Selected from 1,500+ credit cards in March 2024
Updated Mar 8, 2024Fact checked
By:John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor
|Mar 8, 2024
Reviewed by:Alina Comoreanu, Senior Researcher
Fact checked
Back-to-school season is expensive. In fact, the average household is expected to spend $890 on school supplies this year, according to the National Retail Federation. But there are plenty of ways to save, especially if you start early and use the right credit card. WalletHub compared more than 1,500 credit card offers to identify the best options for back-to-school shoppers.
Best Back-to-School Credit Cards of 2024
Terms ApplyBest Overall:Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website- Best Cash Bonus:U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardU.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Best for Cash Back:Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardWells Fargo Active Cash® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best Intro APR:Wells Fargo Reflect® CardWells Fargo Reflect® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best for Online Shopping:Prime VisaPrime VisaLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best for One-Stop Shopping:Target Credit CardTarget Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Business:Capital One Spark 2% Cash PlusCapital One Spark 2% Cash PlusLearn MoreLearn More
- Students:Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
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Getting a head start on back-to-school shopping allows you to take full advantage of your state’ssales tax holiday. By shopping during this period, in which state sales taxes do not apply, you can save up to 7% in popular back-to-school categories.
Paying with the right credit card could save you hundreds of dollars on top of that. It might even cancel out your full back-to-school bill. From initial bonuses worth $250+ to 2% cash back on all purchases, there are plenty of great credit card deals available to parents this back-to-school season.
WalletHub tracks 1,500+ credit cards (other sites only consider a much smaller number of cards, so they naturally miss a lot of great cards)
WalletHub picks the best credit cards overall (other sites pick the best cards from their advertising partners)
WalletHub uses a sophisticated card rating system to objectively find the best cards (other sites’ picks are influenced by their own biases)
WalletHub has 100% editorial independence (other sites just provide a billboard for advertisers)
WalletHub does not have a conflict of interest (other sites are biased due to promoting their own lending and banking offers)
WalletHub has 15+ years of credit card experience (other sites simply don’t have the same expertise)
WalletHub's best credit card picks and ratings are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any issuer. Some offers may come from WalletHub's advertising partners. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
Parents with Good Credit
Best Back-to-School Credit Card Overall
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
4.0WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.0
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.7
User Reviews
3.9
Market Comparison
3.9
fees: 2.1
rewards: 4.3
cost: 4.6
Other Features: 0.0
Apply Now
Terms Apply|
Purchase intro APR
0% for 12 months
Transfer intro APR
0% for 12 months
Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0 intro 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards Rate
1 - 6% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$250
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Purchase intro APR
0% for 12 months
Transfer intro APR
0% for 12 months
Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0 intro 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards Rate
1 - 6% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$250
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Editors’ Thoughts
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the best back-to-school credit card of 2024 because it offers high cash back earning rates in all the right categories. In addition to a $250 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months, Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets, where parents can purchase a lot of school supplies. Cardholders also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, which could help you save on educational content and entertainment alike. There’s more, too. The 3% cash back that Blue Cash Preferred provides on purchases at U.S. gas stations and transit-related expenses can make getting your kids to and from school more affordable. All other purchases get you 1% cash back,received in the form of reward dollars (that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout).
