If you are a student over eighteen, you may have heard of the word “adulting”; an informal term that is used to describe individuals doing adult-like tasks like paying bills and running errands. Some people succeed at this while others seem to struggle with it. One way you can triumph over this is by managing your finances. A great way to start is by building your credit. As you grow older, you’ll need good credit to achieve certain goals like buying a house or a car. So, here are five of the best student-friendly credit cards you can find on the market right now that will help you build credit and be rewarded:
| Annual Fee | Purchase Rate | Rewards | Bonus | Income | |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 19.95% | – 2% cashback in any 2 categories – 0.5% on other purchases | Apply by January 30, 2022, and earn 15% back (up to $150) when you spend up to $1,000 in your first 2 months. | >12,000 annually |
| Scotiabank Scene Visa Card | $0 | 19.99% | – Earn 5 SCENE points for every $1 spent at Cineplex – Earn 1 SCENE point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases | Earn 2,500 bonus SCENE points with your first $500 in everyday purchases in first 3 months | >12,000 annually |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | 19.99% | – 3% cash back on groceries – 1% cash back on recurring bills – 0.5% cash back on other purchases | – Up to 5% cash back in your first 3 months – A 1.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 1% transfer fee | N/A |
| CIBC Aventura Visa for Students | $0 | 19.99% | – 1 point for every $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and drugstores – 1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre – Free SPC membership | Earn up to 2,500 bonus Aventura Points | N/A |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students | $0 | 19.99% | – 2% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year – Up to 1% cash back on everything else – Free SPC membership | Get $25 cash back after making your first purchase | N/A |
| PC Financial Mastercard | $0 | 20.97% | – Earn 25 PC Optimum points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart – Earn 10 points per $1 spent at participating grocery stores – Earn 20 points per $1 spent on PC Travel – Earn 3 cents per litre when you buy gas at Esso or Mobil stations | 20,000 PC Optimum points, after a first purchase | N/A |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 19.95% |
| Rewards | – Get 2% cashback in any 2 categories – 0.5% on all other everyday purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Apply by January 30, 2022, and earn 15% back (up to $150) when you spend up to $1,000 in your first 2 months. |
| Income Requirements | >12,000 annually |
If you’re a student who has an income and does most of your own shopping, this is a great card for you. You’ll have a 2% cash-back on purchases among two categories of your choice with the ability to unlock a third category if you open a Tangerine savings account. Moreover, with the .05% cashback on all other everyday purchases, you’ll be raking in points like crazy. With Christmas and the new year closing in, take advantage of the sign-up bonus which rewards you with double the points for three whole months. There’s also no limit on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn on your everyday purchases, so feel free to go nuts.
Special Offer
When you apply for a Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card by July 31st, 2022 you’ll earn an extra 10% back (up to $100) when you spend up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within your first 2 months.*
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 19.99% |
| Rewards | – Earn 5 SCENE points for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or at cineplex.com – Earn 1 SCENE point for every $1 you spend on everyday purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Earn 2,500 bonus SCENE points with your first $500 in everyday purchases in first 3 months |
| Income Requirements | >12,000 annually |
Dinner and a movie is one of the most classic and ideal ways to spend a Friday night with friends or a date. If this sounds good, then this is the card for you. Besides earning one SCENE point for every dollar spent on everyday purchases, you can also earn five SCENE points per dollar spent on watching movies at the Cineplex. These points can later be redeemed to buy movie tickets and snacks at any Cineplex. If you’re feeling hungry after that, you can hit up any participating restaurants like Swiss Chalet and East Side Mario’s for dinner.
This card also has a sign-up bonus; spend $500 within the first three months and get 2500 SCENE points. That’s equivalent to redeeming two free movie tickets or one ticket and 10$ off Swiss Chalet. One free movie ticket is worth 1250 points and with 1000 points you can redeem $10 off at participating restaurants.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 19.99% |
| Rewards | – 3% cash back on groceries – 1% cash back on recurring bills – 0.5% cash back on other purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | – Up to 5% cash back in your first 3 months – A 1.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 1% transfer fee |
| Income Requirements | N/A |
If you want something simple and straightforward, the BMO CashBack Mastercard may be the best offer for you. With no annual fee and no income requirements, it’s easy to get and easy to understand. You will earn a 1% cashback on all purchases you make on your card which is great since you don’t have to figure out which purchases give you cashback. You can then redeem your cashback directly into your chequing or savings account, or use it to pay off your BMO credit card. If you join before March 31, 2020, you can take advantage of the 5% cashback sign-up bonus as well.
