For many students, getting their first credit card is an important step toward establishing a solid credit history. A good credit score can open doors to financial opportunities, including lower interest rates, better loan terms, and even access to higher-end credit cards down the road. However, finding the right student credit card is essential, as it can help you build credit responsibly while also offering valuable rewards and perks.
In 2025, there are several Student Credit Cards to Build Credit designed to help young adults build their credit scores while offering a range of rewards and benefits. Whether you’re looking for cashback, travel rewards, or simply a way to start building your credit, the following options are the best for students looking to build a strong credit foundation.
Why Should Students Get a Credit Card?
For students, having a credit card is more than just a way to make purchases; it’s a crucial tool to help you build your credit score from scratch. Here’s why it’s important for students to get a credit card:
- Build Credit History: Using a credit card responsibly (paying on time and not exceeding your credit limit) helps you establish a positive credit history, which is crucial for future financial opportunities like renting apartments or qualifying for car loans and mortgages.
- Earn Rewards: Many Student Credit Cards to Build Credit offer cashback or rewards, which is a great way to earn money back or points on everyday purchases like groceries or dining out.
- Learn Financial Responsibility: Owning a credit card teaches you to budget, manage debt, and be aware of your spending habits—skills that are essential for long-term financial health.
What to Look for in a Student Credit Card
When shopping for a student credit card in 2025, here are some key features to consider:
- No Annual Fee: Look for cards that don’t charge an annual fee, so you can build credit without paying a high cost.
- Cashback or Rewards: Many student cards offer cashback on certain categories like dining, gas, or groceries, which helps you earn rewards on everyday purchases.
- Low or No Interest: Some cards offer 0% APR for the first few months or have low interest rates to help keep costs down if you occasionally carry a balance.
- Building Credit: Choose a card that reports to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) so your credit activity is tracked.
Now, let’s explore the best student credit cards for building credit in 2025.
1. Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a fantastic option for students who want to earn cashback while building their credit. It provides valuable rewards and the opportunity to get a significant sign-up bonus.
- Rewards: Earn 5% cashback on everyday rotating categories (like groceries, restaurants, or gas) up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter (then 1%). Additionally, earn 1% cashback on all other purchases.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Discover matches all the cashback earned during your first year—essentially doubling your rewards. If you earn $100, Discover will give you an additional $100 in cashback.
- Credit-Building: Discover reports your activity to all three major credit bureaus, helping you build credit history.
- No Annual Fee: There’s no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for students.
- Other Perks: Access to free FICO score and fraud protection.
This card is ideal for students who are looking to earn rewards while building credit. The rotating categories keep things fresh, and the first-year cashback match is a great incentive.
Key Highlights:
- 5% cashback on rotating categories (up to $1,500 per quarter)
- 1% cashback on other purchases
- Cashback match in the first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score tracking
2. Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
The Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card is a great option for students looking to earn cashback with a straightforward rewards structure.
- Rewards: Earn 1% cashback on all purchases. While the rewards rate is lower than other cards, it’s easy to earn cashback on every purchase without worrying about rotating categories or spending limits.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn $50 after making your first purchase within the first 3 months.
- Credit-Building: Chase reports to the major credit bureaus, allowing you to build your credit score over time.
- No Annual Fee: This card has no annual fee, so you can use it without paying any yearly charges.
- Other Perks: Enjoy purchase protection and fraud protection with your card.
The Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card is a simple, no-fuss cashback card that helps you earn rewards on every purchase, making it ideal for students who want an easy way to start building credit.
Key Highlights:
- 1% cashback on every purchase
- $50 sign-up bonus after first purchase
- No annual fee
- Purchase protection and fraud protection
3. Capital One QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for students who have a little more experience with credit and want to earn cashback on every purchase.
- Rewards: Earn 1.5% cashback on every purchase, which is a solid rate for a student card. There’s no need to track categories or limit your rewards.
- Sign-Up Bonus: This card does not offer a traditional sign-up bonus but offers consistent cashback on every purchase.
- Credit-Building: Capital One reports to all three major credit bureaus, helping you build a strong credit history.
- Annual Fee: The annual fee is $39, which is relatively low for a cashback card.
- Other Perks: Enjoy fraud protection and access to credit monitoring.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent option for students who want to earn cashback on every purchase without worrying about category limits.
Key Highlights:
- 1.5% cashback on every purchase
- No rotating categories
- $39 annual fee
- Fraud protection and credit monitoring access
4. Discover it® Student Chrome
If you want to earn higher cashback for specific spending categories, the Discover it® Student Chrome is a great choice for students.
- Rewards: Earn 2% cashback on gas and dining purchases (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter), and 1% cashback on all other purchases.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Like the Discover it® Student Cash Back, this card also offers cashback matching for the first year, doubling the rewards you earn.
- Credit-Building: Discover reports your spending to the major credit bureaus, so you’ll build your credit history.
- No Annual Fee: There’s no annual fee, making it an affordable option for students.
- Other Perks: Free FICO score and fraud protection are also included.
The Discover it® Student Chrome is perfect for students who spend a lot on dining out or gas. It offers higher cashback in those categories while still giving you 1% on everything else.
Key Highlights:
- 2% cashback on gas and dining (up to $1,000 per quarter)
- 1% cashback on other purchases
- Cashback match in the first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score
5. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
For students who prefer flexible rewards, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students lets you choose your cashback category.
- Rewards: Earn 3% cashback in a category of your choice (such as online shopping, dining, or gas) and 2% on grocery store and wholesale club purchases (up to $2,500 in combined category purchases per quarter), plus 1% cashback on all other purchases.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days.
- Credit-Building: This card reports to all three major credit bureaus to help you build your credit.
- No Annual Fee: There’s no annual fee, so you can earn rewards without additional costs.
- Other Perks: Enjoy zero liability protection and fraud protection.
With the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students, you can earn 3% cashback on the category you spend the most on, making it a great option for students who like to customize their rewards.
Key Highlights:
- 3% cashback in a customizable category
- 2% cashback on grocery store purchases
- $200 sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- Zero liability protection and fraud protection
Final Thoughts
The best student credit cards for building credit in 2025 offer a variety of features to help you earn rewards and establish a solid credit history. Whether you prefer a cashback card like the Discover it® Student Cash Back or a card with customizable rewards like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card, these cards will help you build credit responsibly while offering valuable perks.