Citi Student Credit Card Benefits: A Comprehensive Guide
Building credit as a college student is an essential step toward a life of financial responsibility. Opening your own line of credit as a young adult can be daunting, but the short- and long-term benefits are undeniable. In the not-so-distant future, having a line of credit attached to your name will be important when you apply for a car loan, apartment, or mortgage.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits associated with Citi student credit cards, including the Citi Strata Card, the now-closed Citi Rewards+® Student Card, and the Citi Custom Cash® Card. We will also discuss general student credit card options and important factors to consider when choosing the right card for your needs.
Citi Strata Card
The Citi Strata Card is an entry-level credit card that rewards you on life’s essentials, like supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants. It also offers valuable and unique perks, such as earning points in an eligible Self-Select category of your choice.
Earning Rewards
The Citi Strata Card offers many opportunities to earn ThankYou® Points on qualifying purchases. Get rewarded while enjoying great perks like access to Citi Travel and 3X Points on an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice.
Redemption Options
The Citi Strata Card offers more than the ability to earn points on purchases. Go to thankyou.com to redeem your points for cash back in the form of a check, statement credit, or direct deposit. Gift cards are also available.
Read also: Comprehensive guide to World Citi Colleges programs
Is This Card Right for You?
The Citi Strata Card might be right for you if you’re looking for a card with no annual fee and the ability to earn rewards on eligible everyday spending in categories like supermarkets, gas, transit, restaurants, and more.
Important Pricing Information
- Intro APR: % Intro APR for months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening.
- Variable APR: After the introductory period, the variable APR for unpaid promotional balances, new purchases, and new balance transfers is % - %, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is % - %, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to % will apply.
- Cash Advance APR: The variable APR for cash advances is %.
- Penalty APR: The variable penalty APR is up to % and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned.
- Minimum Interest Charge: $.
- Annual Fee: None.
- Cash Advance Fee: Either $ or % of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Balance Transfer Fee: Intro fee of % of each transfer ($ minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening.
Citi Rewards+® Student Card (No Longer Available)
The Citi Rewards+® Student Card stopped accepting applications in April 2025. However, it's worth reviewing its features as an example of a student credit card.
Basics
- Annual fee: $0
- Sign-up bonus: Earn 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $50 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Rewards
- 2 ThankYou® points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations (for the first $6,000 spent per year).
- 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
- 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points redeemed per year.
- Rewards are rounded up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
Redemption Options
You can redeem points for things like gift cards, travel, statement credits (for eligible purchases only) and shopping online with points at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com. But point values vary depending on how you redeem them. If you redeem for gift cards, points are generally worth about 1 cent each. But redemption via Amazon will net you a point value of only about 0.8 cent each.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a unique approach to earning rewards by automatically adjusting to your spending habits each billing cycle.
How it Works
Use the Citi Custom Cash® Card for all your purchases. Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus: Earn 4% additional cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
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Eligible Categories
5% eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment.
Redemption
Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou® Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 5 points per $1 on purchases in your top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Redeem your points for cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit or check. Or explore other ways to redeem points including for gift cards, travel and Shop with Points at Amazon.com
Additional Benefits
- Alerts: Alerts keep you informed and stress-free.
- Digital Wallets: Digital Wallets let you shop with confidence in millions of places online, within apps and in stores.
- Citi Mobile® App: The Citi Mobile® App gives you access to your account virtually anywhere, anytime.
- Choose Your Due Date: Choose to pay your bill on any available due date in the beginning, middle or end of the month.
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection: Offered by Mastercard, this program helps eliminate the worry of identity theft by monitoring and alerting cardholders if suspicious activity is found.
- Zero Liability: You're completely protected against unauthorized charges on your account.
- FICO® Score: View your FICO® Score anytime, with no impact to your score.
- Fraud Early Warning: Fraud Early Warning monitors your account for suspicious activity.
- Citi® Quick Lock: Misplaced your card? Use Citi® Quick Lock to instantly block new charges.
- 24/7 Customer Service: Our customer service representatives are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Citi Entertainment: Let Citi Entertainment bring the fun to you.
Important Pricing Information
- Variable APR: After the introductory period ends, your standard APR for purchases will be applied to unpaid promotional balances, new purchases and new balance transfers. The standard variable APR for purchases for th>® Card is % to % based on your creditworthiness. The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is % to %, based on your creditworthiness. The standard variable APR for cash advances is %. The variable penalty APR is up to % and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned.
- Minimum Interest Charge: - $.
- Annual Fee: - None.
