Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure

1. Advertiser Disclosure

The Rich Grad Student is an independent publisher and comparison service, not a bank or financial institution. We are able to maintain a free, high-quality resource for graduate students by accepting advertising compensation from companies that appear on the site.

When you click on links to products (like credit cards) on our site and make a purchase or get approved, we may earn a commission. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).

However, this compensation does NOT influence our editorial content, ratings, or recommendations. We do not include all available financial offers.

2. Editorial Integrity & Methodology

Our goal is to help graduate students maximize their travel rewards and financial health. Our reviews and "Best of" lists are based on quantitative analysis of:

• Signup Bonuses: Adjusted for spending requirements.
• Earning Rates: Multipliers on key categories like dining and travel.
• Net Annual Cost: Annual fees minus reliable credits.
• Perk Value: Tangible benefits like lounge access or free nights.

Our "RGS Rating" (Great, Good, Poor) is determined by a proprietary formula weighing these factors against the typical spending patterns of a graduate student. Banks cannot buy a better rating. A card is only marked "Great" if the mathematical value consistently outweighs the cost.

3. Compliance with the CARD Act of 2009

We strictly adhere to regulations regarding the marketing of credit to students.

• No Inducements: We do not offer tangible items (t-shirts, pizza, etc.) to induce applications.
• Age Requirement: Our content is intended for graduate students who are typically over 21. The richgradstudent.com does not knowingly market to undergraduate students under 21.
• Under-21 Notice: If you are under 21 years old, federal rules limit credit card approvals. You may need to demonstrate independent income or apply with a co-signer to be approved.
• "Student" Card Reviews: Some cards we review are branded as "Student" cards (e.g., Discover It Student). Our reviews of these products are intended for graduate students age 21+. These cards may have different approval requirements for applicants under 21.
• Transparency: We strive to display terms, APRs, and fees clearly. However, terms change frequently. Always verify the official terms on the issuer's secure application page before applying.
• APR Disclosures: When we mention introductory APR offers (e.g., "0% APR for 15 months"), this applies to the specific offer type (purchases or balance transfers) as specified. After the intro period, a variable APR will apply based on your creditworthiness. See issuer for current rates and fees.