9 Best Credit Cards for Students With Bad Credit in 2024

It's a unique era for higher education. With the soaring cost of tuition, many students are opting to forgo traditional universities, pursuing trade schools or alternative skill-building paths.

To make matters more difficult for those in college, today's high interest rates not only apply to student loans but also to credit cards. Without a steady income, late debt payments can lower your credit score, and in the worse case, lead to the risk of default. If you find yourself in these situations, then we recommend comparing card options designed to accommodate and help improve bad credit. In our comprehensive guide, we will take a look at the 9 best credit card options available to students, like Chime and Current, in the United States in 2024.

We also provide an in-depth understanding of how credit works, the credit card application process, how to avoid falling into bad credit traps, and whether getting a credit card is even the right choice for you. Let's get started!

Chime® Credit Builder Visa Card

The Chime® Credit Builder Visa Card is perfect for students aiming to build credit since all of your everyday purchases can be turned into positive credit reports. Chime comes with a Safer Credit Building feature, which you first need to turn on. Then, your on-time payment history can positively impact on your credit score. Chime reports your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®, the three major credit bureaus in the US.

Chime Advantages:

• No annual fees, minimum deposits, or interest charges;
• No credit check to apply;
• Help increase your FICO Score® by an average of 30 points.

Chime Drawbacks:

• Lack of rewards, like cash back.

Best Overall Credit Card For Students With Bad Credit

Chime is one of the most well known secure credit cards in the United States for students, offering students a way to build a credit history without annual fees or interest charges. The card also comes with an optional high-yield savings account, a $200 overdraft facility, a marketplace to pick up gig work, and a network of over 60,000 ATMs. Chime also charges no international transaction fees, making it ideal for travel abroad.

FDIC-insured parter: The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC
More info: read our in-depth Chime review or visit the Chime website

Current Visa Build Card

The Current Visa Build Card is another secured card that sets money aside in a reserve balance, and can be used as a secure credit builder card. Current has a good spending insights platform and has a high-yield savings account too.

Current Advantages:

• Can remove holds that gas stations place on your cards;
• Can process paper checks;
• Over 40,000 ATM network.

Current Drawbacks:

• Point rates over 1x only available at participating merchants;
• 3% international transaction fee.

Great Secure Card With a Cash Back Program

Current charges no monthly fees, no annual fee for the card, and has no minimum balance requirement. You can also earn up to 7x the points on card swipes at over 14,000 participating merchants, which you can then redeem for cash back at 100 points per dollar.

More info: read our in-depth Current review or visit the Current website
FDIC-insured parter: Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it Secured Credit Card does not require a credit score for application. Plus, it offers pathways to qualify for lines of credit from Discover, which is well known for specializing in cash back cards.

Discover it Advantages:

• No credit score required;
• 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter;
• 1% cash back on all other purchases;
• After seven months, Discover reviews your account to see if you qualify for an unsecured line of credit.

Discover it Disadvantages:

• Refundable security deposit starts at $200.

Discover Comes With Online Privacy Services

The Discover it Secured Credit Card sets itself apart with its commitment to online privacy. It offers a valuable feature to help you remove your personal information from select people-search sites that may sell your data, enhancing your security in an increasingly digital world. With its combination of credit-building and data protection features, it is a well-rounded choice for those looking to rebuild their financial foundation while safeguarding their personal information.

More info: visit the Discover website
Member FDIC: Yes

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One offers a variety of products in their Quicksilver line of credit cards. The Quicksilver Secured card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase with a refundable $200 minimum deposit.

Capital One Advantages:

• No annual fee;
• Earn 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases;
• Pathway to upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver card.

Capital One Drawbacks:

• Still possibility of having your application rejected;
• High-interest rates charges;
• Credit history can go down when the balance isn't paid monthly.

Ability to Deposit More to Raise Your Credit Line

This secured credit card requires a security deposit of $200, which gives you a $200 credit limit, which prevents you from overspending. Still, this card has a 30.74% variable APR. While you can't exceed your credit limit, you can still incur interest charges if you carry a balance from month to month. Pay the full statement balance each month to avoid interest fees. With responsible use, you may upgrade to a large credit line or an unsecured Capital One card.

