What counts as income on a student credit card application?

Whether you’re a full-time student living on campus or you’re staying home to work and take classes part-time, you might consider the benefits of applying for a student credit card to help with expenses and build credit. But you may wonder if you’ll earn enough income to qualify for a student credit card. After all, some credit card issuers require proof of income before approving you. The good news is that income doesn’t need to come from a job, and in some cases, you can qualify for a student credit card even with limited income. 
So let’s learn what counts as income when applying for a student credit card and what you should include to get approved.  

Sources of income you can use on a student credit card application

Student credit cards are designed for college students with little to no credit history, and are tailored to suit students’ unique financial situations. Since they typically provide lower credit limits, student credit cards may allow more flexibility in their applicant qualifications. Sure, showing income from any job is helpful when applying for a student credit card, but a student can use other acceptable sources of income to qualify. 

Once you know what the acceptable sources of income are, you can include each one on your application for a student credit card, increasing your chances of approval. The following income sources describe the types of income you can use on a student credit card application, but rules may vary by age.

Income from a job

If you’re eighteen or older and work part-time or full-time, you can count earnings from your job—including tips and bonuses—as income on a student credit card application. Pay from freelance work and other irregular sources of income may be included on your application as well. If asked to verify your information, you’ll need documentation like a tax return, paystub, or letter from your employer to prove your earnings to the credit card company.

Financial support from a parent or other source

Due to the CARD Act of 2009, borrowers aged eighteen to twenty must prove they can independently pay back their debt to get approved for a student card without a cosigner (something most major credit card companies no longer allow). This means they can’t use their parent’s annual income. Applicants twenty-one and older may not include their parent’s pay as student income for a credit card application either. 

However, all applicants eighteen or older may count a monthly allowance or deposit of funds from a support source like a parent as income. But you’ll need to ensure that any financial support you receive gets deposited into a bank account in your name to qualify as personal income. You may also be asked to provide bank statements that reflect the monthly deposits. 

Household income

The support of a partner can make a big difference when putting yourself through school. And if you’re twenty-one or older, you can include a spouse’s or partner’s income along with your own to qualify for a student credit card. Unfortunately, adults under twenty-one can only report their independent income or assets on a credit card application—except for borrowers in community property states where income is shared between spouses and some domestic partners by law. 

Student loans

Student loans you receive from private lenders or federal student aid can be a valuable source of funding for school. But when it comes to your credit card application, the portion of your student loan paid directly to the school for tuition won’t qualify as income. However, depending on the credit card issuer, the remaining amount you receive after paying your tuition may count. Still, due to the possible drawbacks of using one source of debt to pay for another (your credit card debt), even the remaining amounts may not qualify as income on some credit card applications.  

Scholarships and grants

Income from a cosigner

Applicants twenty-one and older are not required to have a cosigner when applying for a credit card. Adults younger than twenty-one who prove they can independently repay their debt typically won’t need a cosigner either. But if borrowers eighteen to twenty years old can’t provide enough proof of income, a cosigner’s income may count on a student credit card application. But remember, fewer and fewer card issuers allow cosigners.

Can you apply for a Discover student card with no income?

When you apply for a student credit card, you need to demonstrate that you have access to funds to pay your bills, but that doesn’t mean you need income from a job. Like all credit card issuers, Discover accepts amounts directly deposited to borrowers eighteen to twenty years old as income, and income that is regularly available to you from another person if you’re twenty-one or older (or eighteen or older in certain states). Additionally, there is no credit score required to apply for Discover Student credit cards.¹ 

Discover offers two student credit cards, both of which are rewards credit cards that can earn you cash back on your purchases. The Discover it® Student Cash Back card lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.² And with the Discover it® Student Chrome card, you can earn 2% Cashback Bonus® at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.³

Do income requirements change for your student credit card after you graduate?

After you qualify for a student credit card, you’ll be on your way to building credit, earning rewards, and more. But what happens when you graduate? Some credit card issuers will instantly convert your student credit card to a regular credit card, with no additional income requests or actions taken by you. For example, when you graduate, Discover student credit cards automatically get reclassified as regular credit cards with the same bonus structure. 

With responsible use, a student credit card is a useful tool for building a good credit history that will serve you well after you earn your degree. Once you learn the types of income that can help you qualify, you can choose the best student credit card for your needs and apply with confidence.