8 Best Credit Cards For College Graduates (2022)

Graduating from college is a huge milestone in one’s life, and it deserves to be celebrated. As you start this new chapter in your life, the best thing you can do for yourself is to find ways of building credit and managing finances responsibly. The best place to start is with a credit card because it can give you the best opportunity to establish yourself in your new role.

Luckily for you, there are several excellent credit cards that college graduates stand to benefit from. These types of cards can help you build your credit score and enable you to earn valuable cash-back rewards on purchases. Here is the list of the best credit cards for college graduates.

The Best Credit Cards for College Graduates

1. Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card

This is meant to help people who have never had credit before. It’s also a big advantage that you don’t have to pay an annual fee to get rewards, which is a big deal. To open the account, you don’t need to put down any money in cash. However, this card is still aimed at people with limited credit history. If you want to borrow money, you can get a card with a credit limit of up to $10,000 on it. In addition, you will be able to earn rewards for the things you buy, which will add up over time as you build good credit habits.

Also, this card doesn’t charge any fees. Every year, there isn’t a fee. To help you keep track of your spending, the card comes with a mobile app that lets you track your purchases, see how many points you’ve earned, and pay your bill with your phone.

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

There’s a Chase Ultimate Rewards program that lets you redeem points for cashback and gift cards. You can also transfer your points one-to-one to airline and hotel partners. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best credit cards for people who travel a lot. In addition, you can get a big bonus and keep getting rewards for every dollar you spend.

Due to the fact that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is only for people with very good or excellent credit, some recent college graduates may not be able to apply right away. Those who have an advantage when it comes to building credit are more likely to do so.

3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

This credit card has a unique rewards program. If you’re thinking about applying, you should have good credit at the very least. You can earn a lot of money without having to pay an annual fee.

To use your rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card gives you more options than most other cards do. Using points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise are all possible ways to use them. You can also use points for travel and other trips. Another good thing about this card is that there is no annual fee.

4. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

If approved, make a cash deposit to open a Discover it® Secured Credit Card account. It’s a “secured” credit card. It’s okay to have bad credit and payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus, which can help you build credit over time if you use it properly.

If you’ve been declined for an unsecured credit card, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card may help you improve your credit score. This card allows deposits as low as $200. You can build credit, just like your credit limit, by being fiscally responsible and paying your bills on time.

As a cardholder, you’ll be able to see your FICO credit score on your statement, so you can keep an eye on your credit history over time. If you pay your bill late for the first time, you won’t have to pay a fee. This is unusual for credit cards. When the late fee isn’t waived, it can cost up to $40.

5. Citi Simplicity® Card

It will give you a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 21 months after you make your first transfer. For the first 12 months after you open your account, you also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months. The variable annual percentage rate will then be between 14.74 and 24.74 percent, depending on how good your credit is and how much money you have. It must be done within four months of when the account was opened. To make balance transfers, there is a fee that ranges from $5 to 5 percent of the amount that’s being moved. Because you won’t get any points with this card, it’s best to use it to pay off high-interest debt.

The card has an introductory APR period, but there is a fee for moving balances. This card can still help you save money because you won’t be charged interest for the first three months.

6. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

There is a card called the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature® Card that may be right for you if you already have Amazon Prime. This card has the best rate on the market right now for online purchases, and there is no annual fee.

As a cardholder, you’ll also get extra benefits like extended warranties, purchase protection, travel and emergency help, and reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage, among a lot of other things. In addition, you won’t have to pay fees when you buy things in other countries.

Not all rewards can only be used on Amazon. As a bonus, they can also be used to get cash or gift cards or to go on vacation.

7. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

Customers who use this can earn two Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, up to a maximum of $6,000 per year (after that, one point per dollar). They can also earn one point per dollar spent on all other purchases made with the card. American Express’s well-known Membership Rewards program is also a good place to put your earned rewards.

This card earns two Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (after that, one point per dollar). If you use your card more than 20 times per billing period, you’ll get a 20% bonus.

This card has no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months. After that, the APR will be between 12.99 percent and 23.99 percent variable. Recent graduates may also like the option of deferring large purchases like furniture or appliances for a year without incurring interest.

8. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

You can get this card with “average” credit. There’s no sign-up bonus, but every purchase earns you 1.5 percent cashback.

Its other flaw, besides the annual fee and lack of a welcome bonus, is that it charges a lot every month. If you want to build credit by getting one of these cards, don’t carry a balance.

Final thoughts

To best utilize your credit card, make sure you pay your balance in full every month to avoid interest charges. It might make sense to use different cards for different purchases, but it’s best not to carry a balance on more than one or two cards. You want to keep your utilization ratio low on every line of credit that you have.

You might also want to consider a card that offers a 0% introductory APR since it could save you money if you need time to pay off a big purchase. Be careful, though, as those offers usually come with higher APRs once the initial period ends.

These best credit cards for college graduates offer some excellent earning potential and can also help you build your credit score.