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4 Best Credit Cards for College Grads

My daughter, who will graduate from college next month, is getting pelted with credit card offers.

Caitlin has always managed to get by with just a debit card so she has been throwing all this credit card junk mail away. I told her, however, that she should obtain a credit card to help her establish a credit history.

Credit card laws have been toughened for college students in an effort to cut down on marketing abuses on college campuses. Consequently, there are probably a lot of students like my daughter who are graduating without any plastic.

Just in time for graduation, however, I'm passing along a list that CardRatings.com says represents the best credit cards for new college grads. CardRatings.com is an extremely popular website that provides consumer news on credit cards, as well as reviews.

Here are the editors' picks for the best credit cards for new college grads:

Discover Open Road Card

Best card for college grads on the move
  • 0% APR teaser rate.
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Gas and restaurant bonuses plus a $75 restaurant.com gift card for a limited time

Sony Card from Capital One

Best cards for college grads furnishing a first apartment
  • Up to 10 months with 0% APR
  • Electronics and entertainment rewards
  • Bonus points on Sony purchases

Citi Forward Card

Best credit cards for grads who love movies and dining out
  • Bonus reward points to use at restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores
  • Up to a two percent APR reduction for on-time bill pay
  • Extra bonus points for paperless statement sign-up

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best credit cards for college grads heading off to see the world
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Miles earned on every purchase that don't expire
  • Miles can be used on any airline with no blackout dates
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and she also writes her own college blog at The College Solution.
Credit card image by SimonQ. CC 2.0.

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