even without a credit score.
- Annual fees.
- Rewards potential.
- Any additional perks and benefits.
Guide to credit cards for students with no credit
Should you get a student credit card if you don’t have credit?
“Understanding your credit score doesn’t have to be a mystery. There are several educational resources available to support consumers as they begin their credit journeys through programs like FICO Score Open Access that enables banks participating in the program to offer their customers the FICO Scores they use for free, and the Score a Better Future program to provide individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to help build their credit and enable them to achieve their goals. For those just starting to build a credit history, it is important to be mindful of using your card, keep balances low and make payments on time,” says Tom Quinn, vice president at FICO Scores.
A student credit card for someone with no credit can be a helpful tool for college students looking to build a credit history. These cards are easier to qualify for than many other credit cards and usually report to the three major credit bureaus.
When you’re evaluating student credit cards for no credit, there are a few things you should consider. You should watch out for high fees, like foreign transaction fees or late payment fees. By shopping around among a few different credit card companies, you should be able to find a card with minimal fees.
And most student credit cards come with a low credit limit. If you’re hoping to use the card for emergencies, you may be able to request a balance increase after making on-time payments for a period of time.
Some issuers, like Discover, will require proof that you’re a student. But other cards that are a good fit for students and credit-builders alike do not require you to be a student to qualify. It depends on the specific card and issuer requirements.
There are a few ways you can get approved for a credit card if you have no credit history. If you’re enrolled in college and are 18 or older, you can apply for a student credit card. However, know that even without any credit history, you will still be required to show proof of income.
If you’ve already graduated, you can apply for a secured card — which will require a security deposit, often starting at $200 — or become an authorized user on someone else’s card.
There could be several possible reasons your credit application was denied. Many credit cards require a solid credit history, so if your score is too low, you’ll get turned down. You could also get denied if you have a high credit utilization rate, a history of late payments, a recent bankruptcy, are under 18, have your credit reports frozen or don’t have any income.
If you are denied, by law the issuer is required to send you a letter, called an adverse action letter, stating the reasons you were rejected.
Even if you aren’t employed full-time, it’s possible you have income that you’ll be allowed to list when applying for a credit card. For example, if you hold a work study position at your college, that could qualify, as could a regular allowance provided by your parents.
No. As long as you’re using your credit card and your issuer reports to the credit bureaus, you’ll build credit history. In fact, you’re better off not carrying a balance, because paying in full every month will allow you to avoid incurring interest charges. Plus, it will keep your utilization low.
*The information for the Discover it® Student Cash Back, Discover it® Student Chrome, Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card and Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
