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Canada's 4 Best Student Credit Cards of September 2025
Published Sep 12, 2025 5:39 AM UTC • 5 min read
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Credit Card ExpertStudent credit cards are an ideal way for young Canadians to start building their credit history and financial confidence. With more accessible approval criteria and lower credit limits, these cards are designed to help students responsibly ease into credit usage—while still offering valuable perks and rewards.
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Best Student Credit Cards in Canada
Our choice for: Best Overall Student Credit Card
APPLY NOW
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend
Rewards Rate
0.5% - 3%
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
We consider this card to be the best student credit card in Canada for it's competitive cashback rewards (3% on groceries, 1% on recurring bills), no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus. Plus, cashback redemption is flexible so no need to wait a year each time you want to get your cashback paid out.
Pros
- No annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for all students.
- Up to 3% cash back on groceries and 1% on recurring bill payments, giving fantastic rewards to students.
- Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations when linked with Air Miles.
Cons
- Low base earn rate of 0.5% cash back on non-bonus purchases.
- Limited insurance coverage (extended warranty and purchase protection only).
Rewards
- 3% cash back on grocery purchases (maximum $15 per statement)
- 1% cash back on recurring payments like bills or subscriptions (maximum $5 per statement)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool.
Discount
Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas.Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Eligibility
Credit Score
PoorAnnual Income
N/A
*BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information. Check here for full details and current product information.
Our choice for: Easy approval and Most Customizable
APPLY NOW
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value) + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months
Rewards Rate
0.5% - 2%
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.95%* / 22.95%*
While we think Tangerine isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. This card only requires a Fair credit score, making it an excellent choice for people who don't have a high credit score yet.
Pros
- Allows you to change the categories, and you get a 2% reward depending on how your spending is changing every 90 days.
- 2% cashback on recurring Transactions and pharmacy purchases. One of the highest cashback rates on these categories among credit cards in Canada.
- Has cashback on Furniture and Home Improvement categories. Two categories that are not covered by any other card in Canada.
- Easy credit score requirements needed for this card.
- Overall, it is a good no-annual-fee cashback credit card, especially if you have a Tangerine Savings account.
Cons
- Insurance coverage is the most basic.
- Very low cashback rate on the other categories not selected.
Rewards
- 2% on the choice of two categories chosen from the 10 offered by Tangerine (Grocery, Restaurants, Gas, Entertainment, Furniture, Hotel-Motel, Drug Store, Reoccurring Bill Payments, Home Improvement, Public Transportation and Parking).
- Have your cash back Reward deposited in a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back Category.
- 0.5% cashback on all other credit card purchases.
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
*11 Balance Transfer Promotional Offer at 1.95% for 6 months (1% Balance Transfer Fee)
A Promotional Rate of 1.95% will apply to any and all Balance Transfers made within 30 days of the Account opening, and will remain in effect for 6 Statement Periods from the date the last such Balance Transfer was posted to the Account (the “Promotional Rate Period”). To take advantage of this Promotional Offer, you must complete the Balance Transfer request within 30 days of Account approval. You must also activate your Card within 45 days of Account approval for the requested Balance Transfer to be processed, or the Balance Transfer will be automatically cancelled. Balance Transfers are treated as Cash Advances on your Card and do not have an interest-free grace period. Balance Transfers may not exceed the available credit on the Account. If the Balance Transfer exceeds the available credit, the Balance Transfer transaction will not be processed. A 1% Balance Transfer Fee will be charged on each Balance Transfer amount and will be immediately charged to your Credit Card. This Balance Transfer Fee is waived by Tangerine if you are a resident of the province of Quebec at the time you accept this offer. Interest does not accrue on the Balance Transfer Fee, however it is included in the Minimum Payment amount on your monthly statement. You must continue to make all of your monthly Minimum Payments by the Payment Due Dates shown on your monthly statements. If you still have an amount owing from your Balance Transfer when the Promotional Rate Period ends, the Cash Advance interest rate of 22.95% will apply to that amount. You must continue to make the Minimum Payments on your Account, regardless of whether the Balance Transfer has been processed to your Account. We don’t charge interest on new Purchases that appear on your statement for the first time if we receive full payment of the Balance on your statement (including payment of any Balance Transfers included in that Balance), by the Payment Due Date on your statement. This means you will pay interest on new purchases that appear on your statement for the first time unless we receive payment of your entire balance each month by the payment due date. For example, if you do a promotional (or non-promotional) balance transfer for $7,000 and spend $500 in new purchases during the same statement cycle, we must receive payment of the entire balance of $7,500 on or before your payment due date to avoid paying interest on your new purchases that month of $500. Balance Transfers may not be used to transfer money to or from another Tangerine Account. See the Tangerine Credit Card Cardholder Agreement for more information about how we apply payments to your Account. Check here for full details and current product information.
