7 Best Credit Cards for Medical Students

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As a medical student, you have a lot on your plate. You’re studying for exams, managing a hectic clinical schedule, and trying to keep your head above water financially.

One way to ease the financial burden is to use a credit card that offers rewards and perks for your spending.

To help you find the best credit card for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of the best options for medical students.

Whether you’re looking for a card with no annual fee, a low-interest rate, or generous rewards, we’ve got you covered.

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Best Starter Credit Card

No Annual Fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
  • Earn an Additional 1.5% on All Purchases Up to $20,000 in the First Year ($300 Max Bonus)
  • 5% Cash Back on Travel Purchased Via Chase
  • 3% Cash Back at Restaurants and Drug Stores
  • 1.5% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months (After the Intro Period, a Variable APR of 19.49% – 28.24% Applies)
  • Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
  • No Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good no-annual fee credit card option that offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back at restaurants, takeout, eligible delivery services, and on drugstore purchases. Plus it offers 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

The card also offers nice benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and secondary rental car insurance.

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best Beginner Travel Card

Great Starter Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards Bonus Points for Spending $4,000 in the First 3 Months
  • 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
  • 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
  • 3x Points on Select Streaming and Online Grocery (excluding Walmart, Target, and Wholesale Clubs)
  • 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
  • 10% Anniversary Points Boost
  • Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
  • Primary Rental Car Insurance
  • $95 Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses. 

For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases. 

Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription, and a $50- anniversary hotel statement credit. 

Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans. 

3. Bilt Rewards

Best for Rent Payments

No Annual Fee
Bilt Mastercard®
  • Pay Rent Without Fees and Earn 1 Point Per Dollar on Rent (up to 50,000 Points Per Calendar Year)
  • No Annual Fee
  • 3x Points on Dining
  • 2x Points on Travel
  • Transfer Rewards to Airlines and Hotels
  • Cell Phone, Primary Rental Car, and Trip Delay Insurance
Learn More Our Review

Bilt Mastercard® is a no-annual-fee credit card that allows you to pay rent without a transaction fee and earn 1 point per dollar on rent (up to 50,000 points per calendar year).

You also earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points everywhere else.

The Bilt Rewards card also has great benefits for a no-annual fee card, including cell phone insurance, primary rental car insurance, 90-day purchase protection, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. 

Plus, you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners such as United Airlines, American Airlines, and World of Hyatt. Or redeem the points for travel or at Amazon.

4. Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer

Best for Cash Back With No Annual Fee

2% Cash Back & No Annual Fee
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 Month BT Offer
  • 2% Cash Back (1% on Purchases, 1% When You Pay)
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After That, a Variable APR of 18.49% – 28.49%
  • No Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer boasts a strong 2% rewards rate on purchases, where you get 1% back when you buy and 1% when you pay. 

This zero-annual-fee card offers a solid earning potential as long as you pay your balance on time, and it provides a simple way to rack up points with no bonus categories to track. 

You can also boost your rewards by also holding the Citi Premier® Card (review), which allows you to transfer points to airline and hotel programs. This combination effectively allows you to earn 2 airline miles per dollar on all spending with the Citi Double Cash.

5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for Earning Points on Everyday Purchases

75,000 Bonus Miles
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles After Spending $4,000 Within the First Three Months
  • 5x Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars via Capital One
  • 2x Miles Everywhere Else
  • 2 Free Visits to Capital One Lounges Each Year
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check Credit
  • Hertz 5-Star Elite Status
  • Rental Car Insurance and Extended Warranty
  • $95 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card also offers up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and two free visits each year to the Capital One Lounge.

6. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Best for 5% Cash Back in Your Top Category

5% Cash Back in Top Category
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
  • Earn $200 Cash Back After Spending $1,500 in the First Six Months
  • 5% Cash Back on Purchases in Your Top Eligible Spend Category Each Billing Cycle up to $500 (1% after that)
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months on Purchases and Balance Transfers ($5 or 5% fee). After that, a variable APR of 18.49% – 28.49% applies.
  • No Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a no-annual-fee card that earns 5% cash back in your top spending category each billing cycle.

Eligible 5% cash back categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, home improvement stores, drug stores, select transit, select streaming, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.

This allows you to turn the Custom Cash into your 5% cash back card for gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or several other categories.

7. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for Restaurants, Entertainment, and Grocery Stores

No Annual Fee
Capital One SavorOne Rewards
  • Earn $200 Bonus Cash after Spending $500 in the First 3 Months
  • 8% Cash Back at Vivid Seats
  • 3% Cash Back on Dining, Entertainment, Streaming, and Grocery Stores
  • No Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Capital One SavorOne is a no-annual-fee card that earns 3% cash back in four popular categories: dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).

The SavorOne also has nice perks such as no foreign transaction fees and extended warranty protection.

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