Best credit cards for school supplies
Back to school is here and it’s important that you (or your child) have the right supplies. That back-to-school list can sometimes run into hundreds or thousands of dollars, from laptops to pencils and everything in between.
If you are looking Earn more points and miles or achieve minimum spend rewards, Back-to-school shopping can be a great way to do that. Here are some of the best cards for back-to-school supplies (with bonus cards below):
Compare the best cards
| Best for | Earn bonuses | |
|---|---|---|
| Ink business cash credit card | Stationery store | 5% cash back on combined purchases up to $25,000 at stationery supply stores and internet, cable and phone services |
| American Express Gold Card | Buy American supermarket products | 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (after that 1 point per dollar). Terms apply |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Low annual fee returns | 6% back on your first $6,000 in purchases at US supermarkets* |
| Premium Visa | Buy on Amazon | 5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card/Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Shopping together during back to school | Unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases |
| Citi Dual Cash Card | Free return every year | Unlimited 2% cashback on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay) |
*Refunds are received in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits or at checkout on Amazon.com.
Take a closer look at each card
Ink business cash credit card
Even if you don’t own your own business, you may still qualify for a business card like Cash ink business.
Welcome offer: Earn $350 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, you can earn an extra $400 in cash back after spending $6,000 in the first six months of account opening.
Income: The Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers a generous 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on combined purchases at office supply stores and internet, cable and phone services. Whether you’re buying simple appliances or a computer, 5% is a big savings.
Annual Fee: Do not have.
Why we like it: If you are buy a computer from a stationery store, consider using this card. Along with the refund, you will also have Purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
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Many people don’t believe they can Apply for a business card when in fact they can. You can apply for one business credit card even if you’re a freelancer or have a side business.
To learn more, take a look Full review of Ink Business Cash.
Register here: Chase Ink Cash Business
Premium Visa
If your family has a Prime subscription, you should consider it Premium Visa card.
Welcome offer: Receive a $100 Amazon gift card immediately upon approval.
Income: This card offers 5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
Annual Fee: No, but a Prime subscription is required for approval.
Why we like it: If you plan to make significant purchases on Amazon, consider applying for an Amazon Prime Visa. The store that sells just about everything from A to Z is sure to have something on your back-to-school list.
Additionally, the card comes with purchase protection and Extended warranty protection.
To learn more, take a look Full review of Prime Visa.
Register here: Amazon Prime Visa
American Express Gold Card
Whether it’s buying groceries for your child’s lunch or dinner from a deli on a busy night, Amex Gold can help you accumulate valuable points when making purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of membership. You may be targeted to receive higher offers through Tag Match; Not everyone will be targeted for the same offers, and offers may change at any time.
Income: With the American Express Gold Card, you can earn 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) or dining drinks at your favorite restaurants (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Annual Fee: $325 (see exchange rates and fees).
Why we like it: If you’re looking for simple school supplies like pens, pencils, or paper, consider using this card to earn valuable American Express Membership Rewards at your local supermarket.
You’ll earn up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at select restaurants each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) and up to $120 in Uber Cash per calendar year (credits monthly up to $10; the card must be added to your Uber account and you must use an eligible Amex card to pay to receive your Uber Cash benefits). Cards are very diverse Perks can easily offset the annual fee. Registration is required to receive select benefits; Terms apply.
To learn more, take a look Full review of Amex Gold.
Register here: American Express Gold Card
Capital One Venture Rewards and Capital One Venture X Rewards
Both Capital One Venture Rewards And Capital One X joint venture brings great benefits; The decision depends on how much you are willing to pay in annual fees.
Welcome offer: Both Venture Rewards and Venture X have identical welcome offers. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Income: Earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase.
Annual Fee: $95 (Adventure Bonus); $395 (X Venture Bonus)
Why we like them: Both cards offer at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, yielding 3.7 cents per dollar spent per TPG in January 2025 valuation. Either card, if already in your wallet, is a great option to fill in the gaps in your back-to-school purchases.
To learn more, check out our full reviews Joint venture rewards And X joint venture.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards
Learn more: Capital One X joint venture
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
If you want to earn cash back instead of points, consider it Prioritize green cash.
Welcome offer: Get $250 back in statement credits after spending $3,000 in the first six months of card membership.
Income: Earn 6% cash back on your first $6,000 in purchases at US supermarkets each calendar year (after that 1%).
Annual Fee: $0 annual introductory fee for the first year, then $95 (see exchange rates and fees)
Why we like it: This card offers a whopping 6% back on your first $6,000 in purchases at US supermarkets each calendar year (after that 1%), along with other bonus categories. While you probably won’t drop six grand on pens and pencils this year, this card is a solid alternative with a low annual fee that will put cash back into your wallet.
To learn more, take a look Full review of Blue Cash Preferred.
Register here: Prioritize green cash
Citi Dual Cash Card
Sometimes, keeping it simple is best. If that’s what you want to do, Citi Double Cash maybe just for you
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on the card in the first three months of account opening.
Income: Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you check out.
Annual Fee: $0
Why we like it: The Citi Double Cash is one of the best no-annual-fee cards on the market, offering essentially 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay). If you’re looking to add a low-cost card to boost your back-to-school savings, this is the option for you.
To learn more, take a look Full review of Citi Double Cash.
Register here: Citi Double Cash
Use Dell statement credits on the American Express Business Platinum Card
Finally, if you have American Express Business Platinum® CardYou will receive a statement credit to use on qualifying purchases in the United States from Dell.
You’ll receive up to $400 in annual statement credits on qualifying US Dell purchases each calendar year. That amount is broken down into a statement credit of up to $200 on Dell purchases in the US between January and June, and another credit of up to $200 on Dell purchases in the US during period from July to December. Enrollment required for select benefits; Terms apply.
This benefit currently has an end date of June 30, 2025, so make sure to take that into account before applying for this card.
Related: 10 items you can buy with your $400 Amex Business Platinum Dell statement credit
Bottom line
Back-to-school season has arrived. With supplies and essential expenses looming for many, now is the time to plan your strategy to help alleviate some of those costs.
In addition to using your best credit card, remember Maximize rewards earned from school supplies by taking advantage of other programs like shopping portals, Amex Deals, Chase Deals, and discount codes.
For Amex Gold rates and fees, click This.
For rates and fees on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, click This