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card has an annual fee of $0 intro the first year, then $95. Applicants need good credit or better for approval.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- $250 statement credit initial bonus offer
- Low intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- High rewards rate
Cons
- Annual fee starting second year
- Above-average regular APR
- 2.7% foreign-transaction fee
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Card for Flat-Rate Rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
4.4WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.4
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
5.0
User Reviews
3.1
Market Comparison
4.4
fees: 3.8
rewards: 4.7
cost: 4.7
Other Features: 0.0
Apply Now
Purchase intro APR
0% for 15 months from account opening
Transfer intro APR
0% for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Transfer Fee: 3% intro for 120 days, then up to 5% (min $5)
Regular APR
20.24% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% Cash Rewards
Bonus Offer
$200 Cash Rewards
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Purchase intro APR
0% for 15 months from account opening
Transfer intro APR
0% for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Transfer Fee: 3% intro for 120 days, then up to 5% (min $5)
Regular APR
20.24% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% Cash Rewards
Bonus Offer
$200 Cash Rewards
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Editors’ Thoughts
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best back-to-school credit cards because it rewards cardholders at the same high rate on purchases: 2% cash rewards. Plus, cardholders can get an initial bonus of $200 cash rewards after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
Wells Fargo Active Cash also has a $0 annual fee and offers a low introductory APR on purchases: 0% for 15 months from account opening. It requires at least good credit for approval.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- $200 cash rewards bonus
- $0 annual fee
- 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% introductory APR
Cons
- High regular APR
- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Card with 0% APR
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
4.2WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.2
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Finance New Purchases"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.8
User Reviews
3.2
Market Comparison
4.2
fees: 4.0
rewards: 0.0
cost: 4.0
APR: 5.0
Apply Now
Purchase intro APR
0% for 21 months from account opening
Transfer intro APR
0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Transfer Fee: 5% (min $5)
Regular APR
18.24% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Purchase intro APR
0% for 21 months from account opening
Transfer intro APR
0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Transfer Fee: 5% (min $5)
Regular APR
18.24% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Editors’ Thoughts
Using the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great way to avoid interest on big back-to-school expenses. It offers intro APRs of 0% for 21 months from account opening on new purchases and 0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. The balance transfer fee is 5% (min $5), but there is no annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- No membership fees
- 0% intro APR on purchases
- 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus
Cons
- No rewards
- No initial rewards bonus
- Balance transfer fee
- High regular APR
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Card for Online Shopping
Prime Visa
Prime Visa
4.1WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.1
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards (Store Cards)"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.2
Market Comparison
4.1
fees: 5.0
rewards: 4.0
cost: 4.1
Other Features: 0.0
Apply Now
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 5% Cash Rewards
Bonus Offer
$100 Amazon gift card
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 5% Cash Rewards
Bonus Offer
$100 Amazon gift card
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Editors’ Thoughts
The Prime Visa gives you a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval. You’ll also earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on Chase Travel purchases, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), as well as 1% back on all other purchases. There is no annual fee.
If you do not have Prime membership, then the Amazon Credit Card may be worth considering. It too has very good rewards and no annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- $100 Amazon gift card upon approval
- No annual credit card fee
- High rewards rate
- No foreign fee
Cons
- No intro APR on purchases
- No intro APR on balance transfers
- Requires good/excellent credit
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Card for a Cash Bonus
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
3.6WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
3.6
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Market Comparison
3.6
fees: 1.7
rewards: 3.9
cost: 4.3
Other Features: 0.0
Learn More
Regular APR
19.74% - 29.74% (V)
Annual Fee
$0 intro 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards Rate
1.5 - 6% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$250
Accepted Credit
Excellent
Regular APR
19.74% - 29.74% (V)
Annual Fee
$0 intro 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards Rate
1.5 - 6% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$250
Accepted Credit
Excellent
Editors’ Thoughts
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card is among the best back-to-school credit cards available to parents who want to earn a nice cash bonus in return for their initial spending. It offers $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 within 120 days of opening an account.
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card also gives 6% cash back on two retailers you choose (up to $1,500 in quarterly combined purchases), 3% back on one everyday category of your choice (up to $1,500 per quarter), 5.5% back on prepaid hotel and car reservations booked in the Rewards Center, as well as 1.5% back on all other purchases. Those rewards can pay dividends not only during back-to-school time, but throughout the rest of the school year as well.
