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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Why I recommend the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Payton Turner is a University of Virginia student whose passion for all things travel has led him and his family to the far corners of the earth. While loving the luxurious life of first class, his AvGeek heart is just as happy in the back of the plane taking off on his next adventure.
October 24, 2024 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Establishing credit early can significantly benefit students by building a longer credit history, which is a key factor in credit scores.
Some student cards offer elevated cash-back rates at restaurants, grocery stores (excluding certain superstores), entertainment and streaming services, making them stand out among entry-level options.
A modest welcome bonus is available with a low spending requirement, making it accessible for students new to credit.
No annual or foreign transaction fees help students avoid extra costs, especially when studying or traveling abroad.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Cash-back rates may exclude purchases at certain superstores and have category limitations.
Rewards can be redeemed for cash, statement credits or travel, and may be converted to transferable miles with additional products, with TPG's October 2024 valuations placing these miles at 1.85 cents each.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how student cards' bonus categories and redemption options align with typical college spending and long-term credit-building strategies.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As a young adult and student who writes and talks about credit cards nonstop, I often get many questions about their significance and value from my peers. Typically, I first explain the lasting benefits of building credit. Applying for your first credit card at a young age allows you to establish your credit history early, giving it more years to mature.
The length of credit history makes up 15% of your FICO score, a pretty significant portion that can be easily strengthened by establishing credit early in life. And if you later apply for a loan or mortgage, you will likely benefit from a higher credit score by having a longer credit history.
I am often asked, “What is the best card to apply for?” For college-aged students, my reply is usually the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. While this card frequently flies under the radar for students compared to the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card, here is why I recommend the student version of the classic Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
The information for the Discover it Student Cash Back Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compared to the lack of rewards offered by debit cards, students are often thrilled to get 1% back on their purchases with a credit card. While I always advise trying to get at least 2% back on purchases — which is easily achievable with cards like the Citi Double Cash® Card (1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off; see rates and fees) — some people with limited credit histories may not be approved for a card with a higher earning rate.
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Comparatively, the Savor Student card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), entertainment and popular streaming services, which is almost unheard of for student credit cards and is better than many nonstudent cards. As a student, I know that most of my budget goes toward restaurants and activities, which perfectly match these categories. Additionally, the card offers 1% cash back on purchases that do not fall within these categories.
Dining includes everything from fancy restaurants to the fast-food drive-through at midnight. Additionally, entertainment covers football games, other event tickets and even playing a round of golf. Add in grocery store purchases and streaming services, and I can imagine that many students with this card would earn 3% back on the majority of their day-to-day spending.
The TPG community loves a good welcome bonus, especially thousands of points with one new card. However, these welcome bonuses can be out of reach for many students since they sometimes require $5,000 or more in spending within three months.
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The bonus for the Savor Student card is much more attainable. This card offers a $50 cash bonus after spending $100 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The last thing a student wants to worry about with expensive tuition and a tight budget is paying an annual fee. Luckily, the Savor Student has no annual fee, making it easy to continue earning rewards without a yearly fee.
Additionally, you won't incur any foreign transaction fees when you use the card. This means that when studying abroad in Europe or on spring break in Mexico, you won't need to worry about fees being added to every purchase you make.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
No foreign transaction fees are a great and less common benefit among credit cards with no annual fees, let alone on a card for individuals with less credit history. This should not be ignored.
Some credit cards make it difficult to redeem their rewards, but this is not the case for the Savor Student card. For starters, rewards do not expire for the life of the account. Rewards can be redeemed for cash, used directly against your balance to reimburse a recent purchase from your bill or redeemed for travel using the Capital One Travel portal.
Down the road, once a longer credit history has been established — and one has a higher credit score — adding another Capital One credit card, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, would allow students to convert their cash-back rewards to miles.
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These miles can then be transferred to one of the card’s 15-plus airline or hotel partners to book travel. This method may require more effort, but it can increase the value of the rewards, as TPG's October 2024 valuations peg Capital One miles at 1.85 cents compared to the 1-cent cash back on the Savor Student card.
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent all-around card. Its bonus categories perfectly match many students’ spending habits and rival nonstudent cards for individuals with a more developed credit score.
In order to start building credit, I always advise students to apply for their first card as early as possible (after making sure they know how to handle a credit card responsibly), and my pick for their first card is the Savor Student card.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
