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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review

Rewards Rate
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
No Rotating Categories
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
APR
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Who is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card best for?

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is aimed at college students — including those at community colleges, four-year universities and other institutions of higher education. It offers a simple cash back program, charges a $0 annual fee and allows students to start building credit history before they graduate.

Capital One debuted the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card in August 2021, alongside another new student credit card, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card overview

    • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
    • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
    • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
    • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
    • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
    • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
    • Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
    • Build your credit with responsible card use
    • Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
    • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
    600 660
    Fair/Limited
  • Lock your card in the Capital One mobile app if it’s lost or misplaced
  • 24/7 access to a complimentary concierge service
  • Special access to sporting, dining and music events
  • Extended warranty
  • Travel accident insurance

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

3% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than $3

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

$0 at this Transfer APR

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Competitive flat-rate rewards
  • Sign-up bonus
  • Charges a $0 annual fee
  • Good for building credit
  • Foreign transaction fee: None

Cons

  • High interest rate
  • No intro APR

What we like about the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Sign-up bonus

    The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card allows cardholders to earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.

  • Cash back rewards

    While some student credit cards earn lackluster rewards, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel (terms apply).

    Redemption options for your cash back include:

    • Statement credits
    • Checks
    • Credits for previous purchases
    • Gift cards

  • Pay no annual fee

    Since college students are typically on tight budgets, it’s best to build credit with a no-annual-fee card. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card checks that box with its $0 annual fee.

  • Helps build credit history

    Capital One reports your account and payment activity to the three major consumer credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Each of these bureaus maintains a credit report with your information, and your credit score is generated based on the information in these reports. If you don’t max out your credit card and always pay on time, chances are you’ll build a good or even exceptional credit score over time. But if you spend close to your credit limit, your score will suffer due to high utilization — and if you pay late or miss a payment, that’s one of the fastest ways to tank your credit score.

    Building good credit while in college is important, as you may want to take out a car loan or a mortgage later in life and your credit score will impact the interest rates you’re offered on such products. Using the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card responsibly can help set you up for success.

  • No foreign transaction fee

    Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee (often 3% of each transaction) when you use them outside the United States — however, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has none. Whether you’re planning a study abroad trip or going on vacation with family, this is a good card to take with you.

What to watch out for with the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • The interest rate is high

    This card has a 19.74% - 29.74% (variable) APR, which is very high if you don’t qualify for the lower amount. If you roll over a balance from month to month, you’re likely to see some expensive interest charges. However, you can avoid incurring interest by paying in full every billing cycle. And note that you don’t need to carry a balance to build credit — using your card regularly and paying on time is all you need to do.

  • There's no intro APR

    Some credit cards offer a 0% introductory APR period, after which the regular APR takes effect. This can be useful if you need to make a big purchase and pay it off over time — for example, maybe you need to buy textbooks and a laptop for school. Unfortunately, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn’t offer an intro APR period. The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a competing student card that does offer an intro APR, and we’ll examine that card in the next section.

Alternate student card

Compare it to the Discover it® Student Cash Back

| Disclosures
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover it® Student Cash Back
on Discover's secure site
0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases
17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR
$0
5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.99% - 26.99% applies.
  • Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
600 660
Fair/Limited

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

One of our top student credit card picks is the Discover it® Student Cash Back, thanks to its generous cash back program, $0 annual fee. It also reports to the three major credit bureaus and helps you build credit history.

You’ll earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically There’s a $1,500 spending cap in the rotating categories, meaning you can earn a maximum of $75 in cash back at the elevated rate each quarter before your earning rate drops to 1% on all purchases.

There’s also a unique sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

And there’s an intro APR of 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases. After, a 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR applies.

It’s worth noting that in some countries, Discover credit cards aren’t as widely accepted as those on Visa or Mastercard payment networks. Since the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a Mastercard, it’s likely a better choice if you’re planning to travel abroad.

Compare the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card to similar cards

Comparison of four different credit cards
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Chase Freedom<sup>®</sup> Student credit card
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Discover it® Student Cash Back Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Chase Freedom® Student credit card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Read Review
Recommended Credit
Fair/Limited Fair/Limited Fair/Limited Excellent/Good
Welcome Offer
Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months $50 Bonus after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases Earn 1% cash back on all purchases plus $20 Good Standing Rewards after each account anniversary for up to 5 years
Annual Fee
$0 $0 $0 $0
Intro Purchase APR
N/A 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases N/A N/A
Regular APR
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) 17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) 19.99% Variable
Card Details
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Discover it® Student Cash Back Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Chase Freedom® Student credit card

Is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card right for you?

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for a first credit card if you’re a current college student, or you’re planning to start your studies within the next three months. It earns better rewards than you may find on some other student cards, charges a $0 annual fee, and has a foreign transaction fee of none. Plus, if you keep utilization low and always pay on time, you can use this card to build a good credit score, which will come in handy after graduation.

If you want to earn a higher cash back rate or perhaps need a short intro APR period on purchases, the Discover it® Student Cash Back is another student card worth considering. But unlike the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back will require you to activate rotating cash back categories each quarter.

If you prefer a card with no rotating categories or spend caps, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card could be a better fit.

The information related to the Chase Freedom® Student credit card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site