First and foremost, make sure you're ready for the responsibility if you want to get a credit card and you're in college. Cards are a great way to build credit, but you will need to keep balances low and pay bills in full and on time every month.

Look at options that require little to no credit history, including student and secured credit cards. Evaluating APRs, security deposits, annual fees and rewards programs can help you whittle down your choices.

Seek credit cards that offer prequalification, and don't apply for too many at once. Your applications will trigger hard inquiries that can hurt your credit.

For approval, you may need to verify your income and provide proof of enrollment, plus the name of your college or university, state and city.

College student credit cards, unlike traditional cards, are designed for students with little to no credit history. A student card used responsibly can help you build credit and even score some perks.

The typical student card is unsecured, which means the issuer does not require a deposit to open the account. Other features separating student credit cards from traditional cards include:

Lower credit limits. Student cards may have lower credit limits than traditional credit cards because students don't have track records of paying back big balances. You might be able to get a higher credit limit once you make several on-time payments, depending on the card.

Limited rewards. Student credit cards might earn cash back in certain spending categories, but traditional cards offer more generous rewards, such as sign-up bonuses, airline miles and access to airport lounges.

Special benefits for students. These could include credits for maintaining good grades or paying your bill on time. Some student credit cards may allow you to view your FICO credit score for free.

Building Your Credit

Getting a credit card in college can help you begin to learn good credit habits and allow you to graduate with some positive credit history. That head start could make renting an apartment, making major life purchases and transitioning to financial independence a bit easier.

Earning Rewards

Issuers offer miles, points or cash back rewards for every dollar you spend to enhance the value of your card and encourage you to use it. Check program rules, but points or miles can usually be redeemed for travel and merchandise, as well as gift cards and statement credits.

Protecting Against Credit Card Fraud and Theft

If a thief steals your credit card or obtains your credit card number and uses it before you report the card missing, your liability is limited to $50. Many credit card companies offer zero-liability policies and will not hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Good Credit Can Help Students Land a Job

An employer may want to check your credit when you apply for a job but will need your written permission to do so. Your credit report can give the employer an idea of how you handle responsibilities.

What employers can access varies by state, but they won't be able to access your credit score. Some states have prohibited employers from using credit reports in the hiring process.

Credit Can Affect Auto Insurance Rates

Credit score is one of a number of factors auto insurers may consider when issuing and pricing policies. A good credit rating can drive down car insurance costs. However, use of credit information in determining auto premiums is banned in some states.

Good Credit Can Make Renting an Apartment Easier for Students

Your credit score indicates your creditworthiness, and a higher number looks better, especially in a competitive rental market. You may also get the benefit of moving in without paying a security deposit.

A FICO score of 670, which falls in the good range, can be helpful to rent an apartment, but keep in mind that cutoffs vary. The landlord may take a closer look at your credit details if your score is in the mid-600s or lower, according to myFICO.

Good Credit Is Necessary for Financing a Home or Car

A good credit history can help you qualify for a mortgage or car loan with a favorable interest rate. The higher your credit score, the more affordable your monthly payment could be. Even a difference of 20 points between credit scores can add up to thousands of dollars in savings over the life of a loan.

Cards for students may have lenient credit requirements, allowing you to qualify with little to no credit history. The idea is for college students to build credit and later graduate to a traditional credit card.

If you want a student card, you will generally need to be at least 18, a U.S. citizen and enrolled in college. You'll also need to pass a credit check. If you are under 21 and applying without a co-signer, you will need to prove that you earn sufficient income to pay the credit card bill.

Students with no credit history who want credit cards are not, in fact, out of luck. In addition to becoming an authorized user on a parent's card, you could consider applying for:

• Student credit cards.
• Secured credit cards.
• Retail credit cards.
• Alternative credit cards.

If you are under 21, though, you will need to show that you earn an income or apply with an adult co-signer. Also, you have to be 18 to get a credit card in your own name.

Many credit cards allow applicants to prequalify, a process that determines someone's likelihood of approval before applying. The card issuer uses a soft inquiry that does not harm your credit score to see whether you are a good fit.

Prequalification saves you from applying for a bunch of credit cards that are out of your league. Each hard inquiry from a credit application could drop your score by five points or less, although the effect diminishes after a year.

At the same time, prequalification is neither a real application for credit nor a guarantee of approval

You must be 18 to get a credit card in your own name. If you're under 21, you must either have a co-signer or show that you earn an independent income.

[READ: Is There a Right Age to Get a Credit Card?]

A job might help you get a student credit card. You need proof of income – whether that's from a job, an allowance or something else – or you'll need a co-signer

You may need to provide the issuer copies of certain documents as proof of income and college enrollment. Sometimes, issuers may not want these documents, but you will use them to complete your student card application.

Pay stubs, W-2 tax forms, bank statements or financial aid records may be used to show income. A college acceptance letter or transcript can confirm enrollment.

When you graduate, your student credit card should as well. Do not cancel your credit card, which could reduce the length of your credit history and hurt your credit. How long you've been using credit makes up 15% of your FICO credit score.

Start by contacting your credit card company to update account details such as your graduation date, income and contact information. If your income has grown, you might be able to get a credit line increase and even request it through your issuer's mobile app or your online account.

After you graduate, Discover will reclassify your card so that it is no longer a student credit card. If you have a student card from a different issuer and an on-time payment history, you can ask for a card upgrade.

You could also ask for a transfer to a product better suited to your needs, which would move your account history to a new card rather than closing the old student credit card.