Credit cards for college student types are everywhere. Literally, if you live in a college town it’s hard to walk down the street without seeing an advertisement for a credit card company or a kiosk where you can sign up for one. On the one hand, credit cards are good to have while in college. They can help you pay for things, as well as build your credit history and score. On the other hand, if used irresponsibly they can get a young adult in debt way over his or her head.

When looking at credit cards for a college student, one should be aware of the annual percentage rate (APR), whether or not there’s an annual fee and if there are incentive programs that will give you back a portion of your purchases. From airline miles to actual cash back each quarter, there are a ton of incentive programs to be aware of, and any savvy applicant should hold out for such a deal.