Chase Freedom Student Card Review: No Longer Available, but Solid Incentives for Students

Ongoing rewards, easy-to-snag sign-up bonus

Every bit of value helps when you’re juggling the cost of books, tuition, rent and everyday expenses. The Chase Freedom® Student credit card earns 1% cash back on purchases. Plus, if your account is in good standing, you may also qualify for an extra $20 after each account anniversary for the first five years.

And while student credit cards aren’t known for handing out sign-up bonuses, this one does. It's not the richest around, but it's quite easy to get. Earn a $50 Bonus after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening. Unlike with some other cards, you don’t have to meet a minimum spending requirement to earn it.

These kinds of rewards can potentially cover groceries for a week or some pizza delivery as you study for finals.

No credit history required

According to Chase, a credit history isn't an eligibility requirement for the Chase Freedom® Student credit card. However, you do need to be a student, and Chase may verify your enrollment status. Also, it's important to keep in mind that simply being a student doesn't guarantee that you'll be approved — and that goes for all student credit cards. And if you're younger than 21, you'll need to show proof of independent income when applying.

A report to all three credit bureaus

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card reports to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. This is a must-have benefit for a starter card since these companies record the information used to calculate your credit scores.

Lenders look at those scores when weighing creditworthiness to determine whether you're likely to pay them back. A credit score of 690 or higher can open doors to lower interest rates on auto or home loans, for example. It can also help you qualify when applying for your first apartment.

A potential credit limit increase

The card also offers qualifying cardholders an automatic credit limit increase after making five monthly payments on time within 10 months of opening the account. Terms apply. A credit limit increase can have a positive impact on your credit score because it can reduce the percentage of available credit you’re using. This is known as your credit utilization ratio, and it factors into your credit scores.

A possible product change after before or after graduation

Another feature ideal for a student credit card is a path to upgrade to a regular credit card with the same issuer — ideally a card with better benefits and incentives. While Chase doesn’t offer an automatic path to upgrade, it does offer a possible route. After your first anniversary as a card holder, you can potentially switch (or product-change) your Chase Freedom® Student credit card to a different Chase card, depending on eligibility, a Chase spokesperson confirmed.

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card has a flat rewards rate that's in line with the 1% that some other student cards offer, but it's possible to find higher rates, introductory APRs, or other benefits.

Here are a few reasons why you might consider a different credit card:

Other cards offer more robust bonuses

For richer ongoing rewards, consider the $0-annual-fee Discover it® Student Cash Back, which offers 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter (1% back on all other purchases). Previous categories have included restaurants, grocery stores, Lyft and Uber, to name a few.

There’s also a potentially healthy sign-up offer, which Discover phrases this way: "INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match." Discover notes that there's no FICO history requirement for this card.

Other cards offer higher ongoing rewards

You may also consider some of Capital One’s student credit cards. The $0-annual-fee Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Its sibling card, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, is also an excellent choice for everyday purchases. It earns 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% back on dining, entertainment, eligible streaming services and purchases at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). All other purchases earn 1% cash back. You won’t get an introductory offer with these options, but the rewards rates are generous in comparison to other student credit cards.

There's no 0% intro APR offer

If you're looking to finance a large purchase like textbooks or move-in expenses, a better choice might be the Discover it® Student Cash Back. It offers new cardholders a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-26.74% Variable APR.

The $0-annual-fee Discover it® Student Chrome offers similar terms, and its rewards structure might be a little easier to keep track of. The card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. All other purchases earn 1% back. You don’t need a FICO history to qualify for it.

It's not ideal if you're an international student

Like most credit cards, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card requires a Social Security number or an ITIN to apply. This requirement may present an obstacle for some international students. In that case, consider an option like the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students, which doesn't require a Social Security number from international students. The issuer can use its own underwriting process to evaluate applications based on alternative data. The card earns 1% cash back on all purchases, and it also offers some perks like one year of Amazon Prime for those who qualify and a cell phone protection benefit. It has a $0 annual fee. Terms apply.

It's not a good travel companion abroad

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card isn't the best fit for U.S. students who intend to study abroad. While it's widely accepted internationally by merchants as part of the Visa payment network, it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can add up.

Other credit cards skip this fee. Capital One, for instance, doesn't charge foreign transaction fees on any cards.