How To Earn Points and Miles When Paying for College How To Earn Points and Miles When Paying for College

How To Earn Points and Miles When Paying for College

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According to educationdata.org, the average cost to attend college in the United States is a whopping $35,551 per year. This figure includes all fees, textbooks, and living expenses. However, tuition still makes up a large portion of that amount, with the average cost of tuition totaling over $20,000 a year.

With the annual cost of a college education in the tens of thousands, you might have wondered, “Can I earn travel rewards or cashback from college tuition?” What better way to earn a ton of points or miles than from the expenses that come with a college education?

In this post, we'll discuss paying for college with rewards credit cards. We'll work to answer the question of whether or not it makes sense to pay college tuition with a credit card. We'll also discuss other ways to maximize points and miles from college-related expenses.

Students walk on a college campus. Students may be able to earn points and miles on college-related expenses with rewards credit card.
Can you and should you pay for college with a rewards credit card? (Image by Stanley Morales / Pexels)

Can I Pay College Tuition With a Credit Card?

Yes, you can earn a ton of travel rewards or cashback by using a rewards credit card to cover the cost of a college education. With many rewards credit cards offering lucrative welcome bonuses, a massive expense like a college education seems like the perfect way to earn a ton of points or miles.

Credit cards are a fantastic way to make major purchases while not having to immediately drain your bank account. Using a credit card to purchase a new home appliance or to pay for a car repair bill is commonplace. So, why not do the same when it comes time to pay for college tuition?

However, you'll want to consider some very important factors before deciding to pay for college using a credit card. For some, using a credit card to pay for college tuition to earn points and miles won't be an issue. For others, it's not recommended. It all depends on your individual financial situation.

To explore these factors, let's walk through a hypothetical scenario in which a credit card is used to pay the cost of college tuition.

An Example of Earning Rewards on College Tuition Payments

In this hypothetical scenario, let's see what it would look like if you were to pay just the cost of tuition using a credit card. In this example, we'll pay our tuition bill using the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards after qualifying spend.

In this case, we're paying annual tuition at a private 4-year college. That means we can expect to pay $39,723 a year in tuition alone. Most colleges offer a payment plan at no additional cost. These payment plans allow you to split up payments in a number of ways. For this example, let's select the payment plan that splits semester tuition into two payments — or four payments for the academic year.

In this case, we'll be using our Sapphire Reserve for four payments of $9,931. Immediately after our first payment, we qualified for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card's welcome bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points. Additionally, we'll earn 9,931 Ultimate Rewards each time we make payments towards tuition. That's 39,723 Ultimate Rewards points each year and a whopping 99,723 in the first year of paying tuition.

British Airways Travel Together Ticket is good for premium cabin travel including Club Suites
Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for Trans-Atlantic First Class, including for British Airways First Class. (Image courtesy of British Airways)

Fantastic, right? Imagine what you can do with almost 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points! AwardWallet users have redeemed Chase Ultimate Rewards points at an average of 1.97¢ cents per point. That means we've earned around $2,000 in Ultimate Rewards points in the first year of paying college tuition.

Let's take a look at how you'll earn rewards with some other credit cards.

Earning Potential When Paying College Tuition at $80,000 Over 4 Years

This all sounds great. However, there are some drawbacks to using a credit card to pay for an expense like college tuition.

What to Consider When Paying College Tuition with a Credit Card

Payment Processing Fees

First and foremost, almost every college or university uses a payment processing provider that charges a surcharge when paying tuition using a credit card. The average transaction fee incurred when paying college tuition is 2.75% per transaction. Additionally, unlike in other cases where a transaction fee is assessed (i.e. rent), there is rarely a maximum amount that one will incur when paying college tuition.

In the example above, we'll be paying an additional $273 in transaction fees for each of our four tuition payments of $9,931. That amounts to $1092 after all four tuition payments. After transaction fees, we've already eaten away at much of the value received from earning Ultimate Rewards on college tuition payments — and more than the cashback earned on a 2% credit card.

For what it's worth, you'll also earn Ultimate Rewards on the transaction processing fee. So, you do earn back some of the value lost to transaction fees.

Interest Rates and Making Payments

The next — and arguably more important — variable to consider is interest rates and payments. The easiest way to avoid paying interest is by paying off your statement balance in full each billing cycle. But, that's not going to be possible for many.

If you find yourself in a situation in which you cannot pay off your statement in full after tuition payments, you will be burdened with much higher interest rates compared to pretty much any student loan currently available.

