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Chase Freedom Student credit card review Solid intro to Ultimate Rewards

A great student card for those who are just starting out on their credit journey. Written by Author, Award-Winning Writer Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing Oct. 24, 2022 Reviewed by Editor Rebekah Hovey is an editor with nearly a decade of experience creating and shaping content in finance-related and health care fields. Rebekah holds a bachelor’s degree with a Oct. 24, 2022

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Snapshot

3.4 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bottom line The Chase Freedom Student credit card is a solid starter card for students who want to earn cash back rewards. Sweetening the deal, it even offers a welcome bonus, a rarity among most student cards. That said, there are other options with lower barriers to entry and higher earning potential. on Chase's secure site

Best student card for benefits

Chase Freedom® Student credit card

Rewards rate Earn 1% cash back on all purchases plus $20 Good Standing Rewards after each account anniversary for up to 5 years Annual fee Intro offer $50 Bonus after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Freedom Student Card Overview

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card is a great pick for college students who want to start their credit journey off on the right foot and is by far the . Along with giving , the Chase Freedom Student keeps costs low, charging and earning rewards on every purchase you make. The card also comes with a respectable list of perks and makes for a great entry point into the lucrative program, one of the most flexible and potentially valuable rewards programs out there. That said, the card's rewards rate, while better than nothing, is not the best rate out there. You can find a handful of that offer more than 1 percent back on every purchase or even more cash back in specific spending categories.

What are the advantages and disadvantages

Pros

The card will be easier to qualify for than the top rewards cards on the market. There’s no annual fee. Cardholders earn a flat rate of 1 percent back for each dollar they spend, making it easy to slowly but steadily save up cash back rewards. You may be eligible for a credit line increase once you make at least five on-time payments on your credit card over a period of 10 months (when meeting credit criteria).

Cons

The card’s 1 percent cash back rate is less than you’ll get with some other starter cards. Doesn’t offer an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers.

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

Rewards rate: Earn 1 percent back on general purchases Welcome offer: Earn $50 bonus after your first purchase within three months of account opening Annual fee: $0 Purchase intro APR: N/A Balance transfer intro APR: N/A Regular APR: 17.99 percent (variable)

Current welcome bonus

You can earn a $50 cash bonus (5,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) when you make a purchase with your card within three months of your Chase Freedom Student card account opening. This bonus is very easy to earn considering any purchase can qualify-even a pack of gum. Although it's not a huge amount of money, the Chase Freedom Student card's $50 bonus and rock-bottom spending requirement are impressive given the typical rewards card requires at least a few hundred dollars' worth of spending to secure a sign-up bonus and most student credit cards carry no sign-up bonus at all.

Rewards rate

As a , the Chase Freedom Student card makes it easy to earn rewards without worrying about enrolling in bonus categories or tracking where, when or what you buy. Simply use the card for everyday purchases like groceries, gas and online shopping, and you'll earn consistent cash back.

How you earn

The Chase Freedom Student card keeps things simple with a flat 1 percent cash back rate on every purchase. Technically, though, you'll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be used in a variety of ways-not just as cash back. While 1 percent or 1 point per dollar back on all purchases can add up over time, it falls short of the rate you'll find on some competing student rewards cards. The Discover it® Student Cash Back card, for example, not only earns 1 percent back on general spending, but also a whopping 5 percent back in rotating bonus categories like dining and online shopping. The catch is you'll have to enroll in a bonus category each quarter, and you'll only earn 5 percent back on your first $1,500 in spending in that category each quarter (1 percent back after that).

How you redeem

You can use your Chase Freedom Student rewards for cash back in the form of a statement credit, a check in the mail, or gift cards. You can also use your points towards purchases at Amazon, which can be a good pair with a student Amazon account. For Apple users, you can redeem points for all Apple purchases through Ultimate Rewards. Ultimate Rewards allows you to use points for travel as well, providing competitive rates on bookings and flexible methods of payment.

How much are the rewards worth

The value you get out of your Chase Freedom Student card rewards will depend on how you redeem them. While redeeming points for cash back is simple enough, with 1 point equal to 1 cent in cash back, you may squeeze less value out of your points if you redeem for merchandise through Chase or if you use your rewards to make purchases directly through Amazon.com. While point values for merchandise redemptions vary, they typically can't match cash back redemption values. Meanwhile, using your points to make purchases through Amazon.com will get you a sub-par point value of just .8 cents per point. On the flipside, you can sometimes enjoy more than 1 cent per point in value for your rewards if you redeem for certain gift cards. That's because Chase Ultimate Rewards has frequent gift card "sales" that see gift cards offered at discounted rates.

