Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card Review 2021

Students are always trying to stretch their dollars as far as possible. When you're just starting out on your financial journey, you'll use any extra boost available to squeeze more value out of every dollar.

That’s why it can be enticing to see amazing credit card rewards. Unfortunately, many of the best rewards credit cards aren't accessible to students since they require excellent credit. And while student cards are easier to qualify for, many offer little to no rewards.

With the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, you don’t have to choose. You can enjoy a card that charges that offers worthwhile rewards without requiring a long credit history to qualify. Let's take a closer look at what the Chase Freedom® Student has to offer.

What Is The Chase Student Freedom Credit Card?

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card is a cash back rewards credit card issued by JPMorgan Chase. Specifically, this card is designed to cater to the needs of students.

Although the Chase Freedom® Student is not the most lucrative rewards card offered by Chase, it does offer a worthwhile slate of benefits and perks. Plus, you won’t run into any annual fees.

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What Does It Offer?

Here’s what the Chase Freedom® Student credit card has to offer. 

$50 Welcome Bonus

As far as welcome bonuses go, $50 may seem relatively small. However, you won’t have to meet a large minimum spending threshold to enjoy the rewards.

With other cards, it's not uncommon to see larger welcome bonuses that are only available if you spend thousands of dollars in the first three months. But the Chase Freedom® Student credit card is different. You’ll only have to make one purchase within the first three months to score the $50 bonus. 

1% Cash Back Available On All Purchases

The Chase Freedom® Student credit card earns 1% cash back on every purchase. Importantly, the rewards have no expiration date. You can use the cash back as long as your account is open. Plus, there are no minimum thresholds to meet before you can redeem your points for cash (statement credit or direct deposit).

Note that the cash back you'll be earning will actually be in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. That means you'll have a great variety of redemption options. In addition to cash redemptions, you can shop with points at Amazon, purchase gift cards, or use your points to book travel on the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. 

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$20 Good Standing Rewards

Keeping your account in good standing extend is important whether or not you'll earn any rewards for doing so. After all, you’ll want to maintain a good payment history to improve your credit score.

But each year that you keep your Chase Freedom® Student in good standing, you’ll receive a $20 bonus (for a maximum of give years). “Good standing” means that you have kept the account open and out of default for the entire year.

Partner Perks Designed With College Students In Mind

Most college students can appreciate the convenience of take-out or a quick rideshare across town. Luckily, the Chase Student Freedom offers special perks for DoorDash and Lyft purchases. With Lyft, you’ll earn 5% cash back on all rides through March 2022. If you frequently use Lyft, those savings can add up quickly.

Cardholders can also receive 3 free months of DashPass which offers unlimited deliveries for a $0 delivery fee with applicable orders over $12. Once the free three-month period is up, you’ll receive 50% off of the DashPass for the next 9 months. Importantly, you’ll need to activate this limited-time perk before December 31 2021.

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Free Credit Score Access

As a user of the Chase Freedom® Student card, you’ll have access to a free peak at your credit score. The feature is available to use whenever you’d like. If you want to regularly monitor your credit score (and you should), this is very worthwhile. 

Are There Any Fees?

You won’t have an annual fee with the Chase Freedom® Student credit card. However, you may encounter other fees. These include a foreign transaction fee of 3%, a late payment fee of up to $40, and a cash advance fee of $10 or 5% of the amount (whichever is greater).

Additionally, you’ll need to watch out for the interest rate associated with this card. Currently, 14.99% is the variable APR and there's no introductory APR period. If you do get this card, we recommend that you pay off your balance each month to avoid accumulating interest charges.

How Does The Chase Freedom Student Credit Card Compare?

The Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card isn't the only credit card out there that's designed with students in mind. Although this card offers reasonable rewards and relatively low fees, you may be able to find a better selection of rewards with a different student card.

You might want to check out our full list of the best first credit cards for students to see how the Chase Freedom® Student compares. Or you can check out the table below for a quick comparison with the two top student cards from our list.

How Do I Apply?

To open a Chase Freedom® Student card, you'll need to apply on the Chase website. Head to the Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card page and select "Apply Now."

Once you get to the application, you’ll need to provide some basic information. You can speed things up by coming to the application process with your Social Security number and driver’s license ready to go. It should only take a few minutes to finalize your application.

From there, you’ll need to wait and see if you are approved. If you are, the card will arrive in the mail within a few days. 

Is It Safe And Secure?

The Chase Freedom® Student card comes with all of the standard security features you'll need. These features include:

• Zero liability protection. You won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges. 
• Purchase protection. Your new purchases will be covered for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $500 per claim. 
• Fraud protection. Chase will help you monitor the account for any fraud. 
• Lock feature. You can lock the card against new purchases instantly within the Chase mobile app or on the website.

All of these features provide a safe environment to enjoy this credit card in. 

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How Do I Contact Chase?

If you need to get in touch with Chase, the issuer of the Chase Freedom® Student, call 1-800-935-9925. Additionally, you can call 1-887-242-7372 for help with online and mobile banking support.

All in all, Chase Bank offers reasonable customer service for a financial institution of its size. Of course, there is a mix of good and bad reviews. But Chase Bank earned 3.5 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs. Personally, I’ve always had great experiences with Chase.

Is It Worth It?

If you're in college and you're just beginning your credit journey, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card could be worth considering. It earns cash back on every purchase, has no annual fee, and offers a modest sign up bonus. 

But there are plenty of better options for students who already have excellent credit and can expand their choices beyond students credit cards. If that's you, you'll want to check out our favorite rewards cards and cash back cards instead.

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Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card Features