Best for students
Chase Freedom Rise®*
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The Chase Freedom Rise® is an ideal starter card for students, providing many benefits from the full-fledged Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. The main drawback is that you can only apply in person at a Chase branch. Chase also recommends having a checking or savings account with at least $250 to improve your approval odds. You’ll also earn a statement credit for setting up automatic payments, which can help you graduate to the Freedom Unlimited card after 12 months.
Pros
- You’ll get many features of the Freedom Unlimited, one of the top no-annual-fee rewards cards.
- You’ll get Chase’s excellent travel protection with this card.
Cons
- You can only apply for this card in a Chase branch.
- It has a high APR that can make carrying a balance expensive for students.