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card has a $95 annual fee from second year on and it requires excellent credit for approval.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- High rewards rate
- $250 initial rewards bonus
- No membership fees first year
Cons
- Membership fees in the second year
- Spending caps on rewards
- No intro APR on purchases
- No intro APR on balance transfers
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Parents with Average/No Credit
Best Back-to-School Credit Card for Fair Credit
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
4.9WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.9
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
5.0
User Reviews
3.4
Market Comparison
5.0
fees: 5.0
rewards: 5.0
cost: 5.0
Other Features: 5.0
Apply Now
Transfer intro APR
0% for 18 months
Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$200
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Transfer intro APR
0% for 18 months
Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$200
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Editors’ Thoughts
The Citi Double Cash® Card is the best rewards credit card for people with fair credit because it gives 2% cash back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay for those purchases), plus 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. The Citi Double Cash Card also has a $0 annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- Offers 2% cash back
- $0 annual fee
- $200 initial rewards bonus
- Low intro APR on balance transfers
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- High regular APR
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Back-to-School Credit Card for No Credit with Bonus Rewards
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
3.9WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
3.9
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.7
User Reviews
3.5
Market Comparison
3.9
fees: 2.8
rewards: 5.0
cost: 4.0
Other Features: 4.5
Apply Now
Regular APR
30.74% (V)
Annual Fee
$39
Rewards Rate
1.5 - 5% Cash Back
Accepted Credit
Fair, Limited History
Regular APR
30.74% (V)
Annual Fee
$39
Rewards Rate
1.5 - 5% Cash Back
Accepted Credit
Fair, Limited History
Editors’ Thoughts
TheCapital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best rewards credit card for people with limited credit. Capital One QuicksilverOne gives 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. It has a $39 annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Available to people with limited or fair credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $39 annual fee
- Above-average regular APR
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Card with Cash Back Rewards for No Credit
Chase Freedom Rise℠
Chase Freedom Rise℠
4.5WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.5
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Improve Credit"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
5.0
Market Comparison
4.4
fees: 5.0
rewards: 5.0
cost: 4.5
APR: 3.1
Other Features: 5.0
Apply Now
Regular APR
26.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1.5% Cash Back
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Limited History
Regular APR
26.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1.5% Cash Back
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Limited History
Editors’ Thoughts
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ is the best rewards credit card for people with limited credit. The Chase Freedom Rise℠ gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has a $0 annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- No membership fees
- Qualify with limited or no credit history
- Does not require security deposit
Cons
- High regular APR
- Foreign fee
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Store Credit Card
Target Credit Card
Target Credit Card
3.7WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
3.7
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards (Store Cards)"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
5.0
User Reviews
3.7
Market Comparison
3.5
fees: 5.0
rewards: 3.4
cost: 3.3
Other Features: 0.0
Learn More
Regular APR
29.95% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% discount
Bonus Offer
$50
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Regular APR
29.95% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% discount
Bonus Offer
$50
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Editors’ Thoughts
This store card saves you 5% on every purchase made at the superstore, offers free shipping for online purchases and extends your window for returns by 30 days. Plus, there’s no annual fee, and you get $50 off a future qualifying purchase over $50.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- No membership fees
- $50 initial rewards bonus
- Qualify with fair credit
Cons
- High regular APR
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Store Credit Card
Kohl's Credit Card *
Kohl's Credit Card *
4.3WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.3
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Earn Rewards (Store Cards)"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.8
User Reviews
3.8
Market Comparison
4.3
fees: 5.0
rewards: 4.2
cost: 4.5
Other Features: 0.0
Learn More
Regular APR
31.24% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
7.5% in Rewards
Bonus Offer
35% discount
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Regular APR
31.24% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
7.5% in Rewards
Bonus Offer
35% discount
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
Editors’ Thoughts
The Kohl's Credit Card gives you a 35% discount on your first purchase and 7.5% back in rewards on every qualifying purchase made at Kohl's. Plus, there’s no annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- No membership fees
- 35% discount initial rewards bonus
- Qualify with fair credit
Cons
- High regular APR
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Students
Best Back-to-School Credit Card for Students
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
5.0WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
5.0
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Build Credit by Paying in Full Each Month (Students)"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.7
Market Comparison
5.0
fees: 5.0
rewards: 5.0
cost: 5.0
Other Features: 5.0
Apply Now
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 8% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$50
Accepted Credit
Fair, Limited History
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 8% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$50
Accepted Credit
Fair, Limited History
Editors’ Thoughts
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best back-to-school credit card for students because it can help young people save money and build credit, both during back-to-school season and beyond. For starters, it offers an initial bonus of $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months. Students can also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), along with 1% back on all other purchases (except for 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024).
