Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Big Savings on Entertainment, Meals, and More

The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card caters to students aiming to build credit while earning cash back on typical student expenses. Like its big brother, the Savor Cash Rewards Card, this card offers unlimited 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. With no foreign transaction fees, it might be a good choice if you’re planning to study abroad. However, if you rely on purchases from Target or Walmart to decorate your room or purchase essentials, you might want to look elsewhere.

The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a compelling option for students who dine out, enjoy entertainment and use streaming services. With unlimited 3% cash back in these categories, plus grocery stores (excluding certain superstores) and 1% on all other purchases, it’s designed to reward your everyday spending.

The rewards program doesn't stop there; cardholders can earn a $50 bonus after spending $100 in the first three months, and you can earn with no caps on the cash back. Additionally, the card offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 8% back on entertainment through the Capital One Entertainment portal.

Beyond cash back, the card boasts no annual or foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for students studying abroad or traveling. However, the exclusion of superstores like Walmart and Target from the cash back program, the lack of an intro APR period and the credit score requirement may lead some students to consider other cards.

>> More: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has straightforward eligibility requirements. Here’s what you need before applying:

• Have at least fair credit
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be enrolled or admitted and planning to enroll within three months at an accredited university, community college or other higher education institution.
• Proof of income (including income from employment, interest, dividends, public assistance or allowance)

Additionally, you can check if you are pre-approved for this card by submitting a request online. Preapproval only requires a soft credit inquiry and will not hurt your credit score.

The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a robust rewards program tailored to student life. Like its big brother, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card , cardholders earn unlimited 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, except for buys at superstores. There's a straightforward 1% cash back rate for all other purchases.

This card offers 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked via the Capital One Travel portal for students traveling within or outside the country for school or otherwise. Another bonus is that using this card abroad will not cost anything since it does not charge foreign transaction fees. This card also gives 8% cash back for any entertainment purchases made through Capital One Entertainment.

Redemption is flexible, allowing students to use their cash back as statement credits or to redeem via checks. The absence of an expiration date on rewards means students can accumulate cash back at their own pace, ensuring they can redeem rewards when most beneficial.

Maximize your student spending with tailored cash back rewards and no extra fees. Here's why the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards credit card could be a smart addition to your wallet:

3% Unlimited Cash Back: This card offers unlimited 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.

No Annual or Foreign Transaction Fees: This card charges no annual or foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad, making it ideal for international students or students traveling during breaks.

Credit Building Potential: With responsible use, this card can help you build a solid credit foundation, preparing you for greater financial opportunities post-graduation.

This card offers rewards to those who spend on eligible categories but has some drawbacks to consider:

Lower Cash Back on Spending Outside Bonus Categories: Despite the high cash back on certain categories, non-eligible purchases only earn 1%. If your spending is varied, a flat-rate cash back card like the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which gives 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases, might be a better fit.

No Introductory APR Offers: Unlike some student cards, this one doesn't provide a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers, which could be a drawback for those planning large purchases or wanting to move existing debt. If you’re consolidating debt or eyeing a large purchase, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students, with its 1.5% unlimited cash back and 0% intro APR for 15 months offer, then a variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74% after that, maybe a better option.

Fair Credit Needed: Due to its credit rating requirement, students who are just starting to build their credit will not qualify for this card. For limited-to-no-credit students, choose the Discover it® Student Cash Back card, with its 1% to 2% cash back rate.

To help you make the best decision, we have compared the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards with other student cash back cards.

In addition to the Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students, we also compared the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards with the following cards:

• Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
• Chase Freedom® Student credit card
• Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards card is a smart pick for students with fair credit who regularly spend money on dining, entertainment, streaming services and grocery stores. If your lifestyle matches this spending pattern and you're looking to build credit without worrying about an annual fee, this card could be a valuable tool in your wallet. However, if you're after introductory APR offers or you frequently shop at grocery stores, you might want to consider other options.

With a solid cash back rate on everyday student expenses and the added perk of no foreign transaction fees, this card particularly appeals to students who travel or study abroad.

Our evaluation of the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards credit card included a comparison against 52 other cards. We focused on key features that align with the needs of students and the card's intended use. Here's how we weighted each feature, with a 5 rating representing the best possible score in each category:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): A 5 indicates a highly rewarding cash back rate.
• Annual Fee (10%): A 5 means the card has no annual fee.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): A 5 reflects top-tier customer satisfaction.
• Penalties (5%): A 5 signifies no penalty rates or fees.
• Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): A 5 indicates no fees for foreign transactions.

These weights were applied to objectively assess the card's benefits in terms of a student's financial and lifestyle needs.

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