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What to Put as Income on a Student Credit Card Application?

7 min read

Last Updated: January 28, 2026

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Key Takeaways

A student credit card typically offers features and terms designed for college students.
Under the CARD Act of 2009, college students under 21 must show proof of income when they apply for a student credit card without a cosigner.
Students may qualify for a student credit card with income that doesn’t come from a job, such as allowances or certain grants and scholarships.

Whether you’re a full-time student living on campus or you’re staying home to work and take classes part-time, a student credit card may help you manage expenses and establish a credit score. Student credit cards are traditional cards with terms and features designed to help people build credit history and learn vital financial skills while attending college.

While student cards usually have more flexible requirements than other credit cards, you typically need some kind of income to qualify. If you don’t have a full-time job, don’t panic. Credit card companies may consider several other types of income while reviewing your application, depending on your age and circumstances.

Why is income required on a student credit card application?

Student credit card applications require information about your income because it helps credit card companies predict how likely you are to make on-time credit card payments and pay down your debt. You may have a hard time managing credit card payments without a consistent income source.

Your income may affect the credit limits, interest rates, and types of student credit cards you may be eligible for, including rewards credit cards.

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What counts as income on a student credit card application?

Student credit cards are designed for college students with little to no credit history. They’re also tailored to suit unique financial situations—even students without a job. Since they typically offer low credit limits, student credit cards don’t require a high income to qualify.

A regular paycheck may be helpful when you’re applying for a student credit card, but it’s not the only acceptable source of income. You may be able to use the following income sources on a student credit card application. However, rules vary by age.

If you work seasonally, part-time or full-time, you may count earnings from your job—including tips and bonuses—as income on a student credit card application. You may include additional pay from freelance work and other irregular sources of income. If asked to verify your information, you'll need documentation like a tax return, pay stub, or letter from your employer to prove your earnings to the credit card company.

Under the CARD Act of 2009, borrowers under 21 must prove they can independently repay their debt to get approved for a credit card without a cosigner. Students can't list their parents’ or guardians’ income on their applications unless they apply as cosigners, joint account holders, or guarantors. However, many credit card companies no longer allow cosigners or other co-applicants for credit cards.

But there’s good news. All student applicants, including those under 21, may include a regular allowance or deposit of funds from a parent or other family member as income, according to the CARD Act. You’ll need to make sure that any financial support you receive goes directly into a bank account in your name to qualify as personal income, and that you receive it on a regular basis, like weekly or monthly. You may need to provide bank statements that reflect the deposits.

The support of a partner often makes a big difference when putting yourself through school. If you’re 21 or older, the CARD Act allows you to include income from someone else in your household, like a spouse or partner, to qualify for a student credit card.

Unfortunately, if you’re under 21, you typically can’t use a partner’s income or assets. The only exception is if you live in a community property state, where spouses (and some domestic partners) share income by law.

The CARD Act allows credit card companies to accept grant and scholarship money as income, but only the portion that remains after you’ve paid your tuition. Grants and scholarships don’t typically require repayment, so the amount you have left over may count as personal, accessible income.

Credit card companies don’t require applicants 21 and older to have a cosigner. Adults younger than 21 with enough income to independently repay their debt typically don’t need a cosigner either.

But if you’re between 18 and 20 and don’t have enough income, you may need a cosigner to get a credit card. In that case, a cosigner's income may count on a student credit card application. However, relatively few credit card companies allow cosigners.

What doesn’t count as income on a student credit card application?

It’s equally important to know what doesn’t count as income on your student credit card application. You may not list the following as sources of income on your application for a student credit card:

Loans: While student loans and other money you borrow may feel like income when it hits your bank account, it’s debt that you’ll have to repay. However, you may be able to include the funds that remain after covering education costs.
Income you can’t legally access: You can’t include portions of your income that you can’t access, like garnished wages, on your application because you can’t put it toward credit card payments.
Fake income: Lying on your credit card application might have serious legal consequences and isn’t worth the risk.
Savings: While a savings account is beneficial, many credit card companies may not recognize savings as part of your income.

It's important to check the specific income requirement of each credit card issuer, because policies may vary. Card issuers typically look for a stable and regular source of income to assess an applicant's ability to repay credit card balances.

Did you know?

If you have questions about what qualifies as income on a Discover credit card application, customer service may help. Customer service is available any time, day or night.²

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

You may apply for a Discover student credit card without employment income. Discover, like other card issuers, recognizes allowance from a family member as income as long as you receive deposits in your bank account on a regular basis. Discover also recognizes household income that’s consistently available to you as long as you’re at least 21.

You don’t need a robust credit history to apply, either. There is no credit score required to apply for Discover student credit cards.³

Discover offers two cash back credit cards for students. The best fit for you depends on your shopping habits and reward preferences.

The Discover it^® Student Cash Back card lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
The Discover it^® Student Chrome card lets you earn 2% Cashback Bonus^® at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.⁴

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

After you qualify for a student credit card, you may be on your way to establishing credit, earning cash rewards, and more. But what happens when you graduate?

Often, your student credit card account remains yours after graduation. You may keep using your card as usual without making any updates.

Some credit card issuers convert your student credit card to a regular credit card without requesting updated income. For example, when you graduate, you may keep using your Discover student credit card, maintaining the same terms and rewards structure. However, you may want to inform your card issuer if your income increases, as you might qualify for a higher credit limit.

The bottom line

With responsible habits, a student credit card may help you build a good credit history that will serve you well after you earn your degree. When you understand the income requirements, you may apply with confidence for a student card that meets your needs.

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What to Put as Income on a Student Credit Card Application?

Key Takeaways

See if you’re pre-approved

Why is income required on a student credit card application?

What counts as income on a student credit card application?

Income from a job

Financial support from a parent or other family member

Household income

Scholarships and grants

Income from a cosigner

What doesn’t count as income on a student credit card application?

Did you know?

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

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

The bottom line