What Citi offers students

Citi has two main student credit cards: the Citi Secured Credit Card and the Citi Student Credit Card. The Student card is designed for people in school with little or no credit history, while the Secured card is for those who need to build credit from a lower starting point. Neither card charges an annual fee, and both report to all three credit bureaus — meaning your payment history builds your credit score whether you use them or not.

The Student card offers cash back on certain purchases (the rate varies by category), while the Secured card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit. Both let you set up automatic payments and view your account online, which matters because staying on top of due dates is how credit scores actually improve.

The key difference between them is this: the Student card is unsecured, meaning Citi trusts you based on your income or school status alone. The Secured card requires you to put money down first. If you have no credit history at all, the Secured card may be easier to get approved for, but it ties up your own cash. If you have some income or a co-signer, the Student card avoids that problem.

Key Takeaways

  • Citi's Student card has no annual fee and offers cash back on certain categories, making it useful if you can pay your balance in full each month.
  • The Secured card requires a cash deposit ($200 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit, and is meant for people building credit from scratch.
  • Both cards report to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments directly raise your credit score over time.
  • Interest rates on both cards are higher than cards for people with established credit, because you have less credit history to prove you pay on time.
  • The Student card may require proof of enrollment or income, while the Secured card mainly requires the deposit and a valid ID.

How the Citi Student card works

The Citi Student Credit Card is a standard unsecured card, meaning you don't put money down. You get a credit limit based on your income, school status, or a co-signer's income. You then use the card like any other: make purchases, receive a bill, and pay it back.

The card earns cash back on certain categories — the exact categories and rates change, so check Citi's website for current terms. Some versions offer cash back on dining, gas, and groceries; others on different categories. If you don't carry a balance (meaning you pay the full amount due each month), the cash back is pure gain. If you carry a balance, the interest you pay will almost certainly exceed the cash back you earn, so the card only makes sense if you plan to pay in full.

The card comes with a credit limit that Citi sets based on what you report about your income. If you're a full-time student with little income, your limit will be lower — often $500 to $2,000 to start. You can request a higher limit after six months of on-time payments, and Citi will sometimes grant it without a hard inquiry (a check that temporarily lowers your score).

How the Citi Secured card works

The Citi Secured Credit Card requires you to open a savings account with Citi and deposit between $200 and $2,500. That deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your limit is $500. The money stays in the account and earns interest (though the rate is low), but you cannot touch it while the card is open.

You use the Secured card exactly like a regular card: make purchases, pay the bill, build your credit score. The difference is that Citi holds your deposit as insurance. If you stop paying, Citi takes the money from the account instead of sending you to collections. This is why the Secured card is easier to get approved for — Citi's risk is lower.

After 12 to 18 months of on-time payments, you can request that Citi convert the Secured card to an unsecured Student card or another Citi card. When that happens, your deposit is returned to you. Some people use the Secured card as a stepping stone: build credit for a year, convert to unsecured, and then move to a better card with higher rewards or a lower interest rate.

Interest rates and fees

Both cards charge interest on balances you carry from month to month. The rate varies based on your credit profile and current market conditions, but for a student with no credit history, expect a rate in the range of 18% to 24% annual percentage rate (APR). This is higher than cards for people with established credit, because you represent more risk to the lender.

Neither card charges an annual fee, which is unusual and valuable — many student cards charge $25 to $99 per year. Both cards do charge late fees if you miss a payment (typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment, higher for repeat offenses) and over-limit fees if you exceed your credit limit (usually $35).

The interest rate matters most if you carry a balance. If you charge $500 and pay $100 per month, you'll pay interest on the remaining $400, and that interest compounds. At 20% APR, you'll pay roughly $40 in interest over four months. If you pay the full balance each month, you pay zero interest, and the card costs you nothing except the time to manage it.

Building credit with a student card

The real value of a student card is not the cash back or the credit limit — it's the credit history. Every on-time payment you make gets reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. After six months of on-time payments, you'll have a credit score (usually starting in the 300s or 400s). After a year, that score will have risen noticeably if you've paid on time every month.

Your credit score is built from five factors: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit inquiries (10%). A student card helps with the first three. Paying on time every month is the single most important thing you can do, and it's free — it costs nothing to pay on time.

The second factor — amounts owed — means the percentage of your credit limit that you're using. If your limit is $1,000 and you carry a $900 balance, you're using 90% of your limit, which hurts your score. If you use only $100 (10%), your score benefits. This is why a higher credit limit helps: it lets you use a smaller percentage. But don't ask for a higher limit just to spend more — that defeats the purpose.

Student card vs. Secured card: which one to choose

Choose the Student card if you have a steady income (from a job, work-study, or a co-signer) and can show proof of enrollment. The Student card has no deposit requirement, so you don't tie up your own money. The cash back is a bonus if you pay in full each month.

Choose the Secured card if you have no income to report, no co-signer, or if you've been denied for unsecured cards. The Secured card is easier to get approved for because Citi's risk is lower. Your deposit is returned after you convert to unsecured, so it's not a permanent cost — it's a temporary hold on your money in exchange for a faster path to building credit.

If you're unsure which you'll be approved for, explore for the Student card first. If you're denied, the Secured card is your next step. Both cards report to the credit bureaus, so either one will build your credit score if you use it responsibly.

What happens after you build credit

After 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, you'll have enough credit history to move to a better card. You might graduate to a card with higher cash back rates, a lower interest rate, or rewards like travel points. Some people keep their student card open even after moving to a new one — closing an old card can hurt your score because it shortens your average credit history.

If you have the Secured card, Citi will convert it to an unsecured card and return your deposit. If you have the Student card, you can straightforward explore for a new card and keep the Student card in a drawer. Either way, your credit score will be strong enough that you'll have real options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be enrolled in school to get the Citi Student card?

Citi requires proof of enrollment at an accredited college or university, either full-time or part-time. You'll need to provide your school name and expected graduation date during the process. If you're not currently enrolled, the Secured card is your option.

What's the difference between the interest rate and the APR?

They're the same thing. APR stands for annual percentage rate, and it's the yearly cost of borrowing expressed as a percentage. If your APR is 20% and you carry a $100 balance for a full year, you'll pay $20 in interest (before any payments reduce the balance).

Can I use the cash back to pay my bill?

Cash back is usually credited to your account as a statement credit, which reduces the amount you owe. You can use it to pay down your balance, but you still need to make at least the minimum payment by the due date. Check your statement to see how Citi applies the cash back.

What happens if I miss a payment?

A missed payment gets reported to the credit bureaus and stays on your credit report for seven years. It also triggers a late fee (usually $25 to $35) and may raise your interest rate. If you miss a payment, contact Citi as soon as possible — they may waive the fee if it's your first offense and you pay within 30 days.

Can I convert my Secured card to unsecured without explore for a new card?

Yes. After 12 to 18 months of on-time payments, contact Citi and request a conversion. They'll review your account and either convert it automatically or ask you to explore for an unsecured card. Either way, your deposit is returned to your savings account.