Good Credit Cards for Graduate Students with No Fees

As a graduate student, managing your finances can be a challenge, especially when it comes to credit cards. Many graduate students are hesitant to apply for credit cards due to the fear of fees, but there are some excellent options available that don't charge any fees.

One of the best credit cards for graduate students with no fees is the Discover it Student Cash Back card. This card offers 5% cash back on various categories throughout the year, with no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

Having a credit card can actually help you build credit and establish a positive credit history, which is essential for graduate students who may not have a long credit history yet.

As a graduate student, you're likely looking for a credit card that offers rewards and benefits tailored to your lifestyle. Discover it Student Chrome is a great option, offering 1% - 2% cash back on purchases.

This card also has a unique intro offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. This means that Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, effectively doubling your rewards. For example, if you earned $50 in cash back, Discover will match it, giving you a total of $100.

If you frequently eat out or fill up your gas tank, you'll appreciate the card's 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, you'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a great choice for graduate students. It offers a generous cash back bonus of $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.

With this card, you can earn 1.5% cash back on all spending, regardless of the type of purchase. This means you can earn rewards on everything from textbooks to groceries.

You can redeem your cash rewards at any time, and even use them for Amazon purchases by adding your card to your account. This is a huge perk for students who are already online shopping for textbooks and other essentials.

This card also comes with built-in security benefits, including zero liability protection, purchase protection up to $500 per claim, and real-time fraud monitoring. This can give you peace of mind when using your credit card.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card has a 0% intro APR for 15 months, which can help you save money on interest. And the best part? There's no annual fee.

The Discover it Chrome is a great option for graduate students who want to earn cash back rewards. You can earn 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases, up to $1,000 per quarter.

The Discover it Chrome for Students is another version of this card, specifically designed for students. It offers 2% cash back on all gas station and restaurant purchases, with a limit of $1,000 per three months.

One of the standout features of the Discover it Chrome is the unlimited cash back match. Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, so you could turn $50 cash back into $100, or $100 cash back into $200.

This card also offers a 0% APR for the first 6 months, which can be a big help for graduate students who may not have a steady income. And, if you're a good student, you'll get a bonus for keeping your grades up.

Here are some key benefits of the Discover it Chrome:

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students offers unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

You can earn a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases with 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.

Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students has no fees, unless you forget to pay your bill, and you can be eligible for it without any credit history.

Earn 3% back on the category of your choosing, which can be especially helpful if you plan your spending ahead of time.

You can also earn 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs like BJs and Costco, and 1% on all other purchases.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students earns points specifically for travel use that can help you get home more often than just the holidays.

For every $1 you spend, earn 1.5 travel points, and there’s no limit on how many points you can earn.

Here are some key features of the Bank of America credit cards:

The Citi Rewards+ Student Card is a great option for graduate students. It offers a 5,000-point bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, redeemable for $50 in gift cards or travel rewards.

The card earns 1-5 points per dollar spent, with supermarkets and gas stations earning 2 points per dollar. Every $1 spent earns you 1 point, except supermarkets and gas stations getting you 2 points per dollar.

One of the unique features of the Citi Rewards+ Student Card is that it lets you round up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. For example, a $56 dollar bookstore purchase would earn you 60 points instead of 56.

The first 100,000 ThankYou points you redeem will get you 10,000 points back. This is a great incentive to save up your points and redeem them wisely.

The Citi Rewards+ Student Card has no annual fee and a 0% intro APR for the first 7 months. This can be a huge help for graduate students who may be on a tight budget.

Here are some key benefits of the Citi Rewards+ Student Card:

Capital One Credit Cards offer some great options for graduate students. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% to 5% cash back on every purchase, every day, and an early spend bonus of $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.

This card also has a low annual fee of $0, making it a great choice for students on a budget. Additionally, it's widely accepted abroad, and there are no foreign transaction fees, which is perfect for students who travel.

If you're looking for a card with more travel perks, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a great option. It offers 1% cash back on every purchase, plus an extra 0.25% cash back for a specific month when you pay your credit card bill on time. This card also has no foreign transaction fees and is widely accepted abroad, making it a great choice for students who travel frequently.

Here are some key features of the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One:

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for students who spend more on dining and entertainment. It offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

This card also comes with a 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats, until November 14, 2024. You'll also earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases made through the Capital One Entertainment portal.

One of the best things about this card is that it has no foreign transaction fee, making it ideal for students studying abroad. There's also no annual fee, which is a big plus.

To qualify for this card, you don't need a high credit score. And, as an added bonus, you'll get a complimentary Uber One membership through November 14, 2024, which is perfect for students who may request Uber rides or order meals through Uber Eats.

Here are the key benefits of the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card:

The Capital One Quicksilver credit card is a great option for students looking for a cashback rewards card. It offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.

One of the benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is that it doesn't require a high credit score to qualify, making it ideal for students with no credit. This card also comes with no foreign transaction fee, making it perfect for students who might study abroad.

To receive the $50 welcome bonus, you'll need to spend $100 in the first three months after opening the account. This bonus is smaller than some competing cards, but the required spend is also smaller, making it ideal for students on a budget.

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card also offers 10% cash back on all purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats through 11/14/2024. This is a great perk for students who use these services frequently.

Here are some key features of the Capital One Quicksilver credit card:

If you're a graduate student looking for a reliable credit card, the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students is definitely worth considering. This card offers 1% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

One of the standout features of this card is the cell phone protection, which covers up to $600 in cases of theft or damage. This can be a huge relief for students who rely on their phones for everything from communication to research.

After spending $500 in the first three billing cycles, you'll receive a free year of Amazon Prime Student, which is a great perk for students who make regular online purchases. This deal alone makes the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students a solid option for graduate students.

Here are some key benefits of the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students:

Wells Fargo Credit Cards are a great option for graduate students. The Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card offers unlimited cash back and has no annual fee.

You can earn 3% cash rewards on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first six months, and 1% back on everything else. After that, the cash back rate drops to 1%.

This card is exclusive to college students and has generous credit limits, making it a good choice for large purchases. You can also earn a 0% APR for the first six months, which can be helpful for graduate students who may not have a steady income.

Your cash rewards can be automatically transferred to your Wells Fargo savings or checking account, or used as a credit card payment. However, cash back can only be redeemed in increments of $25.