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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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Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Review

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Review

Rewards Rate
1% Cash Back on all purchases; 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
Bonus Cash Back
Earn 0.25% bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time
APR
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 Journey Student Rewards from Capital One best for?

If you’re a college student, this is a good time to build a great credit score that can help you when you need to buy a car, rent an apartment or maybe even get a new job. The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a cashback rewards card that is designed for students looking to start their credit voyage. Whether you’ve never had credit before and are looking for a first credit card or you’ve been an authorized user on a parent’s card and now you’re ready for your own, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a solid choice. We’ll break down what it offers and offer up an alternative student credit card for comparison.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One overview

    • Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
    • 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
    • Pick the monthly due date that works best for you
    • Pay for Amazon.com purchases using your Capital One rewards
    • Pay for online purchases with virtual card numbers and keep your actual card number to yourself
    • Get notified via text, email, and phone if Capital One notices potential suspicious transactions on your account
    • Build your credit with responsible card use
    • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the 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
  • VantageScore access with CreditWise
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Extended warranty

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

29.74% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

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

  • Cash back on every purchase
  • Chance to earn a higher credit limit
  • $0 annual fee
  • Foreign transaction fee: None

Cons

  • Low rewards rate
  • Rewards not earned all at once
  • High APR

What we like about the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

  • Cash back on every purchase

    This card earns 1% Cash Back on all purchases; 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Having a bonus rewarding you for when you pay on time is a good incentive for students who are just learning how to responsibly manage credit.

    There are four ways to redeem your cash back:

    • As a statement credit
    • As a check
    • As credits toward previous purchases
    • As gift cards

    You can also set up automatic redemptions, either at a set time each calendar year or whenever your rewards reach a certain threshold ($25, $50, $100, $200, $500 or $1,500).

    Rewards don’t expire (though if your account is closed, you’ll lose rewards you haven’t redeemed) and there’s no limit to how much you can earn on purchases.

  • Chance to earn a higher credit limit

    If approved for the card, Capital One will set your initial credit limit after reviewing your application and considering your ability to pay. The minimum credit line you’ll get is $300. Whatever your starting limit, cardholders can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. You’re also able to ask for a credit line increase after having an account open with Capital One for at least three months and showing good payment history and utilization. Paying your bill on time every month is also the most important thing you can do to build and maintain a good credit score.

  • $0 annual fee

    You don’t have to pay a fee to carry this card, since the annual fee is $0. That’s a good thing for college students on a tight budget.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None

    If you’re planning to study abroad, this is a great card to take with you. You don’t have to worry about being charged a foreign transaction fee on each purchase you make outside the United States because there is none. Other cards may charge up to 3% for each purchase you make abroad with the card.

What to look out for with the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

  • Low rewards rate

    If you’re making all your payments on time with this card, you’ll earn 1.25% cash back per $1 spent. There are other credit cards that earn from 1.5% cash back on every purchase to 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories. However, if your main focus is establishing a solid credit history, earning rewards may not be your main focus.

  • Rewards not earned all at once

    The way this card’s rewards structure works is that you earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases; 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Many rewards credit cards earn rewards after making a purchase, rather than making the cardholder wait for a bonus after payment. However, if you need an incentive to stay on top of your payments, the rewards structure of the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One could be a good thing.

  • High APR

    The interest rate on this card is 29.74% (variable), so you want to avoid carrying a balance from month to month. Pay on time and in full every month to avoid incurring expensive interest charges.

Alternative student card to the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

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
17.49% - 26.49% 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 17.49% - 26.49% 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.

If earning a higher cashback rewards rate than what’s offered by the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, another popular student credit card to consider is the Discover it® Student Cash Back. It earns 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

As long as your spending patterns match up well with the 5% categories and you don’t mind having to manually activate the new categories each quarter, you can earn significant value from the Discover it® Student Cash Back. Plus, there’s a unique sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: 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.

However, if you plan to travel abroad with the card, know that the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a Visa — and Visa tends to be more widely accepted abroad than Discover. So, if you’re planning to travel, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One might be a better choice.

Compare the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One to similar cards

Comparison of four different credit cards
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Discover it® Student Cash Back Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards 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
Apply Now
Annual Fee
$0 $0 $39 N/A
Welcome Offer
No 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. No bonus N/A
Rewards Rate
1% Cash Back on all purchases; 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time; 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 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) N/A
Intro Purchase APR
N/A 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases N/A N/A
Regular APR
29.74% (Variable) 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR 29.74% (Variable) N/A
Intro Balance Transfer APR
N/A 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months N/A N/A
Regular Balance Transfer APR
29.74% (Variable) 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR 29.74% (Variable) N/A
Balance Transfer Fee
$0 at this Transfer APR 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* $0 at this Transfer APR N/A
Recommended Credit
Fair/Limited Fair/Limited Fair/Limited N/A
Card Details
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Discover it® Student Cash Back Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Additional card details unavailable

Is the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One right for you?

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a good credit card for students who want to build credit and take advantage of a simple cashback program that rewards responsible credit behavior. After demonstrating that you pay on time and don’t max your card out, you can request an upgrade to another Capital One offering better rewards — such as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (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