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Capital One SavorOne Student Card: Superb Rewards for Students

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card review
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is geared toward college students with limited credit.
  • What we think: We consider the SavorOne Student Card to be one of the best student credit cards out there, with no annual fee and unlimited cash-back rewards in categories students can easily benefit from.
  • Most purchases earn 1% cash back, but you can earn more for qualifying travel, entertainment, dining and purchases at grocery stores.
  • The SavorOne student card includes a welcome bonus and a variety of other perks.
SUMMARY

If you’re a college student and you want to build your credit, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card delivers. Earn up to 3% cash back for everyday purchases, and make even more with bookings in Capital One’s travel and entertainment portals. The best part? You don’t need to worry about an annual fee with this student credit card.

Can you get approved for SavorOne if you don’t have a credit history? How much can you earn in rewards? 

In this SavorOne student card review, we’ll cover everything you need to know before you decide to apply:

  • Earning and redeeming rewards
  • Cardholder benefits
  • Fees, interest rates and credit limit
PROS & CONS

Pros

  • Good cash back rewards & welcome bonus
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Highest cash back requires booking through Capital One
  • Possible high APR depending on credit worthiness
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
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Key Information
Earn unlimited 3% back on eligible grocery, restaurant, streaming, and entertainment purchases. Earn 1% back on everything else. No annual fee.

Is the Capital One SavorOne Student card worth it?

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is definitely worth it for college students with fair credit. With the SavorOne student card, you can get unlimited cash-back rewards, a welcome bonus and a range of travel and entertainment perks — all with a $0 annual fee. 

It’s important to note that this Capital One card comes with a high annual percentage rate (APR). However, if you manage the card wisely, it can be an effective way to earn rewards and build your credit.

Pros and cons of the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card

Pros
  • Unlimited cash rewards
  • $0 annual fee
  • Available welcome bonus
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Flexible reward redemption
Cons
  • High APR
  • No introductory APR

Learn more about Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards credit card rewards

The SavorOne student card rewards you for every purchase. You can redeem those rewards for cash or use them to make purchases through Capital One’s portals and partners. 

Welcome bonus

If you spend $100 in the first three months after you open a SavorOne credit card, Capital One will reward you with a $50 cash bonus. This bonus is available to new account holders.

Earn Capital One SavorOne Student card rewards

The SavorOne card for students offers cash-back rewards. There’s no cap on earnings, so you can accumulate an unlimited amount of cash back during the lifetime of the account.

Here’s a look at what you’ll earn for each purchase category:

With SavorOne rewards for students, you can earn more when you make purchases in categories with elevated earnings rates. With this rewards credit card, buy $200 concert tickets through Capital One Entertainment, for example, and you’ll get $16 cash back.

Before you start shopping, it’s important to note that Capital One has a few exclusions to these rewards. The grocery store category does not include superstores, which means that if you shop for food at Target or Walmart, you won’t earn 3% back. In the streaming category, Capital One excludes AT&T TV and Amazon Prime Video; fitness subscriptions and audiobook services are also excluded. Likewise, the entertainment category does not include college sporting events, cable service or golf courses.

Do you have friends or family members who are searching for a new card? If you refer them through your Capital One account, you can earn referral bonuses of up to $500 every year.

Redeem Capital One SavorOne Student card rewards

The rewards you earn with the SavorOne student card never expire. You can redeem them as they appear in your account or let them build up over time.

When you’re ready to redeem rewards, there are a few ways to do so:

1

Cash.

You can choose from two cash options: redeem your rewards as a statement credit to reduce your balance or request a paper check.

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2

Travel.

With Capital One Travel, you can use your rewards to pay for bookings.

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3

Gift cards.

Capital One enables you to buy gift cards with your rewards from a wide variety of retailers.

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4

Amazon purchases.

When you connect your Capital One account to your Amazon account, you can pay for purchases using your cash rewards.

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5

PayPal.

Link your SavorOne card to your PayPal account to use rewards as a payment method.

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Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card benefits

In addition to rewards, the SavorOne student credit card comes with a variety of benefits. Some are provided directly by Capital One. Others come through Mastercard.

Travel perks

With the SavorOne card for students, you’ll earn travel benefits such as:

Protections

Some protections included with the SavorOne student card include:

Other benefits

As a Capital One SavorOne student cardholder, you’ll also get access to:

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card fees, rates & limit

When you’re building your credit as a student, it’s critical to understand the rates and fees for each credit card you have. Let’s take a look at the terms of the SaverOne credit card for students.

Capital One SavorOne Student card fees

One of the biggest advantages of the SavorOne student card is that it has no annual fee. Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, which can save you money if you’re planning to study abroad or take an international spring break.

Capital One does not typically offer an intro APR for this credit card. If they do and you decide to transfer a balance from another card during the promo period, you’ll be charged a fee that equals 4% of the transferred amount. Outside of any promotional period that may be offered, there’s no fee to transfer a balance. However, the amount will be charged at the transfer APR rate.

Thinking about using your card at an ATM to get a cash advance? Consider it carefully; you’ll be charged either $5 or 5% of the amount (whichever is more) to make the withdrawal, and the advance will also come with a higher APR.

