The best student credit card in Canada for Costco shoppers (2026)

The best student credit card for a Costco shopper in Canada has to be a Mastercard, because Costco warehouses don't take Visa. CIBC's Adapta Mastercard for Students is the one we found: $0 a year, no minimum income, and about 1% back in your top 3 spending categories. The CIBC Costco Mastercard pays more at Costco but needs $15,000 of income.

Which student credit cards are there in Canada?

From CIBC's and Scotiabank's student pages, checked October 27, 2026 (BMO's student page wasn't answering):

CIBC's student cards ask for enrolment in a post-secondary program, the age of majority (or proof of student status for international students), no bankruptcy in the past 7 years and no minimum income. Scotiabank's page lists no income requirement and asks international students to apply in person.

Which student credit cards work at Costco?

Only the Mastercard ones. Costco warehouses and gas stations in Canada take Mastercard as their only credit card, and Costco Canada doesn't take American Express at all, so a student Visa works only on Costco.ca. If you shop at Costco, the CIBC Adapta for Students is the student card that works there; Tangerine's Money-Back Mastercard does too, if you earn $12,000. Not a student? The same logic applies to the best no annual fee cards. If a past missed payment is the problem rather than a short history, see credit cards for bad credit.

Can a student get the CIBC Costco Mastercard?

Only with $15,000 of income a year and an active Costco membership ($65 for Gold Star). CIBC also asks for a good credit score, which you won't have before your first card. If you qualify, it's the better Costco card: 3% at Costco gas and restaurants, 2% on Costco.ca, 1% in the warehouse. The full list is in our application guide. Sharing a parent's membership? Ask them to add you as an additional cardholder on their CIBC Costco Mastercard, which costs $0 for up to 3 cards.

What does the CIBC Adapta for Students earn?

1.5 points per $1 in your top 3 spending categories each month, 1 point elsewhere and 2 points on travel booked through CIBC by Expedia. The categories include grocery and drug stores, dining and drinks, gas and EV, transit and parking, and entertainment. 1,500 points are worth $10 on your balance, so 1.5 points is about 1% and 1 point about 0.67%. Costco is usually coded as a wholesale club rather than a grocery store, so expect the 1-point rate in the warehouse; see does Costco count as grocery spending.

How can a student earn the income the Costco card needs?

CIBC asks for $15,000 a year. Part-time work counts, and so does independent work: Flatcart is signing up local helpers who do Costco runs, deliveries, returns and assembly for Costco shoppers, starting in BC, Alberta and Ontario. It's free to join the founding helpers list, and you choose your own services, areas and prices.

How should a student use a first credit card?

• Pay the full balance every month: most of Scotiabank's student cards charge 20.99% to 21.99%, and interest erases any rewards.
• Use it for regular purchases you'd make anyway, like groceries or a phone bill, so it builds a payment history.
• Keep the limit as a ceiling, not a target: CIBC's student limits go up to $5,000.
• Apply for one card at a time: each application is a hard credit check.
• Switch to the Costco card later: once you have $15,000 of income and some credit history.