We don't even have to consider monthly payment amounts or individual interest rates once we compare the interest rate associated with student loans to the interest rate offered by almost every reward credit card. Here's how the two different lines of credit compare:

  • Average federal student loan APR: 4.99%, Fixed APR
  • Average APR offered by a rewards credit card: 19.99% to 28.99%, Variable APR

Ultimately, for those that are not in a position to pay off their credit balance in full each statement cycle, credit cards are not a replacement for traditional student loan options.

It all comes down to available payment plans and your individual financial situation. If you're able to pay off your statement in full each time you make a tuition payment, the only major consideration is if the payment processing fees are worth the points and miles you'll earn.

Image of a woman at a laptop holding a credit card in her hand
The most important factor to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use a rewards credit card for an expense like college tuition is your individual ability to pay off your statement in full each billing cycle.

The Best Credit Card to Earn Rewards on College Tuition Payments

If you're interested in earning points, miles, or cashback on college tuition payments, there are two main strategies to consider. The first is to take advantage of lucrative one-time welcome bonuses for new cardholders. The second is to use a credit card that earns rewards at a consistently high rate.

Here are some examples of credit cards for each earning strategy.

Credit Cards with More Lucrative Welcome Bonuses

If it's quick points, miles, or cash back that you're after, certain cards offer more lucrative welcome bonuses than others. Here are some of the best credit cards with fantastic welcome bonuses at the moment:

United Club℠ Infinite Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Annual Fee$525
Welcome Bonus Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The United Club Infinite is the top-tier United co-brand card, and offers some great perks like United Club℠ membership, priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding and baggage handling privileges. If your not an elite, holding this card means you'll be treated like one of United's most loyal and valuable customers. If you already hold MileagePlus Premier status, the card also grants access to Complementary Premier Upgrades on United flights.
  • Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
  • Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
  • 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
  • Earn up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Apply Now
Rates & Fees
(Terms Apply)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Annual Fee$650
Welcome Offer Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
  • Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • Rates & Fees
  • 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
  • 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
  • 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The best business card to earn Ultimate Rewards on non-bonus purchases, you receive a $900 cash back bonus after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 1.5% back on all business expenses.
  • Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • 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.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Apply Now
Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • 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.

Credit Cards with Solid Everyday Earning Potential

The second strategy for earning rewards when paying college tuition is to use a card with consistent everyday earning potential. Unfortunately, college tuition isn't a bonus category for any credit card that we know of. So, you'll want to make sure this card has high earning potential on all purchases not categorized as a bonus category.

Here are a few of the top credit cards for everyday purchases:

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
The everyday workhorse of the Ultimate Rewards family of cards earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day of the week. While the Freedom Unlimited earns cash back on its own, the points earned become even more valuable when you hold an Ultimate Rewards card with the ability to transfer points to partners.
  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • 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, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase
  • Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
  • Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
  • Earn 1.5% on all purchases

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee$395
Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
  • 5 miles per dollar on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
  • 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel

Discover it® Miles
Discover it® Miles
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Discover will match ALL the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 30,000 Miles, you get 60,000 Miles. That's $600 towards travel!

Citi® Double Cash Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Offer Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Plus, get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. (After that, the (Variable) APR will be 19.24% - 29.24% based on your creditworthiness.)
The Citi Double Cash is a dynamic, no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card that allows you to earn 2% traditional cash back, or convert your rewards to ThankYou Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio (2x ThankYou points per $1). When paired with a premium ThankYou Rewards earning card, the Citi Double Cash is now the best card available for everyday, non-bonus purchases.

If you're looking to pay down debt or finance a larger purchase, this card also comes with one of the best available introductory APR offers on balance transfers.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • 2% cash back on every purchase - 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the (Variable) APR will be 19.24% - 29.24% based on your creditworthiness
  • Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min).
  • No annual fee
This card makes earning rewards simple with no need to worry about keeping track of bonus categories for purchases with specific types of merchants. You'll earn 2% cash back on every purchase—1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. Citi cash rewards now also convert to ThankYou points at 1:1 ($10 = 100 ThankYou points).

If you're not sold on the idea of using a credit card to pay for college tuition, plenty of other college-related expenses will allow you to earn rewards. Let's explore some of the other ways to earn points, miles, or cash back from college-related expenses.

Paying College Expenses with a Credit Card

As previously mentioned, the average cost of attending college in the US is $35,551 per year. This figure is the average cost for students attending public colleges (both in-state and out-of-state) and private colleges. Whether or not you pay tuition with a credit card, plenty of additional expenses can be covered with a credit card, allowing you to earn points, miles, or cash back on these expenses.