More info: visit the Capital One website
Member FDIC: Yes

Discover it® Student Cash Back Card

The Discover it® Student Cash Back Card is usually open for those with little credit history and does not charge an annual membership fee.

Discover Advantages:

• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations;
• Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases;
• No foreign transaction fees.

Discover Drawbacks:

• 5% bonus cash back rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending;
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly;
• Discover is not as widely accepted as other card types.

Best for Cash Back in the First Year

Discover's Student Cash Back card is a good option for those wanting to build a credit history for the first time and get some cash back rewards at the same time. Their first year bonus program is an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match. For example, you could turn $50 cash back into $100, or $100 into $200, depending on how much you spend. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards for this first-year bonus. Since this is an unsecured line of credit, make sure to pay you balance in full every month on time avoid paying interest payments on your debt.

More info: visit the Discover website
Member FDIC: Yes

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a secured card that requires you to put down a deposit to get your line of credit. Although the annual fee of $35 makes it less competitive than some alternatives, the card does offer a path to extend a real credit line with its Gold Unsecured Card option. However, be cautious of the APR rate that will apply with the unsecured credit line.

OpenSky® Advantages:

• No credit check to apply and find out instantly if you are approved;
• OpenSky has an 87% average approval rate;
• Opportunities for credit line increase after 6 months, with no additional deposit required;
• Eligibility for OpenSky Gold Unsecured Card may be achieved in as few as 6 months;
• View your FICO® Score through your OpenSky account.

OpenSky® Drawbacks:

• Annual fee of $35;
• Has variable APR of 25.64% for the unsecured card;
• No rewards program.

More info: visit the OpenSky website
FDIC-insured parter: Capital Bank, Member FDIC

Dave ExtraCash™ Debit Mastercard

The Dave ExtraCash™ Debit Mastercard is not a credit card, but a debit Mastercard that allows students to access up to $500 of fee-free overdraft protection. You won't be subject to interest charges or late fees on that debt.

Dave Advantages:

• No annual fee or membership fee;
• No interest charges or late fees;
• No credit check required.

Dave Drawbacks:

• Does not build credit history;
• Dave determines your cash advance limit.

Best for Large Cash Advances

Dave is a great option to access interest-free cash advances, which are also not subject to late fees. This beats using a traditional bank's overdraft facility, which charges late fees and levied interest on the overdraft amount. Dave will transfer your advance to your Dave Spending account instantly. They'll also give you the option of sending the money to a different debit card within an hour for a small fee or separate bank account in 1–3 days for free.

More info: read our Dave comparison guide visit the Dave website
FDIC-insured parter: Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC

Brigit Credit Builder Loan

The Brigit Credit Builder Loan, unlike the typical credit card, allows students to build credit by financing small, affordable loans. It does so by helping you apply for a 24-month loan, which is kept untouched in an online deposit account. Perhaps the biggest advantage of Brigit is that it helps you diversify your credit mix, thus potentially boosting your creditworthiness.

Brigit Advantages:

• Requires you to save as little as $1 per month to build credit;
• No credit approval required;
• No interest or upfront deposit;
• Secured loan that is diverse from credit cards;
• Check your FICO Score.

Brigit Drawbacks:

• Only Plus members ($9.99/mo) can access the credit builder;
• Loan cannot be accessed via a physical or virtual credit card.

Best Loan Program for Students

Brigit is a great introduction to loans for beginners who have never taken on debt from a lender before. However, you need to be a Plus member for $9.99 per month to get the cash advances and access the credit builder. Free subscribers can find side gigs and access their financial planner platform.

More info: read our Brigit comparison guide or visit the Brigit website
FDIC-insured parter: Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC

Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

Credit One Bank's card is another credit card that offers cash back rewards and credit line increases over time. You can get 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas and groceries, and monthly mobile phone, internet, cable, and satellite TV bills. The card has an annual fee of $75 the first year, then $99 annually thereafter (billed at $8.25 per month).

