Best Credit Cards for Students or Someone Without a Credit History

Q. I am a foreign student in the U.S. without established credit history.  What's the best credit card for my situation?

A. You can try student credit cards that are specifically designed for college students who don’t yet have a full-time income or established credit history.  You can upgrade student credit cards to a regular credit card after a year or two of responsible use.

Below are 3 of the best student credit cards and their perks:

Discover it for Students

• Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.
• 5% cash back in categories that change each quarter like gas, restaurants, home improvement stores and more -up to the quarterly maximum when you sign up. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Good Grades Rewards: $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

• Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
• There’s no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn, and rewards don't expire
• Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time

Discover it Chrome for Students

• Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.
• 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter—no sign-ups needed. 1% cash back on all your other purchases.
• Good Grades Rewards: $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.