Additional Benefits: Get purchase protection and an extended warranty on most items bought with your card.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 19.99% |
| Rewards | – 1 point for every $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and drugstores – 1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre – Free SPC membership |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Earn up to 2,500 bonus Aventura Points |
| Income Requirements | N/A |
If you have a thirst for adventure and travel, this card may be your best offer. Earn points that will never expire on your everyday purchases. Earn one point for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, and the drugstore and one point for every $2 spent elsewhere. Plus, there’s nothing better than earning points by doing the things you love: travelling, which is achieved by purchasing through the CIBC rewards centre. Save money on your trips and at home when you shop with the free SPC membership card. Lastly, it has what every student looks for in a credit card: no annual fee and no requirements.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 19.99% |
| Rewards | – 2% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year – Up to 1% cash back on everything else – Free SPC membership |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Get $25 cash back after making your first purchase |
| Income Requirements | N/A |
A great points card that’s designed with students in mind is the CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students. Upon making your very first purchase with this card, you’ll receive $25 cash back.
Following that, you can earn 2% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year, 1% cash back after the $6,000 mark has been reached, and 0.5% cash back on all other purchases. There’s no limit on your total cash back earning potential, and you can double the manufacturer’s warranty up to one year on many purchases.
As a CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students cardholder, you’ll receive a free SPC membership, which provides exclusive access to discounts and experiences. Shop deals at over 450 partner retailers with your SPC membership.
There’s no minimum annual income requirement or annual fee, making this card easy to get approved for and affordable to maintain.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 20.97% |
| Rewards | – Earn 25 PC Optimum points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart – Earn 10 points per $1 spent at participating grocery stores – Earn 20 points per $1 spent on PC Travel – Earn 3 cents per litre when you buy gas at Esso or Mobil stations |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 20,000 PC Optimum points, after a first purchase |
| Income Requirements | N/A |
If you love to cook or do a lot of grocery shopping, you’ll love this card. With 25 points earned per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart and 10 points per dollar spent at the Real Canadian Superstore, you’re sure to earn loads of points while shopping for your meals. This card is beneficial to people who shop for food more than anything. Why go for a 1% flat cashback rate if you can earn more on the things you buy. You’re able to redeem your points starting at the value of 10,000 points = $10 dollars.
A student credit card can be an excellent way to start building healthy credit. After all, the only way to establish credit is to prove to the credit bureaus that you are responsible with your money and are able to make your bill payments on time every month. By the time you finish school, you should be able to have established some level of credit just by using a credit card for your purchases and paying them off every billing period.
Plus, credit cards are often the only way to make certain purchases, such as online purchases and travel reservations. Without a credit card, you might be limited to what you can and can’t buy.
Credit cards can be difficult to get approved for, as they often have a minimum income requirement that is way out of reach for most students. Thankfully, student credit cards are much easier to qualify for, and some don’t have any minimum income requirement at all.
There are plenty of great choices out there when it comes to credit cards geared toward students. Here are some important factors to consider before settling on one for you:
Obviously, the lower the fee you need to pay every year, the better.
Students typically earn a very modest income, if any at all. As such, look for a card that you can qualify for without requiring a sizable income.
Why not make your money work for you? Many student-based credit cards offer the opportunity to collect and redeem points. If you’re interested in a card like this, look for one that is geared towards your particular lifestyle. For instance, if you’re a cinema fanatic, then collecting points that can be redeemed for free movies make sense; likewise for cards that offer points to be redeemed for travel if you love vacationing.
There may be other perks that you might find attractive or even necessary. For instance, if you travel a lot, you may want to look for a card that also comes with some type of travel insurance so you don’t have to purchase a separate policy.
All these cards offer no annual fee, have little to no eligibility requirements and have reward benefits. Always do your research and choose a credit card based on your needs and not a freebie. Once you have a credit card that matches your lifestyle, keep track of your spending and pay off your balance in full. If you do that, you’ll build the credit you need and be that much closer to being a successful adult.
Rating of 4/5 based on 11 votes.
Priyanka Correia is a Marketing Coordinator and personal finance expert at Loans Canada. Priyanka completed her Bachelor's degree in Marketing at Concordia University and has published work that has been mentioned in various news media. She is passionate about money management and educating Canadian consumers about how to take control of their financial lives.
Save time and money with Loans Canada. Research and compare lenders before you apply. Share your experiences with Canada's top lenders.
Loans Canada is pleased to announce it placed No. 131 on the 2022 Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies.
Earn an average 5%¹ cash back at thousands of partners and at least 0.5%² cashback guaranteed.
Build credit while spending money with the Refresh Financial VISA card.
With KOHO’s prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $10/month.
All consultations and conversations with Loans Canada and its partners are confidential and risk-free. Speak with a trusted specialist today and see how we can help you achieve your financial goals faster. Loans Canada and its partners will never ask you for an upfront fee, deposit or insurance payments on a loan. Loans Canada is not a mortgage broker and does not arrange mortgage loans or any other type of financial service.
When you apply for a Loans Canada service, our website simply refers your request to qualified third party providers who can assist you with your search. Loans Canada may receive compensation from the offers shown on its website.
Only provide your information to trusted sources and be aware of online phishing scams and the risks associated with them, including identity theft and financial loss. Nothing on this website constitutes professional and/or financial advice.
