100,000 Points
Worth $1,000
After you spend $25,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership.
- 1%Everywhere
Annual Fee
$125
Rec. Credit
Excellent
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Cash Back College®
This card is built for students who want a simple starter credit card and do not need bonus categories, travel perks, or a long list of extras. It works best as a basic everyday card for small purchases while you build credit habits, not as a rewards card to keep long term.
Annual Fee
$0
Rec. Credit Score
Excellent
Good For
Student credit building
All information about Wells Fargo Cash Back College® has been collected independently by MaxRewards. Wells Fargo Cash Back College® is no longer available through MaxRewards.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Overview
Is the Wells Fargo Cash Back College® worth it?
This card is great for...
First credit card
Everyday campus spending
Building payment history
For a student who wants a no-annual-fee card and a straightforward way to start building credit, the Wells Fargo Cash Back College can do the job. The appeal is simplicity: you earn 1% back on purchases, there is no annual fee, and the card does not ask you to track rotating categories or spending caps.
That said, the long-term value is limited. A flat 1% return is modest, there is no welcome bonus, and there are no listed benefits to help the card stand out. The 3% foreign transaction fee also makes it a poor fit for study abroad or international travel. If your priority is just getting started with credit, this card is serviceable. If you want stronger rewards or more flexibility, you will likely outgrow it quickly.
MaxRewards Verdict
This is a straightforward starter card for students who want to build credit with minimal complexity. It is easy to understand, but the low rewards and lack of meaningful perks make it more of a stepping-stone than a card worth keeping for years.
Earning
Rewards
The rewards setup here is as simple as it gets: 1% back on every purchase, with no bonus categories to manage. That makes earnings easy to predict, though not especially strong if you spend enough to benefit from a richer rewards card.
CategoryRate
Everywhere
1%
Rewards percent based on a valuation of 1¢ per Go Far Rewards point
Eligibility
Recommended Minimum Credit
Min: Excellent
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Excellent credit or higher is recommended for this card.
Credit approval is not guaranteed. Meeting the recommended credit range does not ensure approval, and applicants with lower scores may still be considered.
Pricing
Rates & Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
11.15% - 21.15%
Variable
Transfer APR
11.15% - 21.15%
Variable
Cash Advance APR
23.99%
Variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0.03
Balance Transfer
$5
Cash Advance
$10
Return Payment
$40
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Other cards from Wells Fargo
See all 23 cards
60,000 Points
Worth $600
After you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership.
- 5%Hotel
- 4%Airline
- 3%Dining
Annual Fee
$95
Rec. Credit
Excellent
50,000 Points
Worth $500
After you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership.
- 1%Everywhere
Annual Fee
$0
Rec. Credit
Excellent