Other cardholder perks

While student cards tend to offer than many credit-building cards, they still typically fall short of those you'd find on the . However, the Chase Freedom Student comes with quite a few added benefits, including these:

$20 Good Standing bonus

If you keep your account in good standing by paying your balance on time, you can qualify for a $20 good standing credit each year. This credit is awarded on your cardmember anniversary each year for up to the first five years. While this is obviously not an earth-shattering amount of money, it's a nice added bonus for staying on the right track financially.

Purchase protection

The Chase Freedom Student card includes purchase protection coverage in case something you bought with the card is damaged or stolen. This coverage is good for up to 120 days after the purchase date and covers you up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account. Given how much the average student spends on expensive items like textbooks and electronics, this could be a lifesaver.

Extended warranty coverage

For items purchased with the card, you can get an extra year's worth of coverage added to manufacturers' warranties of three years or less. This means if you bought something with the card that offered a one-year warranty, you'd be covered for two years-which should offer a bit more peace of mind.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

The Chase Freedom Student card also comes with trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which is practically unheard of among student credit cards. Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cut your trip short or cancel due to a covered reason like an illness or a death in the family. Trip interruption insurance, meanwhile, covers you if you need to return home from a trip early due to a covered reason. The Chase Freedom Student card's coverage is good for up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per trip when an eligible trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.

Rates and fees

Like most student credit cards, the Chase Freedom Student card doesn't charge an annual fee, making it a better option than many credit-building cards available for non-students. Unfortunately, however, the card lacks an on new purchases and balance transfers, so it won't be a good fit if you're looking for a way to save on interest as you pay off existing debt or chip away at the cost of a large purchase over time. That said, the card's ongoing APR of 17.99 percent variable is on par with the . While it will still be terribly expensive to carry a balance long-term, this rate is a bit more forgiving than the APR you'll find on some student cards and on the vast majority of credit-building cards. Other fees include a late payment fee and returned payment fee of up to $40. This card doesn't charge an over-the-limit fee or a returned check fee. Cardholders can also be subject to a 5 percent (minimum $10, whichever is greater) cash advance fee and a 5 percent (minimum $5, whichever is greater) balance transfer fee.

How the Chase Freedom Student card compares to other student cards

While one of the best Chase student cards, it doesn't make it a one-size-fits-all card for all college students. For those looking for higher rewards, there are other options that may fit your budding lifestyle.

Chase Freedom® Student credit card

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer $50 Bonus after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening Rewards rate Earn 1% cash back on all purchases plus $20 Good Standing Rewards after each account anniversary for up to 5 years Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

on Discover's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically 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 turn $100 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Rewards rate Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

on Capital One's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro offer is not available to this Capital One credit card Rewards rate Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Freedom Student card vs The Discover it Student Cash Back

While the Chase Freedom Student card is a solid choice for building credit and earning rewards, the offers a chance at more cash back while still charging no annual fee. You can earn up to 5 percent cash back in rotating categories upon enrollment (on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, then 1 percent back) and Discover will match all the rewards you have earned at the end of your first year. You even get an introductory interest rate on purchases and balance transfers for your first six months. That being said, busier students may find this card to be a hassle when trying to keep up with the activation schedule.

Chase Freedom Student card vs The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Like the Chase Freedom Student, the earns unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases, but the Journey card boosts rewards to 1.25 percent for months when the card is paid on time. That's not a big difference on a small amount of spending, but getting 25 percent more in rewards can add up to a decent amount of cash back over time. Additionally, with the Journey you can get 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), making it a great option for students studying abroad.

Best cards to pair with Chase Freedom Student card

While you may want to stick with just one card for a while as you build credit and practice good financial habits, you could also pair this card with another student card that offers more rewards in specific categories. The is one great option: offers a good variety of bonus categories and changes every quarter, so pairing it with the Chase Freedom Student could help you maximize your cash back across a wider array of categories.

Bankrate s Take - Is the Chase Freedom Student card worth it

The Chase Freedom Student card could be an ideal choice for students who need the chance to build credit with a starter credit card. It offers good approval odds, carries a competitive rewards rate and even offers a sign-up bonus and ongoing Good Standing rewards. Even so, there are other credit cards for students or people with fair credit, and some offer higher rewards rates or valuable introductory APR offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the Chase Freedom Student card

Make sure you learn about application requirements and obtain relevant proof of enrollment in school. For those under 21, gather co-signer information and proof of income. For those over 21, get proof of your own personal income or assets. From there, submit your application with all the necessary documents.

What s the credit score requirement for the Chase Freedom Student

The Chase Freedom Student is recommended for people with either limited credit histories or good-to-excellent credit. If you’re made mistakes with your credit in the past and are looking for a card to help you rebuild your score, the Freedom Student may not be the best choice.

Can I get the Chase Freedom Student with a co-signer

Chase doesn’t allow co-signers. Students will have to prove that they earn enough income—through a campus job or other income source—to qualify for the card and keep up with payments.

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Written by Holly D. Johnson Author, Award-Winning Writer Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Reviewed by Editor

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