Our choice for: Best for gauranteed approval
APPLY NOW
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate
1% - 4%
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$60
$5 Paid Monthly
Interest Rates
19.99% - 29.99%□ / 22.99% - 31.99%□
If you have a poor credit score and are looking to rebuild it with a secured card, then the Neo Financial Secured Credit Card is the best card to go for. This card offers so much more compared to other secured credit cards on the market, including no monthly fees, a low deposit amount needed to get started, and it is the only credit card that offers some rewards on your purchases!
Pros
- The minimum deposit requirement is only $50, making it accessible to all consumers
- High cashback rates of up to 5% on average at Neo Partners
Cons
- Interest rate could go really high for some customers
- A monthly fee of $5
Rewards
- 1% cash back on grocery purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
- 1% cash back on gas purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
- 0% cash back on all other purchases with $0 in a Neo everyday account, or 0.5% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month, or 1% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month - drops to 0% cash back again after hitting spend cap
- +5% earned on average at Neo Partners.
Benefits
Details
Neo Premium ($4.99/month)
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Neo Travel Benefits ($4.99/month)
optional
Neo Food Cashback boost ($1.99/month)
optional
Neo Mind and Body Perks ($9.99/month)
optional
Eligibility
Credit Score
PoorAnnual Income
N/A
Our choice for: Best for points and flexible redemption
APPLY NOW
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 5,000 Scene+ points
Rewards Rate
1x - 2x Points
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99%* / 22.99%*
We like this card because it offers solid rewards with no annual fee, including the opportunity to earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within the first 3 months. With 2x Scene+ points on purchases at popular grocery stores, home improvement retailers, and Cineplex, plus 1x points on all other purchases, it's a great option for maximizing everyday spending.
Pros
- No Annual Fee: Enjoy all the benefits without any yearly cost.
- Universal Rewards: Earn rewards on every purchase, no matter where you shop.
- Flexible Redemption: Redeem your rewards with a variety of options tailored to your needs.
Cons
- Limited Accelerated Categories: Fewer opportunities to earn bonus points in specific categories.
- Specific Grocery Partners: Rewards at grocery stores are limited to select partners.
- Lacks Travel Insurance: Missing some of the common travel insurance coverages offered by other cards.
Rewards
- Earn 2x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca
- Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.
From our editors: The full list of Best Road Student Credit Cards in Canada For 2025
1. Choice for best overall: BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard
The BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard is a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded credit card. The card offers a straightforward cash back on all purchases and even boosted cash back on groceries, allowing students to accumulate rewards without worrying about categories.
There's no annual fee, making it budget-friendly for students. A standout feature of this card is the included Student Price Card (SPC) membership, granting access to exclusive discounts at a variety of popular retailers, restaurants, and services across Canada. This card can easily be crowned the title of best student credit card Canada. To learn more read Students – BMO CashBack Mastercard Review.
2. Choice for most customizable: Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Tangerine's Money-Back Credit Card is perfect for students seeking a tailored cash back experience. With this card, you can choose two categories to earn increased cash back rate, a unique feature exclusive to Tangerine credit cards. There's no annual fee, and if you opt to deposit your cash back rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account, you can select a third 2% cash back category. The card's online banking interface is user-friendly, making it ideal for tech-savvy students who prefer managing their finances digitally. Read more at Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Review.
3. Choice for guaranteed approval: Neo Secured Mastercard
If you love a guaranteed approval and want to earn cash back on everyday purchases with an innovative brand, the Neo Secured Mastercard should be on your radar. If you don't have prior credit score and weren't approved for any other card, you need a secured credit card to start with only a $50 minimum security deposit needed.
Read More: Best Secured Credit Cards in Canada
The card earns boosted cash back on groceries, gas and Neo partnered stores making it one of the highest earning secured credit cards. Learn more at Neo Secured Mastercard review.
