There are plenty of reasons to travel as a student, from study-abroad programs to vacations with friends. However, you’ll need to spend money along the way, which means getting a travel credit card can be wise.
In this guide, we’ll give you the scoop on the best travel credit cards for students — and how to pick the right one.
We evaluated cards on factors such as fees, rewards, signup bonuses, international acceptance and intro APRs. Standout credit cards in these areas made our list.
When it comes to student travel cards, there were no major changes this year. Our top picks last year remain strong credit card options in 2021.
The best travel credit cards for students
While you’ll find many stellar travel credit cards for consumers with established credit, there aren’t many travel products aimed at students. Nevertheless, there are impressive picks among the few that are for students.
We highly recommend each of the following cards for students with a passion for traveling.
What are the best travel credit cards for students?
This card checks all the right boxes for a strong student travel card: no annual or foreign transaction fees, solid rewards, an excellent signup bonus, worldwide acceptance and a market-leading intro APR.
Annual fee: None.
Rewards: Unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases.
Signup bonus: 25,000 bonus points after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account, redeemable for $250 in statement credit.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 billing cycles from account opening. After that, 14.99% to 22.99% variable.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 billing cycles (then 14.99% to 22.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
14.99% to 22.99% variable
Welcome offer
25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
With this card, you'll earn accelerated rewards on gas, which you'll need a lot of for a rollicking road trip. You'll also like the bonus rewards at supermarkets — common stops for college students — and the solid intro APR on purchases. The card edges out the Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card, a close competitor, with wider international acceptance and a slightly stronger intro APR.
Annual fee: None.
Rewards: 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to 6,000 per year, then the rate reverts to 1x points. 1x points on all other purchases.
Points boost: Round up to the nearest 10 points on each purchase. 10% points back on the first 100,000 points redeemed.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 7 months from account opening. After that, 14.49% to 24.49% variable applies.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 7 months (then 14.49% to 24.49% variable)
Balance transfer APR
14.49% to 24.49% variable
Welcome offer
2,500 points after spending $500 in the first 3 months
Rewards
2x points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 annually, then 1x after that and on all other purchases
You can choose to earn 3% cash back in travel on up to 2,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1, which is an excellent rewards rate. The signup bonus and intro APR are impressive benefits as well. Watch out for the 3% foreign transaction fee, which makes the card better suited for domestic travel.
Annual fee: None.
Rewards: 3% cash back in one category of your choice, and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to 2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, then a 1% rate applies. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Signup bonus: $200 cash bonus after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 statement closing dates after account opening.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 12 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards
3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category, grocery and wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%
How do I choose the best travel credit card?
If you’re unsure which student travel card to choose, here are a few things to consider depending on your needs:
Ditch the annual fees. Plenty of great student cards don’t have annual fees.
Check the rewards you’ll earn. Many of the best student cards offer some type of rewards on your purchases. For example, you might earn 1% cash back per dollar you spend on your card. You might earn points instead, redeemable for travel purchases.
Avoid foreign transaction fees. These are fees you incur when you use your card abroad or on international websites. Typically, this comes out to 3% of each transaction, which can quickly add up with many purchases.
Consider the card network.Visa and Mastercard are valid virtually anywhere credit cards are accepted. While you’ll find merchants abroad that take Discover and American Express, these networks lag behind in worldwide acceptance.
An intro APR might help. If you’re very careful about paying off your card bill, an intro APR travel card can help you finance your trip interest-free.
For example, your card might offer a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. You can use your card to buy your $450 plane ticket, then slowly pay it off throughout the year before your intro APR expires. If you do, you won’t accrue any interest.
Be careful with intro APRs
Having an intro purchase APR can feel great: During a period of time, you’ll accrue no interest on what you buy. But every intro APR ends at some point, and cardholders who don’t pay off their balances by then often spiral into debt.
If you’re new to credit cards, now’s a great time to build strong financial habits. Consider this advice: If you’ll take advantage of an intro APR, do everything in your power to pay off your balance completely before your special interest rate expires.
Pros and cons of travel credit cards for students
Pros
Cons
You’ll often pay no foreign transaction fees.
If your card offers points, you can use them for a variety of redemptions.
These cards are often great for everyday purchases too.
There aren’t many student cards intentionally geared toward travel.
Accelerated rewards specifically for travel are uncommon among student cards.
These cards are often great for everyday purchases too.
Is a travel student credit card right for me?
A travel credit card might be especially useful if:
You want to save your rewards for travel. Offsetting your trip cost with rewards can lessen the strain on your budget.
You’re taking a trip abroad or studying abroad. Look for a card with no foreign transaction fees.
You want to pay less interest on your trip. Traveling can be expensive, which means you might not have the funds to pay for it up front. With great caution, you can leverage an intro APR to finance your trip.
Compare travel credit cards for students
If you’re looking for a side-by-side look at your card options, select your credit score below and click “Show cards” to start comparing.
Bottom line
With the right credit card, you can earn rewards while seeing the world. Stay out of debt while watching your credit score, and you can eventually upgrade to more-powerful travel cards.
If the cards mentioned don’t seem right for you, compare more student cards until you find one that meets your financial and travel needs.
Frequently asked questions
Once your intro APR expires, your card balance will start accruing interest at the normal APR. This is typically a very high rate for a student credit card, and it can be a big burden while you’re not yet making a full-time income.
Both networks offer excellent cards. but keep in mind that many merchants abroad won’t accept your card. Consider carrying a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
Providers issue student credit cards with the understanding that many of their applicants won’t have established credit. The provider of a general travel card probably requires at least a good credit score of 670 and above. If you’ve built your credit history — perhaps because you were an authorized user on someone else’s account — it’s possible you’ll qualify for this type of card. Otherwise, you may be limited to student and secured cards.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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