Best Travel Credit Cards for Students

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Having a credit card is a smart strategy for establishing sound financial practices as a student. Fortunately, there are several types of credit cards available for students just getting started in their financial lives. While credit limits are low on student credit cards, these accounts offer a way to show creditors you are responsible with your spending and payments. Over time, this boosts your credit score and makes it easier to receive access to new credit in the future.

Countless options exist for students who want to start building their credit through a credit card account, but for those who have a desire or need to travel, travel credit cards for students can be the most valuable. This is particularly true for students who often travel back home from college, or students who travel frequently for pleasure. In either scenario, travel credit cards for students help cardholders earn rewards toward future travel which can ultimately help save some serious money.

Understanding Points and Miles

One of the benefits of travel credit cards for students is the ability to earn points and miles with purchases made on the card. While all travel credit cards for students differ, the majority provide between one and two points or miles per dollar spent. Some credit cards offer points and miles on all purchases, while others only provide points for travel-related purchases on the card.

Regardless of how the points or miles are earned, they can be redeemed for travel purchases in the future once the minimum rewards balance accumulates. Having enough travel rewards gives student cardholders the opportunity to offset the cost of future travel, including airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel stays.

Sign-Up Bonuses and Travel Credit Cards for Students

Most travel credit cards for students do not offer sign-up bonuses, which are extra rewards points or miles earned within the first few months after opening an account. Typically, sign-up bonuses require a new cardmember to spend a minimum amount, say $500, within the first three months in order to receive a boost on their miles or points.

Sign-up bonuses that are offered by travel credit cards for students encourage quick spending in significant amounts, making it necessary for cardholders to have a plan for repayment from the start. Travel credit cardsign-up bonuses can be a lucrative way to earn free or reduced travel, but students need to be aware of the potential pitfall of overspending.

Best Travel Credit Cards for Students

These are our choices for the best travel credit cards for students:

• Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Deserve Pro Mastercard
• Discover it Chrome for Students

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

A good option for students seeking out a travel rewards credit card is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. Here is a quick overview of the card, its benefits, downsides, and additional considerations for students.

The Benefits

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students offers 1.5 points for every dollar spent on the card, without any earning limits. Any points earned on the card do not expire as long as the card is active, and they can be redeemed for any airline or hotel purchase at any time.

Students can also earn 20,000 online bonus points when at least $1,000 is spent within the first three months of opening an account. This can equal a $200 statement credit toward travel-related purchases. The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students also offers access to the cardmember’s FICO score for free, updated monthly, as well as deals and discounts through the Bank of America rewards site.

Applicants do not need perfect or long-established credit to qualify, but chances are higher with no missed or late payments, or other significant negative marks on one’s credit report. The credit card also comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

The Downsides

As with all credit cards, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card for students carries an interest rate currently ranging from 16.74 percent to 24.74 percent, depending on the cardmember’s credit history and score. For students who carry a balance from month to month, these interest charges may add up to a significant amount and make it difficult to pay off in the future.

Additionally, the credit card gives only some flexibility in redeeming rewards points. Cardmembers can use points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees, but other redemption options are not available.

The Bottom Line

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a smart choice for students who want to earn points on all purchases they make with the card, without limitation or expiration. Because the card only allows points redemption for travel-related purchase, the card offers the most value to students who travel frequently.

This card is designed for students with little credit history, but not zero credit history. However, those with the strongest credit will receive the lowest possible interest rate.

Deserve Pro Mastercard

Earns three percent cash back on eligible travel and entertainment purchases, two percent on restaurant purchases, and no annual or foreign transaction fees.

Discover it Chrome for Students

Earns two percent cash back at restaurants and gas stations and one percent on all other purchases. This card has no annual fee, and no restrictions on how cash back can be redeemed for travel or other rewards.