Building credit while earning travel rewards sounds too good to be true — until you find the right student credit card. The best cards for student travelers offer no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and rewards structures that actually make sense for college budgets.
We’ve analyzed the top options for 2025 to help you pick the right card for your travel style.
The Best Student Travel Cards at a Glance
| Card | Best For | Key Reward | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Travel Rewards Student | Best Overall | 1.5X on everything | $0 |
| Capital One SavorOne Student | Dining & Entertainment | 3% dining/entertainment | $0 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student | Simplicity | 1.5% cash back | $0 |
| Discover it Student Cash Back | Building Credit | 5% rotating categories | $0 |
| Petal 2 Visa | No Credit History | 1-1.5% cash back | $0 |
1. Bank of America Travel Rewards Student — Best Overall
Why it wins: This card is purpose-built for student travelers. Every dollar spent earns 1.5 points, and those points redeem at 1 cent each toward flights, hotels, rental cars, and even restaurant spending during trips.
Key features:
- 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days — that’s $250 toward travel
- No foreign transaction fees — essential for study abroad or international trips
- 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases
- No annual fee
Who it’s for: Students who travel regularly and want a straightforward rewards structure without category tracking.
2. Capital One SavorOne Student — Best for Dining & Entertainment
Why it stands out: College life revolves around dining halls, takeout, streaming services, and weekend entertainment. This card rewards exactly those spending patterns.
Key features:
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and streaming services
- 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1% on everything else
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Who it’s for: Students who eat out frequently, subscribe to streaming services, and want accelerated rewards on everyday spending.
3. Capital One Quicksilver Student — Best for Simplicity
Why it works: Some students don’t want to think about reward categories or activation deadlines. The Quicksilver keeps it simple: 1.5% back on everything, always.
Key features:
- Flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase, no categories to track
- 5% back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel
- Travel accident insurance included
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Who it’s for: Students who want consistent rewards without any mental overhead.
4. Discover it Student Cash Back — Best for Building Credit
Why it’s valuable: Discover makes it easy for students with no credit history to get approved, and their unique Cashback Match doubles your first year’s rewards.
Key features:
- 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations — changes each quarter, requires activation)
- 1% on everything else
- Cashback Match: Discover automatically matches ALL cash back earned in your first year
- No credit score required to apply
- No annual fee
- Free Social Security number alerts and FICO score access
The catch: Discover is accepted at fewer international locations than Visa or Mastercard. Not ideal as your only card abroad.
Who it’s for: Students building credit from scratch who can maximize rotating categories.
5. Petal 2 Visa — Best for No Credit History
Why it exists: Not everyone has a Social Security number or credit history. Petal uses an alternative underwriting model that considers banking history instead of traditional credit scores.
Key features:
- No SSN required to apply
- 1% cash back initially, increasing to 1.5% after 12 on-time payments
- No fees whatsoever: No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no late fees, no returned payment fees
- Automatic credit limit increases with responsible use
Who it’s for: International students, those without credit history, or anyone who wants a completely fee-free card.
What to Know Before Applying
Foreign transaction fees matter: If you’re studying abroad or traveling internationally, a 3% fee on every purchase adds up fast. Every card on this list waives that fee.
Building credit takes time: Your credit score improves with consistent on-time payments and low credit utilization. A student card is often the first step to premium travel cards later.
Annual fees aren’t worth it yet: Premium travel cards with annual fees make sense when you travel enough to maximize their benefits. For most students, no-fee cards are the right choice.
Welcome bonuses require spending: Can you realistically spend $1,000 in 90 days? If not, don’t chase a bonus that will tempt you into unnecessary purchases.
Tips for Maximizing Your Card
- Pay your balance in full every month — carrying a balance erases any rewards earned
- Set up autopay for at least the minimum to protect your credit score
- Book travel through card portals when bonus rates apply (Capital One Travel offers 5% back on hotels)
- Use your card for recurring bills (streaming, phone) to build credit without thinking about it
- Keep your first card open even after you upgrade — account age helps your credit score
The Bottom Line
For most student travelers: The Bank of America Travel Rewards Student card offers the best combination of rewards and travel benefits.
For dining-heavy lifestyles: The Capital One SavorOne Student rewards your actual spending patterns.
For building credit from zero: Start with the Discover it Student or Petal 2 and upgrade once you’ve established history.
The best card is one you’ll use responsibly. Start building credit now, and by graduation, you’ll qualify for the premium travel cards that make points-and-miles travel worthwhile.
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