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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/Getty Images October 05, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge. Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar. Brady Porche is an editorial director for Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com. He has two decades of professional experience as a writer and editor. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. College students have plenty to juggle, from classes to social activities and all the expenses that pop up in between. A great way to manage these expenses is with a credit card. When used correctly, students can start setting the stage early for a fulfilling financial future. Not all student credit cards are the same and some may fit the bill for your personal expenses better than others. However, keeping a few fundamental tips in mind when navigating your finances with your can get you on the right track fast. Here are the top five credit card tips for college students to help you get started. 1 One card is enough
Once you’re an , you’ll have plenty of options, but one card should be enough to handle your needs. Applying for multiple cards in a short amount of time and piling up . Limiting your credit card usage to one card can make your credit-building easier to manage on a hectic student schedule. You can narrow down cards you have the best approval chances for without a hard credit check using Bankrate’s . 2 Only spend what you can pay back
Remember that the is borrowed money. Whatever you spend, you will have to pay back. Plan to pay your credit card bill in full each month on the payment due date to avoid added . The best way to ensure you pay your bill and avoid interest is to only spend what you know you can pay back at the end of the billing cycle. You could also pay the minimum amount due, but be aware that you may be required to pay added interest, and those extra costs can add up quickly. 3 Always pay on time
It’s important to know . No matter how busy your schedule gets, make it a priority to pay your credit card bill. Payment history makes up 35 percent of your score in the . Since payment history accounts for such a large chunk of your score, it’s crucial that you always make your credit card payments on time. You should also strive to pay your bill in full each month to avoid added interest and keep your (FICO’s second most important scoring factor) low. 4 Build credit first earn rewards second
You won’t be able to access some of the later without building good credit now. If you’re in college and you’re , your primary focus should be to build up your credit history and a good credit score with responsible habits. Rewards and benefits are a great plus of using credit cards, but they can quickly get distracting. Aim to get a card that offers tools and incentives that focus on credit building like payment reminders, credit score trackers or credit limit increases after demonstrating consistently good credit habits. 5 When in doubt pick a student card
As a student, you’re afforded a valuable asset in the credit card market: the . Designed with students in mind, these cards offer benefits geared toward your needs. The usually have fewer fees, better APRs than credit cards for no credit history and an option to upgrade to a non-student version after school. The bottom line
A credit card can help you build up a good credit history and score early while hitting some of your biggest financial milestones quicker and easier. Good credit comes with consistently good habits, so always pay your bills on time, don’t bite off more than you can chew, start slowly but stay consistent and always focus on what matters most for your financial future. SHARE: As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge. Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar. Brady Porche is an editorial director for Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com. He has two decades of professional experience as a writer and editor. Related Articles