Many students focus on their studies and put off managing their finances. However, building your student credit score now is a crucial step for your financial future. Your credit score directly impacts your ability to get a student loan, a credit card, a mortgage, or even to rent housing.
By starting early, you show financial institutions that you’re a responsible borrower. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a high income to build a good credit score. Small, consistent actions are enough. This article explains how to create and maintain a strong credit score right from your student years.
The credit score is a numerical rating, usually between 300 and 900, that summarizes a person’s reliability as a borrower. The higher the number, the more responsible you are perceived to be by lenders.
This score is calculated from your student credit report, a detailed report produced by agencies such as Equifax and TransUnion. It combines your financial history, including:
Many people confuse the two, but it’s important to understand that the quality of your credit report directly affects your credit score.
For students, building their credit history is an essential step towards financial credibility. A good credit score facilitates access to credit cards, student loans, mortgages and even apartment rentals.
Your credit score is calculated based on several specific elements of your student or personal credit file:
Understanding these factors will enable you to better manage your credit file as a student and gradually improve your score.
Building a student credit report is an essential step toward financial independence. Unlike your credit score, your credit report includes all your financial habits and repayment history. Here are the best practices to build a strong credit report right from your student years.
Your file may contain errors or inaccurate information. You have the right to request a free copy of your credit report once a year from Equifax and TransUnion. Make a habit of consulting it to correct any errors and monitor your progress.
What’s more, some financial institutions, such as Desjardins, Tangerine, CIBC and Scotiabank, allow you to check your credit score from their banking platform.
The most important factor in your credit rating is the regularity of your payments. Even a single late payment can have a negative impact on your credit rating and stay on your record for several years. Always pay at least the minimum amount indicated on your student credit card or student loans.
Your student loans are part of your credit history. Make your payments on time and avoid defaults. In addition, some service bills, such as cell phone or internet, may also be reported to credit bureaus. Managing these accounts responsibly helps strengthen your student credit report.
It’s often easier to get a credit card designed for students, with a modest limit and sometimes no annual fee. These cards not only help you build your credit rating, but also earn rewards such as cash back or loyalty points.
If you love to travel and want to collect points to save on future trips, National Bank offers the National Bank Platinum Mastercard®. If you prefer the simplicity of cash back, the NBC mycredit Mastercard is a no-annual-fee card for students. There are many others:
Here’s more information on two of them:
The CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students is one of Canada’s best cashback Visa credit cards for students. Sign up for a card and receive up to $125 cash back.
With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:
What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you benefit from a free free membership to SPC, for instant savings on over 450 in-store and online transactions.
And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:
With the National Bank Platinum Mastercard®, you can earn 2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases, and 1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and À la carte Travel.
Since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.
Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard® does not require a minimum income.
What’s more, you can take advantage of a wide range of insurances usually reserved for high-end credit cards:
We voted the National Bank Platinum Mastercard® as the best credit card for young professionals in 2024.
A high credit utilization rate can negatively affect your credit report. Ideally, keep your monthly usage below 30 percent of your limit. For example, if your limit is $1,000, try to stay under $300. This shows that you use credit responsibly and makes you look better to lenders.
Each new application requires a credit check, which can temporarily lower your credit score. As a student, stick to credit cards that suit your needs, rather than accumulating several cards in a short space of time. A solid student credit report is based on stability and consistency, not on the number of accounts you open.
By applying these best practices, you’ll build a solid student credit report that will make it easier for you to obtain loans, a mortgage or even a rental apartment once you’ve completed your studies.
Building a student credit report takes discipline. Certain mistakes can hamper your efforts:
By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll protect your credit rating as a student and build a solid foundation for your financial future.
Your student credit report is the first step toward financial independence. By adopting responsible practices today, you give yourself more options and freedom for your future projects. Start small, stay disciplined and your credit history will become a real asset.
Even without a job, you can start with a low-limit student credit card. The important thing is to pay your balances on time to demonstrate your reliability.
The credit score is a number that summarizes your credit risk. The student credit report contains all your credit history: payments, open accounts, loans, etc.
Always pay your bills on time, reduce your credit utilization to less than 30% and avoid unnecessary new credit applications. These actions will improve your credit rating in just a few months.
Yes. Your student loans are part of your credit history. On-time payments strengthen your record, but late payments hurt your credit score.
You can obtain a free copy of your file once a year from Equifax and TransUnion. This allows you to correct any errors and track your progress.
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