The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card slaps for students who want to snag easy rewards while leveling up their credit game. With unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything, you'll get steady returns without the hassle of tracking spending categories. It's a solid starter card, but consider its high APR and lack of bonus categories before you hit that apply button.
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review: Keeping It Simple for Students
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card lets you earn a solid 1.5% cash back on all purchases. With a straightforward rewards redemption process and no annual fee, it’s a hassle-free card that helps you save and build your credit.
Updated: December 11, 2024
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MoneyGeek’s Take
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
- PROS
- No annual fee
- Cash back on all purchases
- Offers welcome bonus
- Comes with security protections
CONS- Potentially high APR
- No bonus categories
Introductory Offers
- Earn a $50 bonus when you spend $100 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Get unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, every day.
- Earn up to $500 annually by referring friends and family who are approved for a Capital One credit card.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees.
Perks & Benefits
- Benefit from $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges.
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost, or stolen.
- Build your credit with responsible card use.
- Suitable for students at 4-year universities, community colleges, or other higher education institutions.
Quicksilver Student Card Overview
As a student card, the Quicksilver Student understands the assignment. It offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, allowing you to earn consistent rewards without having to deal with categories and spending limits. The card also comes with student-friendly features such as no annual or foreign transaction fees and a signup bonus.
The Quicksilver Student is straight fire but lacks a 0% intro APR period, so it won’t work if you're looking for flexibility on new purchases. If you’re looking for high rewards on specific categories, you may want to check the Quicksilver Student’s sib, the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.
>>MORE: MoneyGeek's Best Student Credit Cards
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Card Uses |
|
Annual Fee | $0 |
Introductory Offer | Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months |
Introductory APRs | None |
Rewards |
|
Regular APRs | 19.49% - 29.49% variable |
Penalty APR | None |
Balance Transfer Fees | 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you |
Late Fees | Up to $40 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
Other Perks |
|
Rewards Program Overview
The Quicksilver Student Card offers easy rewards with unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Unlike other cards, you won’t have to track spending categories and limits with this card.
Your cash back also never expires and can be redeemed anytime, in any amount. You can redeem your rewards as statement credits, gift cards or cash.
Why You Might Want to Get This Card
The Quicksilver Student Card scores one dub after another with its easy cash back and student-friendly features.
No Annual Fee
This card comes with no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for students who want to keep their expenses low while building credit.
Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back
The Quicksilver Student lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. This simple rewards program ensures you get steady returns without the hassle of tracking spending categories.
Introductory Offer
You stand to earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months, essentially a 50% discount.
Build Credit
The card reports to the three major credit bureaus, which can help you build your credit history with responsible use. This is big for students looking to establish a strong credit foundation.
Why You Might Want a Different Card
Even though the Quicksilver Student totally slaps, consider these factors before getting the card.
No Bonus Rewards
The Quicksilver Student lacks bonus categories that could help you earn more on specific types of spending. If you're all about maximizing rewards, check out the Savor Student Card.
No Introductory APR Period
This card does not offer an intro 0% APR period for purchases and balance transfers. If you're planning to make a large purchase and pay it off in installments during an interest-free period, consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card.
High APR
With a variable APR from 19.49% - 29.49%, this card can get pricey if you carry a balance. For students who might not pay off their balance each month, the high interest rates could add up fast, making it tougher to manage your money.
How the Quicksilver Student Card Compares
We’ve compared the Quicksilver Student with other student cards to help you find the one that best suits your needs.
Quicksilver Student Card vs. Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Also from Capital One, the Savor Student Card offers 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, which are common spending categories for students. This bonus rate is double what you would’ve gotten with the Quicksilver Student. The Savor Student can be an alternative if your spending habits align with its bonus categories.
Quicksilver Student Card vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back Card
The Discover it Student Cash Back Card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories and a six-month 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. If you can benefit from a no-interest period and are willing to deal with rotating categories to get higher rewards, consider the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
Is the Quicksilver Student Card Right for You?
The Quicksilver Student Card is the GOAT for students looking for a simple way to earn rewards and build their credit. Its unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases is hassle-free and can lead to big savings over time. Moreover, it doesn’t charge annual and foreign transaction fees, and it comes with a signup bonus.
However, if you want to earn bigger rewards and don’t mind dealing with categories, consider cards like the Savor Student Card. And, if you want a no-interest period, you’ll have to explore other options.
Still unsure about the Quicksilver Student Card? We list the top cards for college students to help you find the best student card.
How We Evaluated the Quicksilver Student Card
We reviewed 60 cash back credit cards on the marketplace, focusing on key features and assigning the following weights to generate a score for each card:
- Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures how rewarding the card is based on different reward multipliers. A 5 rating indicates a highly rewarding card.
- Annual Fee (10%): Assesses the cost of the annual fee. A 5 rating means no annual fee.
- Offer ROI (10%): Evaluates the return on investment of the card's offers. A 5 rating indicates a high ROI.
- Regular APR (5%): Rates the card's regular APR. A 5 rating indicates a low APR.
- Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on J.D. Power issuer satisfaction study. A 5 rating indicates high satisfaction.
- Penalties (5%): Examines penalty rates and fees. A 5 rating means no penalty rates or fees.
- Foreign Transaction (5%): Assesses foreign transaction fees. A 5 rating indicates no foreign transaction fees.
- Intro Purchase (5%): Rates the 0% APR offer on purchases. A 5 rating indicates a long 0% APR period.
- Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the recommended credit score range. A 5 rating means the card is available to almost all credit scores.
Our comprehensive analysis allows us to accurately review and directly compare credit card features, empowering you with the information to make more informed financial decisions.
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.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Capital One. "Quicksilver Rewards for Students." Accessed November 5, 2024.
- Capital One. "Savor Rewards for Students." Accessed November 5, 2024.
- Discover. "Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card." Accessed November 5, 2024.
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