For the first time ever, 2 Capital One student credit cards are offering a sign-up bonus — and it couldn't be easier to earn

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• The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card have never offered a welcome bonus.
• Now, for a limited time, you can earn Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.
• Cardholders can also refer up to five friends per year and receive $100 per referral.
• Read Insider's guide to the best student credit cards.

Capital One launched the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card last year, and they're great picks for students with a limited credit history who want to earn cash back on their everyday purchases. 

Along with generous earning rates and surprisingly good benefits, neither card charges an annual fee. But one thing that was missing was a welcome bonus, which some other student credit cards offer.

That's now changed. For a limited time, both the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card are offering Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. That's a good deal for a student credit card, particularly because the minimum spending requirement is very attainable.

If you're a college student — or about to become one — and you're considering opening a new credit card, either of these cards would be a solid choice. Here's what to know about the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card to make the best decision for you.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Capital One Quicksilver and Savorone student cards: Earn a $100 cash bonus

One of the most attractive things about these new welcome bonuses is how easy they are to unlock. With either card, you'll earn Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. Spending $100 in three months is within easy reach of most students, so you won't have to worry about missing the minimum spending requirement.

To compare, some other student cards require you to spend $500 or $1,000 within a similar timeframe to earn the welcome offer. For example, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students comes with Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students. While that's a higher cash offer, it also requires 10x the spending!

While the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offer the same sign-up bonus, the way each earns cash back is quite different.

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is geared to those who spend a lot on food and entertainment, earning bonus cash back in popular categories for students:

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 8% cash back on Vivid Seats purchases through January 2023
• 3% cash back on dining
• 3% cash back on entertainment
• 3% cash back on popular streaming services
• 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

But if you prefer a flat rate of cash back on all purchases (or don't spend a lot in the SavorOne's bonus categories), the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card could be the better play. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases across the board, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of spending categories.

As for perks, both cards come with an impressive range of benefits, including some you won't often find on student or starter credit cards. Cardholders receive:

• Price protection***
• Extended warranty***
• Car rental coverage***
• Roadside dispatch***
• Travel accident insurance***
• Complimentary concierge services
• No foreign transaction fees

When it comes time to use your rewards, you can redeem them for cash back, including gift cards, Amazon purchases, and PayPal purchases. As a cardholder, you'll also get access to useful tools and features like Capital One Entertainment, Capital One Dining, Capital One Credit Wise, and Mastercard ID Theft Protection.

The best choice for you really boils down to your spending habits. If you make a lot of dining, grocery, streaming, and entertainment purchases, you'll likely earn more cash back with the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. But if that doesn't sound like you, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is probably the way to go.

Refer-a-friend offer

Once you've been approved for either card, you can refer friends to apply and earn even more cash back. You'll receive a $100 bonus for each person that's approved, up to $500 per year. Keep in mind the person you refer will only trigger the bonus if they're a new Capital One cardholder.

Who is eligible for the Capital One SavorOne and Quicksilver student cards?

To qualify for the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, you must be currently enrolled (or admitted and planning to enroll in the next three months) at an accredited university, community college, or other higher education institution. 

Capital One says applicants should have at least fair credit, which it defines as having a limited credit history, having had your own credit card or other credit for less than three years (including students, newcomers to the US, or authorized users on someone else's credit card).

The good thing about applying for either of these cards is that you can check to see if you're pre-approved on the application page with no impact on your credit score. Be sure to check out our step-by-step guides to applying for a credit card and how to build credit with a credit card if you're new to credit cards and not sure where to begin.