Best Student Credit Cards of 2026
Building credit as a student? These cards are designed for beginners with no annual fee, low credit requirements, and solid rewards.
How We Rank
Cards are scored using category-specific metrics - not just the generic reward rate. Each card earns points for relevant category rewards, perks, signup bonuses, fees, and benefits that matter most for this use case. Cards from any issuer or category can qualify if they score well.
#1
Discover it Student Cash Back
by DiscoverDiscover it Student Cash Back is a student card from Discover with no annual fee, unlimited cashback match: get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically., and fair credit.
Why it's #1
- No annual fee
- Low minimum credit score (580)
- 1.0% base reward rate
Annual FeeNone
Base Rate1.0%
Signup BonusUnlimited Cashback Match: Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically.
Credit Score580-700
Regular APR16.49% - 25.49%