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At an average sticker price just under $40,000 per year, college is undeniably one of life's most significant expenses in the U.S. And with that kind of price tag, it's an amazing chance to earn a large sum of points and miles — or a lot of cash back. But should you pay college tuition with a credit card?
Here are some considerations you'll want to make before paying with a credit card, plus some cards you should use if you decide doing so is right for you.
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Can You Pay Tuition With a Credit Card?
In most cases, you can pay tuition with a credit card directly through your educational institution's payment portal. However, there are many things you should consider before swiping your card to cover your (or your child's) tuition bill.
Processing and transaction fees
Nobody likes fees, but they're a fact of life when you try to cover tuition with a credit card.
Fees will vary depending on the payment processor that your college uses, but you could be on the hook for anywhere between 1.5% to 3.5% (give or take a few percentage points) in processing fees each time you pay the tuition bill.
At a glance, here are the processing fees for a handful of the United States' biggest colleges and universities:
- Arizona State University: 2.5%
- University of Central Florida: 2%
- Texas A&M University: 2.25%
- Ohio State University: 2.85%
- University of Texas at Austin: 2.3%
Fees can quickly negate the value of the rewards points earned by paying with a credit card or outweigh the cash back you'd otherwise earn.
For example, a $5,000 semester tuition bill at Ohio State University paid with a credit card will tack on an extra $142 to your balance due. Even if you pay with a card earning 2% cash back, you'll still lose $42 in the process. Conversely, if you use this spending to earn the sign-up bonus on a new credit card, you may decide that paying an extra $142 is worth it for earning tens of thousands of miles in the process.
Related: The Complete Guide To Earning Points and Miles as a College Student
Interest rates
With credit cards come interest rates, and you'll always want to be mindful of the rates your card carries before you build a statement balance that you can't pay off on time. The easiest way to avoid paying interest is by paying off your statement balance in full each billing cycle.
The average APR hovers around 25% for most rewards cards, but it can sometimes be even higher. Thus, missed or late payments can quickly accrue hefty amounts of interest. Moreover, missed payments can also harm your credit score, making it difficult to get future cards or credit with favorable terms later on.
Related: A Beginner's Guide to Building Healthy Credit
You should also consider all the ways you can pay for college to ensure you don't choose a path you can't afford.
For instance, the interest rate on your credit card is most likely higher than what you'll find attached to a federal student loan. Federally subsidized (and unsubsidized) loans issued between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, carry fixed interest rates of 6.53% — which is a lot lower than the aforementioned APR. And depending on your loan structure, interest may not even begin to accrue until you or your child graduates.
Credit cards don't offer years of deferred interest, so it's again important to weigh all payment options and make an informed choice.
If you're in a bind when it's time to pay for college, don't mortgage your financial future just to earn some points or miles. You can avoid interest if you pay your credit card bill immediately (in full) or use a card with a 0% APR offer.
The Best Credit Cards To Use for Paying College Tuition
Let's say you've weighed the pros and cons of paying tuition with a credit card and concluded that it makes sense for you. Now for the important question: Which credit card should you use?
Depending on your rewards-earning strategy, here are a few high-flying options to consider:
Credit cards with lucrative welcome bonuses
College tuition is a significant expense, so why not consider the huge welcome bonus you could earn by paying with your rewards card?
If you're after the biggest welcome offer, you might consider a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express.
You'll earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Membership Rewards are transferable, which makes them incredibly valuable, so this is a fantastic bonus that might be within reach after one tuition payment.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID - this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another product that routinely features a stellar bonus just for opening an account and meeting the minimum spending requirement.
With this card, you'll net 75,000 Capital One miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Additionally, you'll earn 2X Miles per $1 spent on daily purchases. In recent AwardWallet user redemptions, Capital One miles have provided an average of 2¢ per point, making this a card you might want to pay tuition with — even after earning the high welcome bonus.
- Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchase
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
We'll round out this category with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Although it's designed for small businesses, it carries an amazing welcome bonus, and you may qualify for this card if you have a side gig earning money outside your 9-to-5 job.
If you open an account, you'll earn 90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening — one of the most valuable transferable currencies out there.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
Other small business cards with high welcome bonuses for big spending include:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
- Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 200,000 miles once you spend $200,000 in the first 6 months
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus: $2,000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on other eligible purchases
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase. 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
Related: The Best Credit Card Welcome Bonuses Available Right Now
Credit cards offering the best return on tuition spending
Just because a card has a highly lucrative welcome bonus doesn't mean it's the best card for tuition payments. If you're after the highest return on your college spending, one option you might consider is the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card.
With the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Card, you “only” Earn 2% cash back on purchases for the first year from account opening, with no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn. Thereafter, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% on all purchases, with no expiration on rewards as long as your account remains open.. However, the real value comes through the Bank of America Premium Rewards program. If you have more than $100,000 in assets with Bank of America and Merrill, you'll get a 75% bonus, boosting the cashback earning rate to 2.625%!
- Earn 2% cash back on purchases for the first year from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases after year one
If you don't have enough savings to score that lucrative earning rate, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases, making this a great choice for paying tuition if your institution's processing fees are less than 2%.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
You'll also find value in using the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for tuition. The Freedom Unlimited earns a flat 1.5% on all other purchases cash back on every purchase. New cardholders will earn a $200 bonus through the card's new sign-up bonus.
And this card becomes even more valuable when you also hold an Ultimate Rewards-earning card. You can combine the cash back you earn on the Freedom Unlimited with the Chase points earned on eligible Sapphire and Ink-branded cards, making your cashback even more versatile.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
If you value Membership Rewards points and are a contractor/freelancer or sell items online, you might qualify for a business card and find extra utility when paying tuition with The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
The Blue Business Plus earns 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent (up to the first $50,000 of purchases per year, then 1x), making this a quality option because of the higher earning rate.
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Credit cards with low interest rates
Using a low-interest credit card for your big purchase might make the most sense if you tend to carry a balance — or think you might after paying the tuition bill.
While we always recommend paying your credit cards on time and in full, plenty of credit cards feature low interest rates or introductory APR (annual percentage rate) offers that make it less costly to carry a balance from month to month.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is one of those options, charging $0 and offering a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening. After that, you'll pay a Variable APR of 19.24% - 29.24%.
- Sign-up bonus of $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, issued as 20,000 ThankYou® Points
- 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category on up to $500 of purchses each billing cycle
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for--the top earning category adjusts automatically each month to the eligible category in which you spend the most.
- Excellent intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent
- 1% cash back thereafter, plus, you'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- Eligible spending categories are: Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment.
Also carrying a low promotional APR, the Discover it® Cash Back offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months. After that, you'll have a Variable APR of 17.24% - 28.24%.
- 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate.
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
One of the more lucrative cards with a low interest rate is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Outside of earning 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, you also can enjoy the following APR offer: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months, then a Variable APR of 19.24% - 29.24%. That makes this a standout among the many low-interest options.
- One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 5% cash back on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Related: Best 0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Final Thoughts
College tuition is a huge expense, which presents a lucrative opportunity for those looking to earn additional points, miles, or cash back with credit cards.
However, there's a lot you'll want to consider before you digitally swipe your card to cover charges totaling thousands of dollars. Always be mindful of the fees and the interest rates you might accrue in the process. Otherwise, the rewards won't justify the cost incurred to obtain them.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees), and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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