Best Professional Student Credit Cards 2025
Karl says: “For professional students, the Bilt Mastercard is ideal, allowing you to earn points on rent with no fees and redeem them for travel or everyday rewards. You earn 1x points on rent (up to 100,000 points per year) with no annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is also great for travelers, offering flexible rewards and 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, along with excellent travel insurance coverage.”
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Key offer
Bilt Mastercard is the top card for professional students because it earns points on rent — with no fees — and lets you redeem those points at high value for travel, a future home, or everyday rewards.
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• Earn 1x points on rent (up to 100,000 points per year) with no transaction fee — the only card that does this. Terms Apply
• Transfer points 1:1 to major travel partners or redeem for rent, travel, or even a home down payment — all with no annual fee
Welcome offer
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Robust rewards structure pairs with premium benefits suitable for professional students’ high-value purchases and business expenses.
Card Rewards
• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• Earn 3x points on dining • 2x points on travel • and 1x points on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
• Earn 1x points on rent (up to 100,000/year), no fee for using a credit card to pay rent
• Earn 5x+ points on Neighborhood Dining and 3x on all other dining purchases
• Earn 2x points on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruise lines, or through the Bilt Travel Portal
• Earn 5x points on Lyft when you link your Bilt and Lyft accounts
• Use points to pay rent, make travel bookings, shop at Amazon, or pay your card balance
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• Redeem points toward a home down payment
• No annual fee, plus no foreign transaction fees.
• Free rent reporting to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to help build credit
• Use the card 5x per month to earn rewards on rent.
• Pay for fitness classes with points and get complimentary perks at Bilt fitness partners
• $5 monthly Lyft credit after 3 qualifying Lyft rides
• Earn 2x+ points on Walgreens purchases
• Earn extra points with Bilt Elite Status and Milestone Rewards
• Fast-track to elite status with more points earned
• Shop with points at Amazon or redeem for Bilt Home Design Collection
• Access to curated dining and fitness perks on Rent Day
Insurance & Protections:
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Cellular Telephone Protection (up to $800, $25 deductible)
• Purchase Security for stolen or damaged items
• Mastercard ID Theft Protection
Minimum Qualifications
Bilt Mastercard
• You don’t have to be a student. It’s a smart pick for young renters with a bit of credit history.
• They’re looking for good credit — generally 680 and up — but there are exceptions based on income and payment history.
• Some people have gotten approved with no major credit cards, especially if they’ve paid rent consistently.
• Recent inquiries may affect approval. Applying with a clean recent history definitely helps.
Key offer
Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the best travel card for professional students who enjoy traveling, because it earns flexible rewards, includes premium travel protections, and offers 25% more value when redeeming points for travel — all for a modest annual fee.
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• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards — great for studying abroad, conferences, or post-grad trips
• Includes best-in-class travel insurance like trip cancellation, baggage delay, and rental car coverage — perfect for college trips
Welcome offer
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening — worth $1,250 when redeemed through Chase Travel
Annual fee
$95
Best For: Frequent business travel and networking events
Card Rewards
• Earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
• Earn 3x points on dining (includes takeout and delivery), online grocery purchases (excludes Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services.
• Earn 2x points on all other travel purchases
• Earn 1x on all other purchases
Premium Benefits
• Earn 5x on Chase Travel, 3x on dining, groceries, and streaming, 2x on other travel, and 1x on everything else
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel (60,000 points = $750)
• Transfer points 1:1 to top airline and hotel partners.
• $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit on bookings made through Chase Travel
• Earn 10% anniversary points bonus based on total spend from the prior year
• Add to digital wallets and use instantly after approval
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• Partner perks:
• DashPass from DoorDash (1 year) — $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees
• Earn 5x points on Lyft through Sep 30, 2027
• Earn 5x points on Peloton equipment and accessories through Sep 30, 2027
Insurance & Protections:
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance — up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip
• Trip Delay Reimbursement — up to $500 per person if delayed 12+ hours or overnight
• Baggage Delay Insurance — up to $100/day for 5 days
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver — primary coverage, up to $60,000 value
• Purchase Protection — up to $500 per claim for damage or theft, 120 days from purchase
• Extended Warranty Protection — adds one extra year on eligible warranties of three years or less
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Minimum Qualifications
• Recommended credit score: 720+ (Very Good)
• You won’t be approved if you currently hold this card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or if you’ve received a bonus on the Sapphire Preferred in the past 48 months
• If you currently have one of these cards, you can downgrade it to a Freedom Unlimited card, wait 3 days, and then apply for thhis card:
• Chase 5/24 rule applies — if you’ve opened 5 or more personal cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months, you’ll likely be denied
• You also can’t open more than 2 Chase cards within 30 days
Pro Tips
Budget for Payments
Make sure to budget for your credit card payments, especially if you’re managing tuition and living expenses. Paying your balance in full each month helps you avoid interest charges and keeps your credit score healthy.
Maximize Point Earning
Use cards that allow you to earn points on essential expenses like rent and everyday purchases. This can help you accumulate rewards quickly, which can be redeemed for travel or other valuable perks.
Take Advantage of Student Benefits
Look for credit cards that offer benefits specifically for students, such as lower fees or cash back on educational expenses. These features can help you save money while building your credit history.