Verdict · Updated April 2026
Target REDcard Credit Card for College Students
The Target REDcard Credit Card is a solid pick for college students — ranked #12 of 47 eligible cards. It's a reasonable choice but not the category leader; check the alternatives below before committing.
Rank #12 of 4776th percentileSolid option — check alternatives
Reviewed by CardCompare Editorial Board
|Data-driven ranking|Updated April 2026
Target REDcard Credit Card
TD Bank · No annual fee
A straightforward store card: 5% off every Target purchase, free shipping on Target.com, and 30 extra days for returns. Stacks with Target Circle promotions. No annual fee and easier approval than most cards, but useless outside Target.
Full card review
Earn math — College Students profile
Based on typical college students spending of $9,960/year across the categories below.
Annual rewards
$0
Annual fee
$0
Net value
$0
Approvable with no creditZero annual feeBuild credit historyGraduation bonus
Where the Target REDcard Credit Card wins for college students
- No annual fee — zero cost to keep the account open while building history
Top 3 alternatives for college students
Cards that rank higher than or close to the Target REDcard Credit Card on our college students scoring model.
How the Target REDcard Credit Card performs for other use cases
Frequently asked questions
Is the Target REDcard Credit Card a good card for college students?⌄
The Target REDcard Credit Card is a solid pick for college students — ranked #12 of 47 eligible cards. It's a reasonable choice but not the category leader; check the alternatives below before committing.
How much can I earn with the Target REDcard Credit Card on college students spending?⌄
At the typical college students spending profile of $9,960/year, this card earns approximately $0 in rewards — net $0 after the $0 annual fee.
What are better alternatives to the Target REDcard Credit Card for college students?⌄
Our top 3 alternatives are Discover it Student Cash Back, Discover it Student Chrome, Chase Freedom Rise. Each ranks higher on our use-case scoring model for college students.
What credit score do I need for the Target REDcard Credit Card?⌄
The Target REDcard Credit Card typically requires fair credit. Approval also depends on income, existing debt, and application history — a score in the stated range doesn't guarantee approval.
Is the Target REDcard Credit Card's annual fee worth it for this use case?⌄
The Target REDcard Credit Card has no annual fee — there's no breakeven to clear, so any rewards earned on college students spending are pure profit.
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