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, and it’s available to students with limited credit.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- No membership fees
- High rewards rate
- Earn $50 initial rewards bonus
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Potential for a high interest rate
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Parents Who Own a Small Business
Small business credit cards often provide excellent rewards, and parents who own a small business could use such a card to save big during back-to-school season.
Best No Annual Fee Business Card for Back-to-School Spending
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
3.9WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
3.9
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Business - Earn Rewards"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
5.0
User Reviews
3.7
Market Comparison
3.7
fees: 3.8
rewards: 3.7
cost: 4.0
Other Features: 0.0
Apply Now
Purchase intro APR
0% for 12 months
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 5% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$750
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Purchase intro APR
0% for 12 months
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% (V)
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1 - 5% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$750
Accepted Credit
Excellent, Good
Editors’ Thoughts
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is the best business credit card with rewards and a $0 annual fee. It offers an initial bonus of $750 for spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, cardholders can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent per year in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent per year at gas stations and restaurants combined; and 1% back on all other purchases.
In addition, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers an introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases. The regular APR is 18.49% - 24.49% (V).
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- $750 initial bonus
- 1 - 5% cash back on purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Low intro APR on purchases
Cons
- 18.49% - 24.49% (V) regular APR
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Business Credit Card for Back-to-School Purchases
Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus *
Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus *
4.3WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.3
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated the card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need most relevant to this page ("Business - Earn Rewards"). The rating for this card may vary on other pages where a different need is used. A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive.
Editor’s Rating
4.8
Market Comparison
4.2
fees: 2.9
rewards: 4.7
cost: 4.5
Other Features: 0.0
Learn More
Regular APR
Not Applicable
Annual Fee
$150
Rewards Rate
2 - 5% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$3,000
Accepted Credit
Excellent
Regular APR
Not Applicable
Annual Fee
$150
Rewards Rate
2 - 5% Cash Back
Bonus Offer
$3,000
Accepted Credit
Excellent
Editors’ Thoughts
Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus offers an initial bonus of up to $3,000: $1,500 for spending $20,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $1,500 for spending $100,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, all purchases yield 2% cash back, and the card has a $150 annual fee.
Pros, Cons & More Details
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Earn up to $3,000 initial rewards bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High membership fees
- Requires excellent credit
- Must be paid in full each month
Editors' Thoughts and More Details Pros, Cons & Details
Best Back-to-School Credit Cards Comparison
| Credit Card | Best For | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Overall | $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after | Good |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash Back | $0 | Good |
| U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card | Cash Bonus | $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after | Excellent |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | Intro APR | $0 | Good |
| Prime Visa | Online Shopping | $0 | Good |
| Target Credit Card | One-Stop Shopping | $0 | Fair |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | Fair Credit | $0 | Fair |
| Chase Freedom Rise℠ | No Credit | $0 | Limited History |
| Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see Rates & Fees) | Students | $0 | Limited History |
| Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus* | Parents with a Small Business | $150 | Excellent |
Back-to-School Savings Tips
Shopping during sales and paying with the right credit card are two important ways to save on back-to-school shopping. But they aren’t the only ones. Here are some more tips for starting the school year with an “A” in personal finance:
- Stick to a Budget – It’s hard to avoid overspending if you don’t have both a shopping list and a budget. So before heading to the store, make a list of what you need and do a quick search to see how much each item costs. This will help you make an overall back-to-school budget and decide how to allocate the funds. And that will give you a sense of whether you can afford to splurge on certain items as well as make it easier to avoid impulse buys.
