

Getting approved for a credit card may seem difficult at times, especially if you’ve never had credit or you’re working on improving your credit score. But no matter where you are on your credit journey, there may be a credit card option that works for you.
There’s never a guarantee that you’ll qualify for a credit card, regardless of your credit score. However, some credit card issuers may offer options for credit card applicants with a wider range of credit histories and financial circumstances.
Credit card companies may have several credit card options designed for people with limited credit histories or less-than-ideal credit scores.
If you qualify for a student or secured card, you may use it responsibly to build your credit history.1 With Discover®, you also earn rewards on all purchases every time you use your card, so you don’t have to miss out on cash back.
If you’re looking for an accessible credit card, one of the following options may be the right fit.
When you open a secured credit card account, you provide a refundable cash deposit as collateral for your credit limit. If you default on your credit card by failing to make payments, the card issuer keeps your deposit to offset any potential losses.
Because your deposit reduces the lender’s risk of losing money, you may be approved for a secured credit card without a credit history or with a low credit score.
College students experiencing their first taste of financial independence usually don’t have an extensive credit history. Plus, many students have limited income as they focus on their academic work. Student credit cards often have fewer eligibility requirements than traditional cards to accommodate students’ financial circumstances.
Many different types of credit cards may have instant—or nearly instant—approval, depending on your credit file. When you submit a credit card application online, you may receive a response within moments. It typically doesn’t take long for a credit card issuer to conduct a credit check and review your financial background.
If you have a limited credit history or a low credit score, card issuers may take longer to process your application. To improve your chances of instant approval, keep track of your credit, pay your bills on time, avoid using too much of your credit limit, and limit the number of hard inquiries on your credit report.
Once you receive your credit card approval, you may have to wait a couple of weeks to receive your card in the mail.
Yes, in some cases, you may start using your credit card as soon as you’re approved. Your credit card company may give you a virtual credit card number to add to your digital wallet soon after approving your application. You may use the virtual card to pay with your account before you receive a physical card in the mail.
Did you know?
Whether you activate a virtual or physical card from Discover, you may begin earning rewards. For example, with the Discover it Chrome Card, you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.2
You may not need a perfect credit history to qualify for a credit card. If you have trouble meeting the eligibility requirements for more exclusive rewards cards, a secured card or student card may give you access to a line of credit. Using those cards carefully may help you develop the credit score you need to qualify for a wider range of options in the future.
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Legal Disclaimer: We hope you found this helpful. Our content is not intended to provide legal, investment or financial advice or to indicate that a particular product or service is available or right for you. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with a qualified professional. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information, or recommendation listed above. The third parties listed are solely responsible for their products and services, and all trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners. By clicking on some of the links provided, you may be taken to a third-party website that is not hosted by Capital One. In those cases, the owner of the website is responsible for the website content. Their privacy practices and level of security may be different from Capital One's, so please review their policies. Some of the above information may not describe the features and offerings of your specific Discover account. Please review your account terms for details on your specific account.
Build credit with responsible use: Many factors affect your credit, such as payment history and amount of credit extended and used. Using your credit responsibly may help you build good credit.
2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants: You will earn 2% cash back on your first $1000 in combined purchases at gas stations (stand-alone) and restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at gas stations and restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, except as noted below, earn 1% cash back. Gas station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retails stores and establishments classified as a bakery, may not qualify. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Capital One uses merchant category codes to determine if a purchase is in one of the additional cash back categories. This means that sometimes a purchase may not earn additional cash back. For example, some food trucks or food carts may use a merchandise code and restaurants in department stores or hotels may use a merchandise or hotel code instead of a dining code. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn additional cash back if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Capital One is not responsible for merchant category codes used by merchants. Applies to all rewards: Earnings will apply to net purchases (purchases minus any credits or returns). Cash advances, balance transfers, transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts, and checks used to access your account are not considered purchases and will not earn rewards. Portions of purchases paid with rewards, transactions that do not comply with our policies and/or applicable laws, or any cash you receive in connection with a purchase at the point of sale through Discover's Cash at Checkout feature will not earn rewards. See Your Rewards Program Terms & Conditions and your online account for more details.