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Credit Cards for Students with No Credit History

10 min read

Last Updated: April 16, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

A student credit card may be one of the best types of credit cards for students with no credit history.
Student cards have drawbacks like lower credit limits but benefits like perks and rewards.
You could also apply for a secured credit card or become an authorized user on someone else's card.

Managing your money can be challenging, especially if you're working part-time around a hectic class schedule. This might mean you have an unpredictable cash flow. A credit card might help you cover everyday costs while managing your budget.

Getting approved for a regular credit card can be tough for a college student. This is because most credit cards want applicants to already have a credit history—a track record of borrowing money and paying it back. Many college students don't have an established credit history.

Fortunately, lenders provide options to get college students started out.

Why should you use a student or secured card to help build your credit history?

Credit card companies need a way to verify that you’re a trustworthy borrower. For many cards, your credit history and credit score will help a lender determine if you’re likely to pay them back. Lenders get your credit report from a credit bureau.

A hard inquiry to your credit could include your credit score. This helps a credit card issuer determine your eligibility for credit when you apply.

The better your credit habits, such as consistently paying bills on time, the higher your credit score might be. A higher credit score signals to credit card issuers that you're reliable in repaying your debts on time.

Learn More About Student Credit Cards

A good credit score may lead to benefits like a higher credit limit and lower interest rates on your credit card.

What if you have a history of not using credit responsibly leading to a lower credit score? A credit card issuer might think you’ll have trouble repaying a new debt. This could mean lenders will offer lower credit limits and higher interest rates. It could also mean difficulty getting approval for new credit.

If you're a college student with a limited credit history, building good credit is important to improve your credit card choices. Staying on top of your credit score is a good strategy to see how well you manage your credit.

Did you know?

As a Discover Card member, you can stay on top of your recent FICO^® Credit Scores for free on mobile and online with key factors that help explain your scores.¹ A good credit score can make all the difference in which credit cards you’ll qualify for down the road.

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Best credit cards for students with no credit history

If you're a full-time or part-time student, you can qualify for several types of credit cards, even without any credit history. The top options include student credit cards, secured credit cards, and store credit cards. Another option is to become an authorized user on someone else's card. Your specific financial needs will determine which card is best for you.

Student credit cards

A student card is made specifically for college students and doesn’t usually require a credit score. There’s no credit score required to apply for Discover Student credit cards.²

Student credit cards are accessible partly because they come with higher interest rates and lower credit limits compared to standard credit cards. A lower credit limit may help you control your debt as you build credit and learn to manage your first credit card. Plus, by making payments on time and paying off your balance each billing cycle, you can avoid paying any interest at all. Think about it: with a Discover Student credit card you could build your credit with responsible use.³

Looking for more? Some student credit cards offer perks and rewards like cash back or travel miles. A student cash back rewards credit card may even offer unlimited cash back on all purchases. When you get a portion of your spending back as cash It can significantly accumulate over time.

For example, with the Discover it^® Student Chrome card, you can earn 2% Cashback Bonus^® at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.⁴

You may also receive an introductory offer when you sign up for a student credit card. This offer might include a low intro APR which can help you avoid interest on balances you carry during the intro period. You could use this time to purchase larger expenses (like textbooks or dorm furniture) and pay over time. If you pay off your balance in full before the introductory period ends you might avoid paying any interest.

Getting secured credit cards with no credit history

A good alternative to a student credit card is a secured credit card. The big difference is that secured cardmembers need to make a refundable security deposit to secure their line of credit, which is not a requirement for student (unsecured) cards.

For example, with the Discover It^® Secured Credit Card, your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200.⁵ With this card, smart habits like paying all your bills on time and in full each month can help you build credit with responsible use.⁶

If you use a secured card responsibly, you may be eligible to upgrade to an unsecured credit card. When you upgrade, you’ll often have the same features and terms and get back your original deposit.

Did you know?

