Credit cards designed specifically to cater to student travel can help students reduce airfare, hotel, rental car and foreign transaction fees.
Not all student cards require proof of college enrollment to qualify, however upperclassmen with excellent credit and income might prefer travel cards that don’t need college enrollment as eligibility criteria.
1. Bank of America(r) Travel Rewards credit card for Students
Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students offers a rewarding rewards program that combines travel-oriented perks with credit building and healthy financial practices. With no annual fee and FICO scores starting from 630 required for approval, this $0-annual-fee card may be ideal for college students with limited or no prior credit history who seek travel-focused perks without incurring foreign transaction fees – making this card suitable even when starting their credit history from scratch.
Cardholders earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent, without restrictions or expiry dates imposed upon their rewards. New cardholders also benefit from up to $250 in statement credits toward travel purchases!
This student travel card stands out among others by not charging a foreign transaction fee, yet falls short in waiving an annual fee like other options do. Other benefits of the card include $0 fraud liability and ShopSafe protection that lets customers request temporary card numbers when shopping online for added protection.
2. Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students card offers a competitive 1.5% cash back on purchases and travel booked through its Travel portal, making this card an attractive choice for college students looking for an enhanced return on their spending. In addition, this card features some additional perks including free credit monitoring, no foreign transaction fees and roadside assistance – making this card a worthwhile purchase!
Cons of the card include its limited lineup of bonus categories and no rewards for purchases through Uber/Uber Eats/streaming services/grocery stores; also lacking early spend bonuses or other sign-up incentives; but its no annual fee makes this card ideal for college students looking to avoid costly secured credit cards that require an upfront refundable security deposit and could take years to build their credit history.
3. Discover it(r) Student Chrome
Discover is one of the few card issuers offering student credit cards specifically, with its Student Chrome offering generous rewards compared with many starter cards. It features up to 2% cash back on rotating categories with quarterly caps (then 1%) and offers dollar-for-dollar matching at the end of your first year as attractive welcome perks.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the spending limit for 2% cash back can be relatively low, particularly for college student credit cards. Furthermore, taking full advantage of rotating categories could require enrolling each quarter; this can become tedious if your purchases don’t align with its objectives.
Discover’s Student Chrome card offers even more benefits, reporting to all three major credit bureaus and waiving the initial late fee without charging foreign transaction fees. Furthermore, it offers access to your FICO score for free as well as freezing capabilities to protect against loss or destruction and overnight shipping should anything happen to it.
4. Deserve Student Credit Card
Deserve is designed to assist college students in building credit, and features several travel perks to benefit them when studying or visiting family abroad. One such benefit is its lack of foreign transaction fees which could save students considerable money when studying or visiting loved ones abroad.
Deserve offers a competitive cash-back earning rate of 1%; though other student cards provide greater rewards. Furthermore, Deserve’s card comes equipped with free cellphone insurance should your device become damaged or stolen – another perk if using Deserve to pay your monthly phone bill.
Importantly, this card allows international students to pre-qualify without a Social Security number – something not possible with other cards. This makes it an excellent solution for travelers with limited or no credit histories who would otherwise struggle to secure travel credit cards. Furthermore, Priority Pass membership grants access to airport lounges worldwide.
