Best Credit Cards for Students |
When you are a student, your money needs are quite urgent some times, especially between student loan and grant disbursements. A good way to help stretch your financing to fill in the gaps between money infusions is to have a good student credit card. However, before you apply for a student credit card you need to know what to look for in a good one.
Interest Rates for Student Credit Cards
The first thing that you will want to look at when shopping for a student credit card is the interest rates charged by the credit card program. Since you have a limited credit history or no credit history, your FICO score is going to be low and your APRs are going to be on the high side. The best credit cards for students will be understanding about your limited credit history and offer you a modest APR under 18 percent.
Look for Rewards Programs That Benefit Students
In addition to a favorable APR, the best credit cards for students will also have a rewards program that is designed with students in mind. They will offer you APR incentives for good grades, they will offer you chances to earn rewards points by getting good grades or by shopping and they will offer you rewards that make sense for students. For example, instead of gift certificates to the Nest and The Home Depot, a student rewards program might offer you gift certificates to Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster, movie theaters and popular restaurant chains.
Online Access for Your Student Credit Card
The final thing that you will want to look for in a student credit card is that it offers you 24/7 access to your account online. This access should not only include the ability to review account activity, but is should also include the ability to update your account information, request credit line increases and request courtesy checks. Finally, your online access needs to be protected by more than just a user name and password.