Credit One Bank Advantages:

• Opportunities to upgrade to unsecured cards;
• 1% cash back on eligible purchases.

Credit One Bank Drawbacks:

• High annual fee;
• 29.24% variable APR.

More info: visit the Credit One Bank website
Member FDIC: Yes

How Students Can Qualify for a Credit Card

You should be able to qualify for a student credit card if you meet the following criteria:

• Age: You are at least 18 years old.
• Residency: You are a US citizen or resident.
• Social Security Number: You have a Social Security Number (some may also accept ITINs).
• Student Status: You have enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a college or trade school.
• Income: You have enough independent income to pay for your card or have a cosigner.

Other eligibility requirements for obtaining credit have been established under U.S. law. Regulation Z, also known as the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), is a federal law in the United States that aims to protect consumers by promoting transparency and fairness in lending practices. To protect you, it enforces comprehensive credit disclosure, fair lending practices, right of rescission (cancellation), billing statement requirements, and credit card disclosures.

It also requires credit card issuers to consider your ability to make minimum payments before approving your application. To improve your chances, you can inform issuers about the following sources of income:

• Earnings: Earnings from full-time and part-time jobs, seasonal work, side gigs, etc.
• Allowances: Cash from parents and family members from regular bank deposits.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid that you have available in your balances.

Is it a Good Idea to Get a Credit Card During College?

We only recommend getting a credit card during college if you can pay off your balance in full each month and have a stable income. The main advantages of credit cards include:

• fraud protection;
• the ability to make large purchases and pay them back over time;
• credit building to get better deals on loans for future large purchases (mortgages, auto loans, etc).

Credit cards also offer opportunities to earn rewards or cash back on everyday expenses. However, for those with bad credit, we generally see these as secondary nice-to-haves.

Why Might My Credit Card Application Get Rejected?

Students can face credit card rejection for several reasons:

• Insufficient Income: Creditors may have hesitation about your ability to repay your debts and interest payments.
• Bad Credit: A history of late payments or defaults can lead to a bad credit score, lowering your creditworthiness.
• Not 18: Most credit card issuers require you to be at least 18.
• No Social Security Number (SSN): An SSN is often necessary for credit applications.
• Not Enrolled: Student credit cards require you to be a current college student.

Understanding How Credit Scores Get Calculated

Creditors and lenders assess your ability to use a line of credit responsibly by analyzing your credit score. Also known as your "FICO score", this score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness between 300 to 850, and it is evaluated based on five major factors:

1. Payment history (35% of your score): Record of your past payments, including whether you've paid on time or had late payments. The more you pay your balances in full (not just the monthly minimum), the better.
2. Amounts owed (30% of your score): The total debt you owe, including credit card balances, loans, and other credit accounts.
3. Length of credit history (15% of your score): The duration for which you've had credit accounts open and used them responsibly.
4. Credit mix (10% of your score): The diversity of credit types you have, such as credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages. A diverse credit mix can improve your score, as long as they are managed responsibly.
5. New credit (10% of your score): Recent applications for credit or opening of new credit accounts. If you apply for too many lines of credit at once, your score can be negatively impacted.

Three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, collect and maintain your credit information, influencing your FICO score.

How Bad Credit Works

It's important to understand how the credit process works, and what steps can lead to defaulting on credit card debt. Here's a brief overview of the steps in the credit debt process:

1. Grace Period: Upon opening an account (or upon request), credit cards often give you extended periods (i.e. 90 days) to pay your statement balances without having to pay extra interest fees.
2. APR (Annual Percentage Rate): Following the grace period, your issuer will apply fees to unpaid debts. Failing to pay in full each month results in interest fees, which come in the form of a percentage of your outstanding debt.
3. Report Payments That Are 30 Days Late: Issuers may send reports of late payments to credit bureaus, which can hurt your credit score.
4. Closing Your Account After 180 Days and Charging Off the Debt: If you fail to make payments for around 180 days, your creditor may close your account and charge off the debt, severely impacting your credit score.
5. Debt Sold to Collection Agency: When your debt is charged off, it doesn't mean that you are no longer responsible for the debt; rather, it signifies that the creditor no longer expects to receive payments on the account and may consider it as a loss for their financial records. This charged-off debt can be sold to collection agencies if unpaid.
6. Potential Legal Action: Creditors may sue for unpaid debts. Collection agencies that take on your debt may go after you instead.
7. Potential to Negotiate Relief: Depending on your circumstances, you may have the opportunity to engage in negotiations with your creditor to reach a more manageable settlement for your debt, often resulting in a reduced payoff amount. This may include consolidating debt, which involves combining multiple debts into a single, usually lower-interest, loan to simplify payments and potentially reduce overall interest costs.

