Being a student in the city of New York, starting your financial life is thrilling yet quite frightening, at least when it comes to credit management. You have no history of credit, and to get the credit card, it might appear to be a challenge. But in 2025, the selection of the credit card to build the credit and manage the money becomes easier as there exist several credit cards to help the students to credit and make the life easier. The advantages that these cards present are a mix of attributes such as these types of cards come with incentives, they have minimal charges, and through them, one can emerge with a good credit score even when they did not have one.
In this entry, we will instruct you on the top cards that students who have no credit can use in 2025 in NYC. And as an aside, we will also answer some frequently asked questions regarding applying to your first credit card.
1. Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
Most Suitable to Receive Cash Back
Chase Freedom Student Credit Card Many credit cards require that a person has credit history but this card is a good option for those students that do not have a credit history. It provides a simple cashback arrangement that enables the consumer to acquire rewards about ordinary purchases.
Key Features:
- Get 1 percent cash back on all purchases.
- A stimulus of 50 dollars on first purchase after 3 months.
- No fee per year.
- Your FICO score gets to be available at no cost.
- No interest charged on purchases provided they are paid in full monthly.
The reasons why it is good for students:
It is an excellent card that helps to establish credit and accumulate cash back on all the daily purchases. In addition, it is more attractive due to a sign-up bonus of 50 dollars.
2. Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Finest Cash Back Rewards
Another student card would be the Discover it stipend and it is good for students. It has a nice cashback scheme where the best of the lot is that all the time that you have earned on cashback is automatically doubled at the end of your initial year.
Key Features:
- 5 percent cash back on selected categories that change every three months (such as grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations), to the quarterly limit.
- Cash back of 1 percent on all the other purchases.
- The first year will have dollar-for-dollar cash back match.
- No fee per year.
- Your FICO score availability.
The reasons why it is good for students:
One of the brightest characteristics of this card is the cashback match of the initial year. It is an excellent choice for students who want to maximize rewards in their daily spending.
3. Capital One QuicksilverOne® Rewards for Students
Best for Earning Unlimited Cash Back
When you are a student and prefer to keep things simple and uncomplicated in the form of rewards card with no rotating categories to monitor, then the Capital One QuicksilverOne® Rewards for Students credit card would serve you right.
Key Features:
- 1.5 percent in cash back on all purchases, daily.
- The first year is free of annual fee.
- Credit score unlike before is free of charge.
- No transaction fees in foreign nations.
- 39 dollars per year after the first year.
The reasons why it is good for students:
This card has unlimited cashbacks on every purchase with no limits. It’s ideal for students who prefer to collect rewards without taking into consideration categories rotation or spending cap.
4. Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
Most Suitable for Students with No Credit History
The Petal® 2 card is targeted at the population that has no credit history. It does not use credit score during approval, which is very ideal for the students who are just starting.
Key Features:
- Cash back on every purchase 1%, and after a 12-month period with timely payments, the amount is raised to 1.5%.
- No charges, no late charges, no foreign transaction fees, and none at all, no annual charges.
- The limit in the credit is increased owing to the payment history.
- Credit score unlike before is free of charge.
The reasons why it is good for students:
This card is a great option, especially when one has no credit, since an individual probably will have a clear direction into what they could get by having the card both in terms of reward earning as well as credit building. The fact that there are no fees is also a great advantage to the student who may have a limited budget.
5. Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
Best for Students Who are Travel Lovers
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students card is an ideal choice for students who love to travel and want to earn rewards for their trips.
Key Features:
- Giving 1.5 points per dollar to every purchase.
- No fee per year.
- No transaction fees in foreign nations.
- Get 25,000 online bonus rewards upon purchase of at least $1,000 within the 1st 90 days (goes towards a statement credit in travel purchases amounting to $250 more).
- Your FICO score gets to be available at no cost.
The reasons why it is good for students:
The card is a wonderful choice as a travel rewards card, especially for students. It also does not charge a foreign transaction fee and hence is suitable for international students or students who travel frequently.
6. Deserve® Edu Mastercard for Students
Top for International Students
Deserve® Edu Mastercard is among the outstanding cards in terms of ease for foreign students who might lack U.S. credit history. It is simple to apply, and one does not need a Social Security number.
Key Features:
- The cash back will be 1 percent of any purchase.
- No fee per year.
- No transaction fees in foreign nations.
- Welcome package of $50 with an initial deposit of $500 in 3 months.
- Credit score unlike before is free of charge.
The reasons why it is good for students:
International students will be pleased with this card, since it does not require them to have any U.S. credit history or Social Security number. Additionally, there is an excellent cash back rewards program plus the welcome bonus.
7. Citi Rewards+® Student Card
Most Suitable for Earning Points on Daily Spendings
Citi Rewards+® Student Card provides rewarding and fruitful benefits to students seeking to earn rewards on what they purchase.
Key Features:
- 2x at grocery stores and gas stations (up to $6,000 annually, afterward 1x).
- 1x points on any other shopping.
- You get 10 percent off a yearly limit of the first 100,000 points you redeem.
- An annual fee of $0.
The reasons why it is good for students:
Students are allowed to win additional rewards with the help of this card in supermarkets and gas stations. It is a great deal for students who incur expenses in these areas on a regular basis.
8. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
The Best Secured Credit Card for Students
When you have difficulties securing an unsecured card, then you can use a secured credit card. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is among the best secured cards to be used by students who wish to establish some credit.
Key Features:
- Deposit-based credit limit: You select the amount you want as a deposit, and it functions as your credit limit.
- Reports to the three of the major credit bureaus.
- No fee per year.
- Minimum of $200 per deposit.
The reasons why it is good for students:
It is also an excellent opportunity to build credit in the case when students have not established their credit. Secured cards can be used to get the money back to the bank. OpenSky reports to all the big three credit bureaus, which helps students develop a good credit record.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Do I have a chance to get a credit card as a student with no credit history?
Indeed, there are student-specific cards, which can be obtained without a credit history. Most of these cards include incentives, low charges, and even chances to raise credit limits.
Q2: What do I need to qualify for a student credit card in NYC?
In most cases, you will need to be a United States citizen or resident, aged above 18 years, and show that you attend a school. There are cards that also need a Social Security number (or ITIN for non-residents).
Q3: As an international student, can I get a credit card?
Indeed, some of them have international student credit cards like the Deserve® Edu Mastercard. These are cards that do not need a U.S. credit history or Social Security number, thus they suit international students.
Q4: How do I get credit as a student without any credit record?
You can build credit as a student by using your credit card wisely—making timely payments, maintaining a low balance, and checking your credit score. Over time, such moves will assist you in developing a good credit history.
Q5: As a student, should I apply for a secured or unsecured credit card?
In the event you have no credit history, it might be a good idea to get a secured credit card first since it will be easier to be accepted. Secured cards require a deposit; however, they also report to the credit bureaus and help you develop credit.
Q6: Does applying for a student credit card affect my credit score?
True, by applying for a credit card, you might incur a hard hit to the credit report, which may have the slightest adverse implications on your credit score. Nevertheless, if you manage payments in a timely manner and are responsible with its use, it will allow you to create a good credit score in the long run.
Conclusion
Credit building as a student with no credit can be done in NYC in 2025, as there are now numerous student credit cards. Whether you want cashback rewards, travel points, or even a secured option, there is a card out there that is going to make building good credit easy to achieve, while at the same time giving you those rewards you are striving to reach. All you need to do is be responsible when you use it, pay it off on time, and avoid over-spending to ensure you will be financially successful when you are older.
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