Best Credit Card for Nurses [2024 Review]

A credit card that doesn’t fit your needs and spending habits is a waste. As a busy nurse, selecting the most suitable card lets you focus on your hectic routine, patient care, and career growth.

I have compiled a well-researched list to help you make an informed decision on the best credit card for nurses today.

Our Top Credit Card Reviews for Nurses

A common feature of these cards is that you don’t get an intro APR period for any. However, each card caters to nurses’ basic and specific requirements. The best credit card for nurses should be the easiest to use.

• Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Best for Student Nurses: Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard
• Best for Food Rewards: American Express® Gold Card

Best Overall Card for Nurses: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best overall card for nurses because it covers every necessary category. You get ample earning opportunities for spending on everyday categories. You get:

• 5x points on flight and hotel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 5x points on purchasing Lyft services until March 2025
• 3x points on online grocery shopping
• 3x points on subscribing to streaming services
• 3x points on dining out, take away, or delivery
• 2x on all transit and commutes like buses, trains, subways, camping grounds, ferries, etc.

You can earn unlimited reward points as there is no price cap like most cash back cards. You get the most value if you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That said, you have multiple redemption options like majority of credit cards:

• Gift cards
• Statement credit
• Check from the bank.

More About It

You also get a generous welcome bonus. You get 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. You can buy big furniture or appliances to earn the bonus.

You also get a $50 credit each year for booking hotels through the Ultimate Rewards. Plus, you get an extra 10% bonus points for all your yearly purchases. This bonus does not have a spending cap.

Unlike several other travel cards, you don’t get a 0% intro APR period. You also incur a $95 annual fee. However, you can offset it for years with your welcome bonus only. Moreover, you travel cheaper because there is no foreign transaction fee.

Pros

• You get maximum reward points with this card compared to other travel cards.
• You get a 25% increase point value if you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. It means more cash for you.
• You earn points on routine traveling, too. Few cards offer this reward category.
• Chase redeems a 1 point = 1 dollar value with its transfer partners. They include airlines and hotels. You can get partially free trips with them.

Cons

• You don’t get an intro APR period here. It can be counterproductive if you want to pay off a large debt or carry a balance for the first few months.
• Like other top-tier travel cards, you don’t get lounge access or a TSA Precheck reimbursement.

Best Card for Student Nurses: Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard

Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard suits nurses who can’t hassle about rotating categories and price caps. It offers a flat rate of 2% cash back on all categories. It is the maximum percentage for flat rate cards. 

You can benefit from it if you are a modest to mid-spender. If you make big purchases regularly, you can look for higher cash back cards. The best thing about this card is its almost non-existent fee structure. You don’t have to pay:

• Annual fee
• Foreign transaction fee
• Penalty APR
• Late payment fee
• Returned payment fee
• Overspending penalty

Where this exemption makes this card more affordable, you should not carry a monthly balance. You can incur up to 28% APR if you do. You get a nurses-specific version of this card that has a variable APR. Ally charges a fixed APR for this card’s general version. Also, you can not apply for this card unless Ally invites you. In fact, all Ally cards are available by invitation only.

Pros

• You are exempt from paying an annual fee, a foreign transaction charge, and penalty fees. You can afford this card amicably this way.
• You get a maximum flat rate reward percentage that can increase your earnings pool. Most cards offer a 1% or 1.5% flat rate cash back.
• You incur a slightly lower APR with the nurses’ version of this card than the general version.

Cons

• You pay a high APR if you don’t pay off your monthly due balance.
• You can consider other cards because you can apply for this card only if Ally invites you by email.
• You don’t get a welcome offer, whereas some other flat rate cards have it.

Best Card for Nurses With Food Rewards: American Express Gold Card

You should get this card if you like to experiment with food by either dining out or cooking at home. You get up to 4x reward points in various categories and more than a couple of statement credits. Statement credits are a signature perk of Amex cards.

You get numerous lucrative food-centered offers with the American Express Gold card. You get:

• 4x points for dining globally, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• 4x points for takeout and food delivery inside the US, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• $120 credit on availing Uber Eats or Uber RIdes. You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States.
• $120 annual dining credit for eating at select restaurants like Grubhub, GoldBelly, Five Guys, etc.

Additionally, you get rewards and credits on travel, too. Although not as generous as Sapphire Preferred, you get 3x points on booking flights with your Gold card. You also get a $100 yearly credit for choosing hotels from The Hotel Collection. Finally, travel can be cheaper if you don’t incur a foreign transaction fee.

More About It

You can earn up to 60,000 reward points because of Amex’s special welcome offers. You have to spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months to get this bonus. It might seem an unreachable goal if your buying budget is way less than $2,000 per month. You can make a big purchase to accomplish this task then.

It is an expensive card because of its $325 annual fee. You can offset it with the statement credits, that is if you shop in those particular categories. Also, you incur a high APR if you choose to carry a monthly balance. 

Pros

• You get 4x points for spending on dining and supermarkets, which is generous compared to other such cards.
• You get around $340 credit that you can use to offset your high annual fee.
• You get a massive welcome bonus for spending $4,000 within the first six months.
• You get travel rewards and a no foreign transaction fee like top-tier travel cards. 

Cons

• You don’t get an intro APR period, unlike most rewards cards. You start incurring interest straight away without a breathing window.
• You pay a $250 annual fee, which you can avoid by looking at other rewards cards with a $0 or a low yearly fee.

	Annual Fee	Intro APR	Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred	$95	N/A	5x points on flight and hotel bookings; 3x points on daily commute
Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard	$0	N/A	Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
American Express Gold	$325	N/A	4x points on restaurants and supermarkets

Features to Consider for the Best Credit Card for Nurses

You may be excited to get a card and embark on your rewards-earning journey. However, you could make a wiser decision considering these features as criteria.

Fees

Your monthly income should be much more than your card charges. Calculate total card fees before choosing a card. Go slow; it is not necessary to get expensive cards like Amex Gold at the beginning.

Credit Score

You will need a good credit score to qualify for cards like the Sapphire Preferred. If you have a poor score, you can go for flat rate cards like Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard.

Earning Rewards

There are many reward card options. Choose one that rewards daily spending categories like Sapphire Preferred. Alternatively, you can go for specific categories like Amex Gold if you spend more there.

Related Questions

Conclusion

Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for nurses because of its reward categories and affordability. You get points for spending on basic needs like groceries and transportation. However, you can get other cards if you have specific needs that are included in the other cards mentioned.