- Comparison Shop – It’s easier than ever to shop around for the best deals. So it’s worth doing, at least for big-ticket items. Similarly, don’t rule out shopping online for fear of shipping charges. More and more retailers are offering free shipping options. And you may enjoy the added benefit of shopping tax-free without being limited to a few-day window.
- Avoid Trends – Buying the “latest” goods — from the computers to clothing styles — is a great way to overspend. Saving is the name of the game at back-to-school time, so concentrate on things that were “hot” — last year. Such items will have cheaper starting prices and are more likely to be on sale as well. All you’ll need to do is convince your children that vintage is cool.
- Don’t Go Overboard on Electronics – Kids these days have access to more types of electronics than ever before, and it’s easy for a young person to convince themselves that they need each of these toys. They may even try to convince you that they’ll use the computers, tablets, smart watches, and even video games to learn rather than for games and social media. Your job is to bring some discipline to the back-to-school process. Some popular electronics do have academic applications, but make sure not to acquiesce to every request. Perhaps choose to give your child one of the things they have their eye on, but maybe for their birthday or the holidays, rather than giving them instant gratification.
- Make One Trip – Buying everything you need for the new school year in one fell swoop will help reduce the stress and time involved in the process. Doing so will also help you take full advantage of sales tax holidays as well as the one-time discounts that many store cards offer. Keep in mind that we mean you should make only one trip to a physical store. Shopping online is more accessible and can be used to supplement anything you may forget.
- Buy in Bulk – Looking way ahead can pay extra big dividends. So what school supplies will your child need throughout the whole year? Buying more now will likely get you better prices overall, considering that back-to-school sales don’t last all year.
- Save for College – Why not use back-to-school season as an annual reminder to contribute money to your child’s college fund and evaluate your saving progress? After all, it’s the best gift you could give your child, both educationally and economically speaking. For a complete breakdown of the best ways to save for college, check out our Guide to College Savings Funds.
Methodologyfor Selecting the Best Back-to-School Credit Cards
To identify the best back-to-school credit cards for parents each year, WalletHub’s editors compare more than 1,500 credit card offers based on their rewards, fees, APRs, initial bonuses, approval requirements and overall suitability for back-to-school season. In particular, we focus on cards with benefits conducive to saving on school supplies, clothing, electronics, and other key purchase categories. The qualifying cards with the lowest two-year cost are ultimately selected.
How Two-Year Cost Is Calculated
Two-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).
Cardholder Spending Profiles
Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for consumers and PEX data for businesses.
Best Back-to-School Credit Cards FAQ
Finding the best credit card can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
Can an 18 year old high school student get a credit card?
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Bogdan Roberts, Credit Cards Moderator
@bogdan_roberts
Yes, an 18 year old high school student can get a credit card, as long as they meet the card's minimum requirements. While most credit cards accept applications from anyone who is at least 18 years old, there are also other requirements taken into account, like credit history and income.
While anyone who is at least 18 can technically get a credit card, the CARD Act emphasizes that applicants under the age of 21 need to...
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What are the best credit cards for school fees?
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Ryan P Page, Staff Writer
@ryan_page
The best credit card for school fees is the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card because it allows cardholders to pay down purchases interest-free with an APR of 0% for 21 months from account opening. Additionally, the card offers 0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers.
Just bear in mind that Wells Fargo Reflect requires at least good credit for approval. While most students will not be eligible for the card, parents who have big tuition payments might want to consider applying. Also, balance transfers are subject to a fee: 5% (min $5). And the...
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Can I use my credit card to pay school fees?
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Is it better to pay tuition with credit or debit?
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