4. Choice for points and flexible redemption: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card
If you would like more freedom to get rewards that are not cash back and can be used in different ways that give a higher value for some redemptions then the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa card is your choice, which also has a student version. You can learn more about this card in Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card Review.
What is a student credit card?
Student credit cards work just like traditional credit cards, but they're designed for those who are new to credit or those with a limited credit history. Approval requirements are generally more flexible, but applicants typically need to be a Canadian resident and enrolled in a post-secondary education.
Student credit cards tend to carry lower credit limits and sometimes include no annual fee, reward programs, and coverage like extended warranty and purchase protection insurance.
How to apply for a student credit card
As mentioned, while the approval requirements for a student credit card are less strict, applicants still often need to be a Canadian resident (though some issuers allow international students to apply with a study permit and supporting documents), the age of majority in their province or territory, and enrolled in a post-secondary institution to qualify. Certain cards may even require proof of enrolment.
If you meet all of these qualifications, you can start the application process. The exact process will vary by card, typically prompting you to agree to a set of terms and conditions, provide personal details like your name and birthdate, and to include any income information (including scholarships and student loans depending on the issuer).
To start your application, hit the "Apply Now" button linked to any of the cards above, you can also browse your options using our credit card finder tool.
How to make the most out of your student credit card
To make the most out of your student credit card you need to use it. When we say "use it", we mean use it responsibly.
Responsible credit card use includes paying your balance by the due date and keeping your credit utilization ratio low (typically below 30%). Whatever you do, avoid credit card debt. Carrying a balance and accumulating interest will reflect poorly on your credit history.
Frequent responsible use of your student credit card is the best route towards a positive credit history, so use your card regularly for everyday purchases, but always within your budget. To encourage transactions, most student credit cards are equipped with reward programs, usually cash back programs, that put a percentage of eligible purchases back into your pocket. For example, if your student card earns you 3% cash back on groceries (like the BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students) then a $100 grocery run will effectively earn you $3 in cash back. This money can be put towards other expenses or saved for inevitable future finances.
Why should you build credit as a student?
As a student, you're constantly being told to prepare for the future. Building credit is no exception, starting to establish your credit history now sets you up for expenses like upper year apartment rentals, car loans, and eventually mortgages.
That said, unlike selecting a major and acing midterms, building credit isn't as daunting as it seems. All you need to do is apply for a student-friendly credit card, keep the card active by using it to fund textbooks, coffee runs, and late-night snacks, and pay off your balance before the due date. By doing so over the course of your degree, you can establish a solid foundation for future financing.
Bottom line: At school, you're going to be spending money regardless, so you might as well spend it strategically by using a credit card responsibly and building credit. Your future self will thank you!
What happens to your student credit card after graduation?
So, let's say you've tossed your graduation cap into the air and are already set for an internship in the fall. Firstly, congratulations! But secondly, you might be wondering what happens to your student credit card.
In most cases, you can simply continue to use your student credit card as long as you still adhere to the card's terms. Other times, your issuer will automatically upgrade you to a regular entry-level credit card if you've exhibited positive credit habits. The upside about these upgrades is that you can receive increased credit limits with a strong repayment history and established income. You can also get ahold of a card with better reward rates, coverage, and perks. That said, you may lose any "student only" perks associated with your card and upgraded cards may be subject to minimum income requirements and annual fees.
After graduation, you'll continue to build upon the credit history you've established with your student credit card, that's why it's so important to form a positive financial footprint in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a college student, it's a good idea to apply for one of the student credit cards above to start building a credit history.
Generally, high school students cannot apply for their own credit card as a primary user if they are under the age of 18 or 19 (depending on the province). Instead, high school students can become an authorized user on a parent or guardian's credit card account. Depending on the issuer, the authorized user may still be able to build credit until they're able to apply for their own card, it just depends on whether or not the issuer reports authorized user activity to Canada's credit bureaus.
High school students also have the option to apply for prepaid credit cards, but prepaid credit cards don't help you build credit.
As a student that's new to credit or has a limited credit history, it's best to get a student credit card until you establish more credit for a standard (non-student) credit card.
If you happen to have a strong credit history as a student, you can always apply or upgrade to a traditional credit card.
What's on this Page
- From our editors: The full list of Best Road Student Credit Cards in Canada For 2025
- What is a student credit card?
- How to apply for a student credit card
- How to make the most out of your student credit card
- Why should you build credit as a student?
- What happens to your student credit card after graduation?
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Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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