Round-up feature boosts small-purchase earnings for students who spend in small amounts.
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Limited credit OK — Accessible for students with limited credit history
ClearValue Rating: 4.2 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)
Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.
Students who make frequent small purchases — coffee, transit, study supplies — and want the round-up feature to maximize points per transaction.
The Citi Rewards+ Student Card has a $0 annual fee and earns 2X ThankYou Points on supermarkets and gas (up to $6,000 per year), and 1X on all other purchases. Every purchase rounds up to the nearest 10 ThankYou Points. A foreign transaction fee applies on international purchases — verify the current fee and APR at the issuer.
| Year 1 value | Ongoing value |
|---|---|
| 2X on supermarkets and gas (up to $6K/yr) + round-up to nearest 10 ThankYou Points per purchase | 2X on supermarkets and gas (up to $6,000/yr); 1X everywhere else; round-up on every purchase; $0 annual fee |
| Round-up affects all purchases — a $4 coffee earns 10 points instead of 4 | |
Citi Rewards+ Student Card — Round-up feature boosts small-purchase earnings for students who spend in small amounts. Best for: Students who make frequent small purchases — coffee, transit, study supplies — and want the round-up feature to maximize points per transaction.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.
Every purchase on the Citi Rewards+ Student Card rounds up to the nearest 10 ThankYou Points. A $4.00 coffee earns 10 points instead of 4. A $12.50 lunch earns 20 points instead of 12. A $100 grocery run earns 100 points (already a multiple of 10, no round-up benefit). The feature matters most for frequent small purchases — coffee, transit fares, convenience store runs — where it effectively inflates the earn rate above 1X. Verify the current round-up mechanics at the Citi issuer page.
Not as a standalone student card. ThankYou Points from the Rewards+ Student Card are redeemable as statement credits, gift cards, or travel portal bookings. To unlock the full transfer partner network (airlines, hotels), you need to pair the Rewards+ with an eligible premium Citi ThankYou card — typically the Citi Strata Premier. As a student starting out, the statement-credit redemption is the most straightforward path. Verify current redemption options and partner eligibility at the Citi issuer page.
Yes — the Citi Rewards+ Student Card charges a foreign transaction fee on international purchases. If you plan to study abroad or travel internationally frequently, a no-FX-fee student card (Capital One SavorOne Student, Chase Freedom Student, Discover it Student) may be a better fit for international use. Verify the current FX fee at the Citi issuer page before applying.
The standard Citi Rewards+® Card (for non-students) was discontinued in July 2025 and replaced by the Citi Strata℠ Card. The Citi Strata is now the no-annual-fee ThankYou Points card open to all applicants — it earns 3X at supermarkets, 3X on gas and transit, 3X on a self-select quarterly category, and 2X at restaurants. Unlike the Rewards+ Student Card, the Citi Strata does not have the round-up feature. See the Citi Rewards+ (standard) review for the full comparison between versions. Verify current terms at citi.com.
No. ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. This review presents publicly available editorial information about the Citi Rewards+ Student Card. The Citi Rewards+ Student Card is issued and operated by Citibank, N.A. APRs, rewards rates, fees, and terms are determined solely by Citibank and may change — verify current terms at citi.com before applying.
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Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
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