How to build a credit history in college

Hint: it's all about how good you are with money.

As a college student, your credit score is probably the last thing you're thinking about. But there are some stress-free ways to start building good credit history for your future apartment, car and more.

1. KoraCash

KoraCash is up to $2000 on the Kora app exclusively for college students and has been proven to help students raise their credit scores. Borrowing money and paying back over time helps establish a positive payment history. The average student even saw their score improve 40+ points in the first six months. All you need to do is download Kora, fill out a short profile, and select the cash amount and payback length that works for you. You'll know your monthly payments, including your interest before you agree to anything. 

2. LevelCredit rent and utility reporting

Already paying for rent and utilities in an off-campus apartment? With LevelCredit, you can have those payments reported to the major credit bureaus to help you start establishing credit history (and no, they don’t already count toward your credit). Plus, LevelCredit can report past rent and utility payments (up to 24 months). It's a super easy way to start building credit history on payments you're already making.

3. Student Loans

Those student loans you took out for college are super helpful for building credit. For many people, student loans will be one of the first line of credit. With student loans, you’ll increase your credit age, which is around 15% of your total credit score. You won’t need to start loan payments until after you’ve completed college, but you can start paying off the interest to get a head start.

There’s a reason it’s called a credit card. Making full payments is an essential aspect of credit building. There are a number of secured or “builder” credit cards for you to get started with, that usually require a down payment upfront. These cards are designed for new credit users, or if you have a credit score that’s not-so-great. Credit cards aren't for every student - you really need to stay on top of the payments and make sure you are paying in full so you don't carry a balance.

These are just a few of the ways that you can build your credit. Building credit is a lifelong journey and it's so crucial to start building your credit history sooner rather than later. Looking to learn more about credit scores? Check out more info on KoraU.

Learn more about managing your money in college