Breakdown of Non-Tuition Expenses at a 4-Year Private College:

  • Room & Board: $14,030 a year
  • Textbooks: $405 a year
  • Travel: $250 per semester
  • Parking Fees: $300 per semester
  • Dorm Room Needs: $200 per year
  • Food & Drink: $350 per month

Obviously, student expenses will vary widely depending on the individual. However, students will incur some significant expenses outside of the classroom. Many of these expenses are a great way to earn some points, miles, or cashback. You may even qualify for a welcome bonus or two.

Paying Rent During College with a Rewards Credit Card

Room and board for students living on campus are often billed with the cost of tuition. That makes it quite difficult to separate these expenses from tuition when the bill arrives. Additionally, on-campus room and board can be covered by scholarships, grants, and student loans.

For most students living on campus, there really isn't an opportunity to pay for room and board with a credit card. However, this is not the case for students that choose to live off campus. Rent can be paid using a credit card.

Keep in mind that using a credit card to pay rent almost always results in additional fees. Like in the case of paying college tuition with a credit card, most off-campus apartments and student housing will charge a credit card transaction fee. This fee varies but is also typically around 3%.

A typical college apartment. Use rewards credit card on rent to earn rewards.
Use the Bilt Rewards MasterCard at participating Bilt Alliance properties to earn credit card rewards with no transaction fees.

However, if the rewards you earn outweigh the transaction fee, paying rent using a credit card isn't a terrible idea. There is even a credit card designed for paying monthly rent.

You won't incur any fees when you use a The Bilt Mastercard® to pay rent at participating properties. Plus, you'll earn rewards with Bilt Rewards. The rewards you earn when you pay rent with the Bilt Mastercard can be redeemed for travel, shopping, and even future rent payments.

Check out our detailed post on the Bilt Rewards program and the Bilt Rewards Mastercard for more information.

Earning Rewards on Travel Expenses During College

College is a great time to travel and explore the world. However, for many students, travel is also a requirement to get between home and campus or to get around town. Luckily, there are no shortages or ways to earn rewards from travel expenses.

Check out our favorite travel rewards credit cards to learn how to earn points and miles on your travel expenses.

Related: Get Discounts, Checked Bags, and More Through “Student Privileges” Program

Earn Rewards When Paying for Groceries, Food, and Drink During College

Believe it or not, the average college student spends an additional $350 on food, drinks, and groceries each month — even if they reside on campus. Luckily, plenty of credit cards earn additional points, miles, or cash back at restaurants and grocery stores.

Best for Dining Out:

Savor Rewards from Capital One
Savor Rewards from Capital One
Annual Fee$95
Welcome Offer $300 Cash Back after you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • $300 Cash Back after you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, plus 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 4% cash back on dining
  • 4% cash back on entertainment
  • 4% cash back on popular streaming services
  • 3% cash back at grocery stores
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
Apply Now
Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
American Express® Gold Card
Annual Fee$250
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.
  • Rates & Fees
  • 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
  • 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
  • 1X on other purchases
  • Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.

Related: The Best Credit Cards for Dining Out

Best for Groceries:

Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Apply Now
Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That's $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.
  • Rates & Fees
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
  • 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases
  • Cash back is issued as a statement credit.

Related: The Best Credit Cards for Groceries

College student holding books.
College students have plenty of other expenses aside from tuition to earn credit card rewards on college-related expenses.

The Bottom Line

College is one of the largest expenses in a person's life. At around $20,000 a year for tuition alone, many students end up spending well over $100,000 while pursuing their undergraduate degree. All of this spending presents an opportunity for those looking to earn some additional points, miles, or cash back with credit cards.

For some, paying large expenses like college tuition is a fine strategy for earning tons of rewards. However, you'll want to consider your financial situation before committing to paying for tuition with a credit card. If you need financing options to pay for tuition, we recommend student loans over credit cards.

Even if you don't plan on paying for tuition with a credit card, there are plenty of other college-related expenses. From paying for a parking pass to furnishing a first apartment, attending college provides plenty of ways to rack up points and miles with a credit card.

Have you ever used a credit card to pay for college tuition? What's your favorite credit card to cover college-related expenses?

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)

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Wondering how AwardWallet determines a loyalty program account expiration date? When you click the expiration date next to your account, AwardWallet will give you a detailed description of how that date was calculated. Expiration dates calculated by AwardWallet (rather than listed on your loyalty program account page) have a special icon to let you know that we did the math for you.
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  • Wish I knew this when I went to school for 8 years! Oh well, at least I can share the info with others, lots of hard work here, thanks!