Cash back · Mastercard · No annual fee
Last verified 2026-09-09. Review issuer source
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students is a no-annual-fee cash back card from Capital One. It earns 1.5% on every purchase with no categories to track, plus 5% on car rentals booked through Capital One.
On our reference budget of $24,600 a year it returns about $474, an effective 1.9% back. The welcome bonus, $50 after $100 in 3 months, adds to the first year's return.
Use it to start a file. Pay in full every month, keep the balance low, and move to a stronger rewards card once you have a year of history.
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels booked through Capital One Travel
Earn a one-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Make your next meal even more memorable with access to cardholder-only reservations at award-winning restaurants and tickets to curated culinary events. Explore dining benefits.
Enjoy access to can't-miss events across music, sports and dining with exclusive pre-sales, tickets, suite experiences and more. Explore entertainment.
Up to 1 additional year on original manufacturer's warranty of 3 years or less.
Up to $200,000 in coverage. Provides accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver Rewards for StudentsThis card · 1.5% on everything | None | $474 | +$474 | 298th of 1,291 |
| Venture RewardsCapital One's most-held other card · 2x on everything | $95 | $582 | +$487 | 294th of 1,291 |
| Savor RewardsThe strongest no-fee card on this budget · 3% on dining | None | $642 | +$642 | 4th of 1,291 |
| Robinhood Gold CardHighest net return on this budget · 3% on everything | $50 | $798 | +$748 | 1st of 1,291 |
Reference budget: groceries $6,000, dining and restaurants $3,600, gas and ev charging $2,400, travel and transit $3,000, online shopping $2,400, entertainment and streaming $1,200, everything else $6,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