With the Discover it^® Secured credit card, you can get your deposit back when you upgrade to an unsecured card after six consecutive on-time payments and six months of good status on all your credit accounts.⁷

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While a secured card may seem like a debit card in that it involves your own money, it works quite differently. When you make a charge on your card, you borrow against your credit limit, not directly from your deposit. Your refundable deposit simply "secures" the card as collateral.

Secured cards share many benefits with student cards. You might earn rewards and get a low introductory Annual percentage rate (APR). Because secured cards often don't require a credit history, it makes them great for students or individuals with lower credit.

Secured cards, like student credit cards, often come with higher interest rates and lower credit limits compared to standard credit cards. By using your secured credit card responsibly, you can improve your credit over time. And, with better credit you might access credit cards with more favorable terms and lower interest rates in the future.

Store credit cards

Store credit cards are a popular choice for students who want to establish credit. They fall into two categories: co-branded cards and closed-loop cards. Each type of store card has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Closed-loop cards don’t usually require an existing credit history. This makes them easier to obtain. However, you can only use them at the specific store or chain of stores that issues the card.

Co-branded cards are partnerships between retailers and financial institutions. They may have stricter requirements in comparison to closed-loop cards. But, they can be used for purchases anywhere that accepts them, not just at the issuing store.

One example of a co-branded card is the NHL^® Discover it^® Credit Card, which lets hockey fans shop and earn rewards on all your purchase(s). You can earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Another common example is gas credit cards. Gas cards provide rewards at the gas pump and sometimes offer deals on selected items inside the store.

Become an authorized user on someone else's credit card

Are you having trouble qualifying for a student or secured credit card? Consider becoming an authorized user on a partner or family member's credit card. As an authorized user, you can access credit with no credit history—and it might help you build credit at the same time.

Here's how it works. First, the primary cardholder adds you to the credit card account and designates you as an authorized user. Next, you get your own physical credit card to make purchases.

In most cases, the lender reports the primary cardholder's activity to one of the three major credit bureaus. The credit card company may report it to your credit file too, which could help your credit score. Note that reporting also includes missing or late payments, which could negatively impact your credit score.

Legally, the primary cardholder is responsible for all payments. However, the card holder may expect you to cover the cost of what you purchase. It's important to agree to set expectations and responsibilities.

Applying for a student credit card

A student credit card application is easy to fill out. Compiling some information before you start to apply can help. Remember that each application might be different. Here's a checklist of what you'll most often need when applying for credit cards:

Your full legal name
Your current address
Your current employment status
Your Social Security Number (SSN) or, as an alternative, your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if the issuer accepts ITINs
Your approximate housing expenses, such as monthly rent
Your approximate yearly income
The best phone number for contacting you

Choosing a student credit card with no credit history

When searching for the best credit cards for students with no credit, you should weigh a few key factors carefully. Here are some important criteria to consider when you're comparing student cards, like Student Cash Back vs. Chrome from Discover:

Fees. Annual credit card fees can range from $0 to more than $500, so it’s important to read the fine print. There’s no annual fee to use the Discover it^® Student Chrome or Cash Back cards.
Interest Rates. By comparing interest rates and an introductory APR, you can determine how much interest the credit issuer will charge you over time.
Rewards. Look for a card that offers generous rewards on the types of purchases you plan to make. For example, Discover it^® Student Cash Back lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
Sign-Up Bonuses. Many credit cards provide welcome bonuses to new members for signing up. While Discover^® Card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, only Discover automatically gives unlimited Cashback Match to all new cardmembers: we'll match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.⁸

The bottom line

If you're a student starting with no credit history, it's important to remember that you still have several choices for getting a credit card. You could opt for a student credit card, a secured card, or become an authorized user on someone else's account. By using your card wisely and responsibly, you'll learn valuable credit management skills and begin building a positive credit history. No matter which option you select, you're setting yourself up for a more secure financial future as you move toward graduation.

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