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finder.com’s rating: 3.9 / 5
★★★★★
Up to 5%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
22.99%
Purchase APR (variable)
580
Recommended credit score
Review by
Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
The Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® could be a solid choice for students as it has a $0 annual fee, up to 1.25% cash back on all purchases and 0% foreign transaction fees, which could save you money if you often travel abroad.
Capital One also reports your credit activity to all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and you get access to your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion to monitor your credit-building progress. Once you make five monthly payments on time, Capital One may increase your credit limit.
But as student credit cards go, the Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® comes with a slightly higher APR of 22.99% variable and no signup bonus. This is a small price to pay to get initiated into the financial world.
Thanks to its automated preapproval system, Capital One can instantly decide on your application. But in some cases, it may take up to 10 business days.
Once you’re approved, your card, credit line and welcome materials will arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days.
Suppose you spend $12,000 annually with this card. You could earn $120 with the regular cashback rate. Pay your balance on time, and you could boost your cash back to $150.
However, if you want more flexibility with your credit line, consider taking a secured card and deposit the amount you want your credit line to be.
To apply for the card, you must be at least 18 years old and a US citizen or permanent US resident.
You’ll need to submit personal and financial information that includes:
During the application, you may choose to receive payment alerts and can opt to receive further communications in Spanish if it’s your preferred language.
Apply with a fair credit score of 580 or higher, or with no credit history if you’re a student. Applying with a better credit score will likely get you a lower APR and a higher credit limit.
Learn how to successfully apply for a student card.
Customers who are happy with the card claim they were instantly approved with no credit history. And most customers claim they quickly built their credit with timely payments. The only complaint some of the customers have is the high APR.
As of December 2020, the Better Business Bureau rates Capital One with an A.
Redeem your cash back through your online Capital One account or call the rewards center. Request your reward in the form of:
If you have a preferred method of claiming your cash back, set up your automatic preference for either a specific time each year or when a specific threshold — of $25, $50, $100 or $200 — has been reached.
If you’re a student and you don’t have any credit history or are trying to rebuild your credit, this could be a decent card for you. You’ll be able to build your credit score and earn cash back without paying an annual fee.
If you’re uncertain whether this is an appropriate card for you, check out other student cards or cards for building credit to find the right one for your needs.
What are eligible streaming subscription services?
Eligible subscription services include Amazon Music Unlimited, AT&T Now, Audible , CBS All Access, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, HBO Now, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Kindle Unlimited, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, Netflix, NHL.TV, Pandora, Prime Video, Sling TV, SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite, Spotify, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Premium, Google Play Music and Youtube TV.
Is there a limit to the amount of cash back I can earn?
No, there’s no limit to how much you can earn with your spending.
Can I redeem my cash back for something other than cash?
Yes, use your cashback points toward gift cards or charitable donations.
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Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.