Opening a student credit card while in college can help you build your credit and earn rewards. However, if you’re studying abroad for a semester or attending a university outside of the U.S., you’ll need a card tailored to your unique needs. Notably, you’ll want a card that’s widely accepted internationally and has no foreign transaction fees.
If you’re searching for a credit card for your overseas college experience, CNBC Select has the details on the top options.
Best credit cards for studying abroad
Best for flat-rate rewards
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Credit Card earns a generous 1.5% cash back on every purchase, which makes it one of the most rewarding credit cards that’s available to students.
- Simple rewards structure with no caps or categories to track
- No annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it’s misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Balance transfer fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best for welcome bonus
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card’s quarterly bonus categories make it one of the most rewarding student credit cards.
- Unique welcome bonus matches the cash back you earn for the first year
- Intro APR for purchases
- No annual fee
- Cash-back categories must be activated each quarter
- Bonus cash back is capped, then you’ll earn 1% back
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
Highlights
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% – 26.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Best for intro APR
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students credit card
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Rewards
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
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Welcome bonus
25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
3% of each transaction intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4%
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- No annual fee
- Strong welcome bonus of 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- No student-centric benefits or incentives to practice responsible credit behavior
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $466
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $1,528
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who’s this for? The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is a rare travel card designed for students, making it a great fit for a semester abroad.
Standout benefits: The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card has one of the most generous intro APR offers available on a student credit card. So it’s a great option for balance transfers or funding your studies.
Best for cash back
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- High cash-back rates for common student expenses, such as groceries, dining and entertainment
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best for no credit history
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
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Rewards
1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments; 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- No credit history required (if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision)
- No fees
- Generous cash-back rewards of up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
Cons
- No special financing offers
- No welcome bonus
More on our top credit cards for studying abroad
Best credit cards for studying abroad comparison
| Credit Card | CNBC Select’s pick for | Rewards | Welcome bonus | Foreign transaction fees | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Quicksilver Student Credit Card | Flat-rate rewards | Yes, cash back | Yes | None | $0 |
| Discover it® Student Cash Back | Welcome bonus | Yes, cash back | Yes | None | $0 |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students | Intro APR | Yes, miles | Yes | None | $0 |
| Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash back | Yes, cash back | Yes | None | $0 |
| Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card | No credit history | Yes, cash back | No | None | $0 |
Capital One Quicksilver Student Credit Card
Best for flat-rate rewards
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus: Earn a $50 bonus after spending $100 in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Notable perks:
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees and $0 fraud liability. It also provides access to events and experiences through Capital One Entertainment and travel accident insurance*.
*Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for welcome bonus
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating categories, then 1% cash back (activation required)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus: Discover will match the cash back you’ve earned at the end of the first year.
Annual fee: $0
Notable perks:
The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no foreign transaction fees. It can also help you save on interest with a competitive promotional intro APR.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
Best for intro APR
Rewards:
- Earn 1.5X points on all purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Notable perks:
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students has a straightforward rewards program that allows you to easily redeem points as a statement credit. Each point is worth one cent toward eligible travel purchases. It also has no foreign transaction fees.
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for cash back
Rewards:
Welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn $50 when they spend $100 in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Notable perks:
You won’t pay foreign transaction fees when you use the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card to make purchases overseas. The card also provides access to events and experiences through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment. Eligible purchases are covered by the card’s *extended warranty protection and travel accident insurance.
*Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
How to choose the best student credit card for study abroad
You’re likely to have a limited credit history and income as a college student, so it helps to narrow your options to credit cards you’re likely to be approved for, mainly student credit cards or cards designed for anyone with a limited credit history. You’ll also want to pay close attention to a card’s fees, rewards and payment network.
Fees
If you’re considering opening a credit card with an annual fee, you’ll want to be sure the benefits outweigh the cost. In most cases, a student should focus on no-annual-fee credit cards.
Other costs associated with credit cards, such as interest or late fees can be avoided by paying on time and in full. However, if you’re traveling overseas, you’ll want a card with no foreign transaction fees. A foreign transaction fee may apply when you make a purchase in a foreign currency and typically is 3% of the transaction amount. Choosing a card without this fee can save you a lot over your semester.
Rewards
Student credit cards aren’t known for their rewards and benefits, however, many offer some form of basic rewards program. You shouldn’t choose a card based solely on what rewards you might earn, but considering where you’ll spend the most and what card could be the most rewarding for you isn’t a bad idea. The rewards you can earn can help you decide between cards that are otherwise very similar.
Payment network
All major payment networks (American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover) are accepted overseas. However, the popularity of each payment network varies dramatically. Typically, you’ll find that Visa and Mastercard are the best options for international travel, especially if you’re studying in Europe.
Pros and cons of credit cards for studying abroad
Pros
- Build credit: Student credit cards can help you establish your credit history, as long as you use them responsibly and pay your monthly bill on time and in full.
- Earn rewards: These cards allow you to earn rewards for the day-to-day purchases you might otherwise receive nothing for making.
Cons
- High APRs: If you carry a balance on your credit card, the APR you’ll pay is typically high and can range from the low double-digits to over 30%.
- Acceptance may be limited: Depending on what payment network your card uses, it may not be widely accepted in the area you’re visiting.
FAQs
Is Discover accepted everywhere?
Discover cards are accepted in many popular tourist destinations. However, even if you’re traveling to a country where Discover is accepted, it’s a good idea to have a Visa or Mastercard as well because those payment networks are more widely accepted.
Are Chase credit cards good for international travel?
Many of the top travel credit cards are issued by Chase. These cards use the Visa or Mastercard payment networks, which are widely accepted overseas. Many Chase cards provide valuable travel perks and rewards, making them great options for international trips.
What type of credit card is best to use abroad?
Visa and Mastercard credit cards are typically the best options when traveling outside the U.S. Keep in mind that some of these cards charge foreign transaction fees, and the travel benefits vary by card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for studying abroad.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value when you’re studying overseas, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offer a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
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For rates and fees for the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