- Fee for foreign purchases: - % of each purchase transaction in US dollars.
- Cash advance fee: - either $ or % of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Balance transfer fee: - either $ or % of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Other Student Credit Card Options
From valuable cash-back credit cards perfect for a student with an existing (but limited) credit history to student credit cards designed specifically for first-timers with no credit at all, here you'll find the perfect mix of no-annual-fee credit cards tailored to student needs.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for students with established credit
- Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for most college students
- Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for studying abroad
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash-back
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for students with good grades
How Student Credit Cards Work
Student credit cards are geared toward individuals 18 and older who don't yet have a credit history or a credit card in their name. For this reason, they're typically much easier to be approved for and often do not require a good or excellent preexisting credit score. For the most part, student credit cards work the same way that most credit cards work. You're provided with a credit limit representing the maximum amount of money you can borrow on that specific card for that month.
You must pay back the borrowed amount by the due date on your credit card statement to avoid interest. For this reason, it's important to remember that credit cards are not free money.
Read also: Understanding Student Credit Card Perks
While managing your own finances and having a credit card in your name are big steps toward being an independent adult, make sure to check your account frequently and keep track of your spending to help get your FICO score off on the right foot.
Building Credit as a Student: Key Terminology
Before building credit as a student, get familiar with the world of credit cards and rewards. Begin by checking your credit reports for free, and make sure to find a card that fits your score, needs and spending habits. Understand credit card terminology, including the following terms:
- Annual fee: Although student credit cards usually do not have an annual fee, many premium rewards credit cards require an annual fee for maintaining a card in your name.
- Credit limit: After getting approved for a credit card, you will receive a credit limit. This is the maximum amount of money that the issuer will extend to you on this specific credit line during that payment cycle. The percentage of your limit you use - called the credit utilization ratio - plays a role in your credit score.
- Rewards: Many credit cards offer rewards in the form of cash-back, points or airline miles. There are many redemption options that range from using your rewards for a statement credit on your account to elaborate travel redemptions through transfer partners.
- Foreign transaction fees: Some credit cards incur fees when you use them outside the United States. These fees will generally cancel out any rewards you earn on the purchase, so be sure to swipe cards that waive foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Tips for Parents About Student Credit Cards
Helping your teen get their first credit card can be a nerve-wracking but worthwhile process. Teaching your children how to utilize credit responsibly is a valuable skill for their financial lives - and your peace of mind. If you aren't comfortable with your student opening their own line of credit, you can always add them to your personal account as an authorized user. Even though you'll be the sole debtor and responsible for paying the actual statement balance each month, adding your child to your account has significant benefits. Most importantly, as long as the account is managed properly, your children will likely get boosts to their personal credit scores and add more depth to their credit histories.
FAQs About Student Credit Cards
Do I need a job to qualify for a student credit card?
While most credit card applications require you to input your annual income, you do not need a formal job title to be considered for most student credit cards. Many part-time jobs, internships and personal freelance work are acceptable as a form of income when applying for a student credit card. If you have little or no income, consider having a parent or guardian add you as an authorized user to their account. Getting approved for any credit card, even secured credit cards, is very difficult without any meaningful income.
If you're under the age of 21 and can't prove that you are eligible for a credit card, then you may have the opportunity to get a co-signer (usually a parent or guardian) who can take responsibility for your payments should you fail to make them at any point. However, keep in mind that this could affect both the student's and the co-signer's credit scores on the account, as even one missed payment can significantly impact your credit score.
What do I do if I get denied for a credit card?
Getting denied for a credit card can be disheartening, but it certainly shouldn't be the end of your credit journey. Issuers technically have 30 days to respond to a credit card application. Banks have a reconsideration line where customers may challenge their decision on a credit card application. Before calling, ensure your correct identification and income information are on hand to field any questions the representative might have. The worst that can happen is that the issuer's decision is not overturned. In that case, your credit score will likely fall by only a few points due to the hard inquiry on your credit, but these are temporary drops, and scores typically rebound quickly.
What happens to my student card after I graduate?
I generally recommend keeping your first credit card open permanently. That said, you may worry that your student card will be closed after you graduate. After all, it's meant for students, not working professionals. Fortunately, credit issuers will usually reclassify your student card instead of closing it. Your account will stay the same, but the issuer will provide you with the non-student version of your card. Alternatively, the issuer may allow you to keep the student card despite being a graduate, like with Discover. As you move on to bigger and better cards, remember to occasionally put a purchase on your old student card. Issuers may cut your credit limit or even close your account if you don't use your card for a long period of time.
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