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The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a good choice for students just getting started with credit or those who have a fair credit score. It earns cash back on purchases without an annual fee, but there are other cards to consider that could be more rewarding, especially if you’ve already established a solid credit history.
Review: Is the Capital One Journey Student Credit Card the best card for you?
If you’re studying for finals, applying for internships, and thinking about what you’ll do after graduation, you’re setting yourself up for success when you no longer call yourself a student. In addition to earning top grades, though, you’ll need to establish strong credit to access all the adult things you’ll eventually need like a car loan and a mortgage.
If you’re looking for your first credit card, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One can help lay a good foundation for your financial future — and you’ll earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 1% cash back on all other purchases, or 1.25% cash back when you pay on time.
To determine whether the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is right for you, the first question to consider is where you are in your own journey: Is this your first credit card? If so, this can be a solid option, as it’s designed for those with “fair” credit.
That may mean you have a limited credit history, which likely means you may struggle to get approved for more rewarding credit cards. If you already have a credit card and you have demonstrated your ability to pay your bill, though, you will want to compare other options that offer more rewards and perks.
Next up in your thought process: Are you planning to travel abroad? The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One does not charge any foreign transaction fees. If you’re gearing up for an exchange program or plan to spend a few months of your summer outside the US, you definitely want to avoid the standard 3% foreign transaction fee that comes with many other entry-level credit cards.
There is a crucial caveat to consider if this is your very first credit card: The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One charges a crushingly high Journey Student Rewards from Capital One APR. If you fail to pay your entire bill each month, those interest charges can pile up quickly, and they will easily cancel any of the cash back you can earn or the discounts on subscription services.
If you’re a super responsible individual who will pay your bill on time, though, you’ll earn 1.25% on your other purchases instead of the base rate of 1% — a competitive bonus offer that puts the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One in our rundown of the best student credit cards on the market.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn cash back with the Capital One Journey Student card
The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One has a very simple structure for earning rewards: You’ll get an unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase you make, with no bonus spending categories to keep track of.
You can earn 5% cash back when you book hotels and rental cards through Capital One Travel, the issuer’s own travel-booking portal. This is a nice option to have, but your booking options may be more limited when booking through Capital One Travel, so you should always shop around before making a decision.
If you pay your bill on time, your cash-back rate will increase to 1.25% for all purchases made in a given month. It’s always smart to pay your credit card bill on time to avoid interest and late fees, but this adds some extra incentive.
How to use rewards from the Capital One Journey Student card
Rewards with the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One are simple to redeem. You can either get a statement credit to help pay off your bill, or you can get a check. As long as your account is open and in good standing, your rewards won’t expire, and you can redeem for any amount.
There’s also an option to automatically cash in rewards whenever you reach a specified amount ($25, $50, $100, $200, $500, or $1,500) or at a certain time each year.
Benefits and features
Naturally, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One doesn’t come with the high-profile perks of lounge access and luxury hotel benefits of higher-end credit cards, but there are some valuable perks included.
Automatic credit line reviews
After six months, Capital One will evaluate your account to consider granting you a higher credit line. If you can increase your credit limit while maintaining a stellar credit utilization ratio, this can be a great way to build your credit score.
Capital One CreditWise
Capital One’s CreditWise program offers a helpful guide to monitoring your credit and safeguarding your identity. You don’t actually have to carry the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One in your wallet for this — or even be a Capital One customer — but it is a good resource.
$0 fraud liability
Like any good credit card, you won’t be liable for unauthorized charges on your Journey Student Rewards from Capital One.
Cash-back bonus for on-time payments
The card’s rewards structure incentivizes smart financial management: Just pay your bill on time, and you’ll get an additional 0.25% cash back in your billing cycle.
Alternatives to the Capital One Journey Student card
Chase Freedom® Student credit card: Chase Freedom® Student credit card annual fee, Chase Freedom® Student credit card, 1% cash back on all purchases, 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students annual fee, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 3% cash back on up to $2,500 in spending each quarter (combined with 2% categories, then 1%) in one category from a list, 1% cash back on all other purchasesDiscover it® Student Cash Back: No annual fee, 5% cash back in categories that rotate each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined spending when you activate (then 1%) Discover It Cashback rotation, 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases, Cash Back Match after the first year, no foreign transaction fees (read our Discover it Student Cash Back review)
Fees and costs
Like most credit cards geared toward those who are just starting to build their credit, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One does not charge an annual fee, and there are no foreign transaction fees, either.
If you miss a payment — which is never a good idea — you’ll be charged up to $40, and there are fees for balance transfers and cash advances.
Comparison: Capital One Journey vs other Capital One cards for fair credit
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Annual fee
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Rewards rate
5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1% cash back on all other purchases
When you pay on time, earn 1.25% cash back on all other purchases that month
5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.5% cash back on all purchases
N/A
Welcome bonus
None
None
None
Card benefits
Automatic credit line reviews after the first six months
Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One
Automatic credit line reviews after the first six months
Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One
Automatic credit line reviews after the first six months
Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One
Foreign transaction fee
No
No
No
*** Exclusions apply
Capital One Journey card vs other student credit cards
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Annual fee
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Rewards rate
5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1% cash back on all other purchases
When you pay on time, earn 1.25% cash back on all other purchases that month
5% cash back in categories that rotate each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined spending when you activate (then 1%) Discover It Cashback rotation
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
3% cash back in the category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishings)*
2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs*
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
None
None, but Discover will match all the cash back you earned after the first 12 months
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Card benefits
Automatic credit line reviews after the first six months
Free credit monitoring with CreditWise from Capital One
Free FICO score
No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $41)
Free FICO score
Foreign transaction fee
No
No
Yes
Review
Discover it Student Cash Back card review
*3% and 2% cash-back categories on the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students on up to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter, then 1% cash back
*** Exclusions apply