Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students review

Quicksilver Student is the simplest rewards card here. Every purchase earns unlimited 1.5% cash back, so textbooks, rent paid by card, phone bills and coffee all earn the same rate with nothing to activate. Capital One adds a one-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 within 3 months of opening the account, and rewards do not expire for the life of the account. There is no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, which makes it a practical card for a semester abroad. The card is open to students at 4-year universities, community colleges and other higher education institutions, and it stays with you after graduation with the same rewards. The purchase rate is 18.74% to 28.74% variable, so it only pays off if you clear the balance each month. Compared with Savor Student, it earns less on food and entertainment but more on everything outside those categories.

Who it is for

students who want one rate on everything

Price

$0 annual fee; no foreign transaction fees.

Annual Fee $0
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
• One-time $50 cash bonus after $100 in purchases within 3 months of account opening
• No foreign transaction fees
• Rewards never expire for the life of the account and can be redeemed in any amount
• Open to students at 4-year universities, community colleges and other higher education institutions

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Nothing to activate or track
• Strength: Same $50 welcome bonus as Savor Student
• Strength: No foreign transaction fees
• Weakness: 1.5% earns less than Savor Student on groceries and dining
• Weakness: Purchase APR of 18.74% to 28.74% variable
• Weakness: No intro APR on purchases shown on the card page

Key facts

• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards: 1.5% on every purchase
• Welcome bonus: $50 after $100 in 3 months
• Purchase APR: 18.74% to 28.74% variable
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Where it ranks

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students is No. 3 in our Best Credit Cards For Students verdict.