1. Know Your Credit Standing
Before you apply, it’s essential to know what type of credit cards you are likely to qualify for.
- Check Your Credit Score: Your credit score (like FICO or VantageScore) is a number that tells lenders how likely you are to repay debt.
- No Credit/Poor Credit (300-629): Your best options will be Secured Cards or Student Cards.
- Fair Credit (630-689): You may qualify for basic, Unsecured Cards (cards that don’t require a deposit), but with fewer rewards.
- Good to Excellent Credit (690-850): You can qualify for most major cards with the best rewards and lowest interest rates.
- Check Your Credit Report (Optional but Recommended): Make sure there are no errors on your report that could lead to a denial. You can get a free copy of your report annually from AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. Choose the Right Type of Card
The “best” card is the one you can get approved for and that fits your financial needs.
| Card Type | Who It’s For | Key Feature |
| Secured Credit Card | People with no credit or poor credit. | Requires a cash deposit (e.g., $200) that typically becomes your credit limit. The deposit is refundable after responsible use. |
| Student Credit Card | College students with limited or no credit history. | Designed for beginners, often has lower limits and a path to upgrade after graduation. |
| Unsecured (Standard) Card | People with fair to excellent credit. | No deposit required. Includes rewards cards (cash back, travel points) and balance transfer cards. |
| Authorized User | A quick way to build credit without applying. | A trusted family member adds you to their card account. Their good payment history helps your credit, but you are not legally responsible for the debt. |
3. Compare Offers and Pre-qualify
Once you know the type of card you need, shop around.
- Compare Key Terms: Look at the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), any Annual Fee, and the Rewards Program (cash back, travel points). If you plan to pay the balance in full every month, the APR is less important.
- Seek Pre-qualification: Many card issuers let you enter basic info to see if you are “pre-qualified” or “pre-approved.”
- This only uses a soft inquiry (a soft pull) that does NOT hurt your credit score.
- This step gives you a very strong indication of approval before you officially apply.
4. Gather Information and Apply
Applying is usually quickest online on the issuer’s website.10 You will need to provide the following information:
| Personal Information | Financial Information |
| Full Legal Name | Annual Gross Income |
| Date of Birth (Must be 18+) | Employment Status |
| Current Address | Monthly Rent or Mortgage Payment |
| Social Security Number (SSN) or equivalent ID | Source of Income (Job, Scholarship, etc.) |
Important Note on Applying: Submitting a formal application triggers a hard inquiry (a hard pull) on your credit report, which can cause a minor, temporary dip in your credit score. This is why it’s important to only apply for a card you are likely to be approved for.
5. Get and Use Your Card Responsibly
- Approval Time: You may receive an instant approval, or it could take a few days or weeks if the issuer needs to verify your information. The card will arrive in the mail shortly after approval.
- Activate It: Follow the instructions on the packaging to activate your card (usually via a phone call or online portal).
- Build Your Credit: The most important step! To build excellent credit, you should:
- Pay your bill on time, every month.
- Keep your balance low (ideally using less than 30% of your credit limit—the lower, the better).
- Pay the full balance whenever possible to avoid high interest charges.