Rebuilding From Bad Credit

To improve bad credit, you should pay off bills even if the debt has been charged off. Settling your debts even after they've been charged off demonstrates your commitment to financial responsibility and can gradually rebuild your credit standing.

In addition, living within your means is fundamental for long-term financial stability. It helps you avoid accumulating more debt and gives you more breathing room to build up your cash flows.

Minimum Credit Score Required for a Student Credit Card

To qualify for a student credit card in 2024, you should aim to exceed a credit score of 579, which is a commonly cited delineation point between bad and fair credit. Ideally, a score above 670 is considered good credit.

How to Build a Strong Credit Score in the Future

Have a look at the following key behaviors that credit card companies and credit bureaus tend to take into consideration when calculating your credit score:

1. Always Pay on Time: Repay your balance before the set monthly deadlines to avoid accruing late fees and adversely affecting your credit score. You should aim to repay the monthly balance in full. Paying the minimum requirement on time is certainly better than nothing, but we highly recommend you pay off the principle amount every time.
2. Keep a Low Credit Utilization Ratio: Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit in use — reflects well on your credit management skills. A lower ratio indicates to potential creditors that you have effective spending control.
3. Use Your Card Regularly and Responsibly: Regular but responsible credit card use demonstrates your ability to manage debt. However, if the full balance isn't paid within the card's set deadline each month, the APR interest rate comes into effect. This interest is added to the remaining balance, thereby increasing your debt, which can negatively affect your credit score.
4. Set Up AutoPay: Automated payments ensure you never miss a payment due date. Most credit card apps, including all those featured in this article, provide an AutoPay feature, allowing you to set up automatic full balance payments either on or before the due date.
5. Keep Your Account Open if Possible: Longer good credit histories usually result in higher credit scores. If your credit card doesn’t have an annual fee, consider keeping it open to lengthen your credit history. Conversely, constantly opening and closing too many credit lines can hurt your credit score.

What Happens to My Student Credit Card After Graduation?

If you maintained a good payment record while in school, your card issuer will likely offer you a replacement card or automatically transition you to one of its unsecured credit cards.

You can also consider diversifying your wallet by exploring cards with various reward programs and by using different networks (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover).

Recapping the Best Credit Cards in 2024 for Students with Bad Credit

Getting a credit card as a student in college can be a good idea if you have the means to manage it responsibly. Credit cards offer you protection from fraud, rewards for everyday spending, and the ability to build a credit history. If you have bad credit, consider these 9 best options in 2024 to rebuild your credit:

Here are our top 9 credit cards for students with poor credit in 2024:

1. Chime® Credit Builder — Best Overall For Students With Bad Credit
2. Current Build — Great Secure Card With a Cash Back Program
3. Discover it® Secured Credit Card — Secured Card With Score to Apply
4. Capital One Quicksilver Secured — Best for Unsecured Credit
5. Discover it® Student Cash Back — Get Cash Back in the First Year
6. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card — Paid Secured Card
7. Dave — Best for Large Cash Advances
8. Brigit — Best Loan Program for Students
9. Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® — Annual Fee for Rebuilding Credit

Disclaimers

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.

¹ Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven location or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

² To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.

³ The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of November 17, 2022. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The average national savings account interest rate of 0.21% is determined by FDIC as of November 17, 2022 based on a simple average of rates paid (uses annual percentage yield) by all insured depository institutions and branches for which data are available. Visit National Rates and Rate Caps to learn more.

⁴ On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary.

⁵ Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.

⁶Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Chime generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.