Capital One SavorOne Student card interest rates

The SavorOne card has a high interest rate. Depending on your credit profile and the information you provide in your application, your variable APR will be 19.99%, 26.24% or 29.99%. The same goes for your transfer APR.

Here’s an overview of the different variable APRs available with the SavorOne student credit card:

Regular APR Purchase Intro APR Balance Transfer Intro APR Balance Transfer APR Cash Advance APR
19.99%, 26.24% or 29.99% N/A N/A 19.99%, 26.24% or 29.99% 29.99%

Capital One SavorOne Student card credit limit

The credit limit on your SavorOne student card will vary based on factors such as your credit score, income, debt and other information you provide. If you’re new to credit cards, the limit may be low. However, Capital One typically reviews your account periodically — potentially in as few as six months — and considers you for a credit limit increase. You can also call to request an increase. Either way, an increase is not guaranteed.

How the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card compares

In the world of student credit cards, the Capital One SavorOne is a good option. With its $0 annual fee, unlimited rewards and higher earning potential in popular categories like entertainment and restaurants, it can help you earn more on things you’re already buying.

Getting approved might be a little more challenging than it is for other student credit cards. Many of these products don’t require you to have a credit score; the SavorOne requires you to have at least some history with credit. This might include a personal loan in your name or authorized user status on a parent’s credit card. And while Capital One offers a welcome bonus, it isn’t as generous as some other cards.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Like the Capital One SavorOne Student card, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a cash-back rewards card with a $0 annual fee. The two cards also have identical welcome offers.

The primary difference between these two Capital One products is the way they earn rewards. While the SavorOne has different earnings rates for a variety of categories, the student Quicksilver card offers a flat rate of 1.5% for all purchases. It might be a good option if you don’t want to keep track of rewards categories or if you don’t spend much on travel, entertainment and restaurants.

Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card review

Is the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card right for me?

The SavorOne student card might be a good fit if you’re a college student and you want to earn cash-back rewards as you learn how to build credit. You should also have at least some credit history, as this will help increase your odds of approval. 

To see the biggest benefits from this card, particularly when it comes to building your credit, it’s a good idea to pay off the balance every month. With responsible use, you may gain access to a higher credit limit over time.

If you’re still unsure if the SavorOne student card is the best credit card for you, you may want to consider these other options: 

Capital One is more than just a credit card issuer

The first step in growing and maintaining consistent savings is to understand your personal finances through checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and more.

If you want to save and grow your money, consider the following Capital One products:

How do I apply for the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card?

You can learn about the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and apply online. 

To qualify for this card, you must be an enrolled or admitted student. It doesn’t matter if you’re a full-time or part-time student, but the university or community college must be accredited. In addition, you’ll need fair credit. According to Capital One, this means that in the past three years, you’ve had a different credit card or another type of credit.

When applying, you’ll need to provide a variety of details:

Capital One’s SSN/ITIN requirement may exclude some international students.

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FAQ: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card

Is the Capital One SavorOne Student card good for students?

Yes, the SavorOne student card is designed specifically for college students who have a limited credit history. It enables you to earn rewards and avoid an annual fee.

Is the Capital One SavorOne Student card good for building credit?

As long as you use it responsibly, the SavorOne card can help you build credit. You can maximize the benefits by paying your bill on time and paying off the balance regularly.

What credit score do you need to apply for the Capital One SavorOne Student?

There are no specific credit scores for the Capital One SavorOne card. Instead, it’s designed for students with fair credit. That usually means that you’ve had some type of credit — another credit card, for example, or a personal loan — but not for longer than three years.

How old do you need to be to apply for the Capital One SavorOne Student card?

You must be 18 to apply for the SavorOne student credit card.

How much income do I need for the Capital One SavorOne Student card?

Capital One will consider you for the SavorOne student card if your monthly income is at least $425 more than your rent or mortgage payment.

Is there a limit to the amount of rewards I can earn?

You can earn an unlimited number of rewards with the Capital One SavorOne student credit card.

Can I keep my student card once I graduate?

You can keep the SavorOne student credit card when you graduate, even if you apply for a higher-tier card.

Is the Capital One SavorOne student card a Visa or Mastercard?

The SavorOne student card is a Mastercard, so it should be accepted almost anywhere that takes credit cards, including internationally!

Can I upgrade my SavorOne student card?

Yes! If you’ve had the Capital One SavorOne student card for several months and your account is in good standing, you may be eligible for an upgrade. You can call the number on the back of your card to ask a representative if you’re eligible, or you may receive an offer on your Capital One online account.

Elizabeth Smith
Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith is an experienced travel and finance writer who specializes in topics including credit cards, travel insurance, and personal finance. Travel insurance, in particular, has both professional and personal significance for Smith. She’s traveled to 73 countries, and has extensive experience choosing and using various policies — she understands how valuable the right plan can be in an emergency, and loves to help readers find the perfect fit.

Smith comes to the world of finance from a scientific and technical background. She spent more than 10 years writing about engineering, science, and technology for universities and private companies. When she’s not writing or traveling, Smith can usually be found hiking or Nordic skiing.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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