Best for · Bills · updated 2026-09-19

Best credit cards for education fees

Every card scored in rupees for this use, not a hand-picked list. Numbers assume the profile stated below – set up yours to re-rank for your spend.

Best credit card for school and college fees (Sept 2026): ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal – about 2.5% back on ₹15,000/month of school and college fees, ₹13,920 net a year after fee. Runners-up: Millennia and Infinia Metal. Ranked for ₹15,000 a month of school, college and course fees paid direct.

Standard profile
Scored for School and college fees profile · ₹47k/monthBills paid in full · first-year offers shown separately · set up your profile to score cards for your own spend

Top 3 for school and college fees

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal credit card
ICICI BankVisa

Emeralde Private Metal

92
Net savings₹13,920/yr
Savings rate2.8%
Annual feeYou pay ₹14,749
Lounge✈∞ dom🌏∞ intl

✓ Utilities, insurance, grocery, education (1,000 RP/mo cap each, shared here) earns you…

Details
HDFC Bank Millennia credit card
HDFC BankVisa

Millennia

76
Net savings₹8,532/yr
Savings rate1.7%
Annual feeWaived ₹1,180
Lounge✈8 dom

✓ 1% on other spends (capped 1,000 CP/mo) earns you about ₹4,572 a year on ₹4,57,200 of…

Details
HDFC Bank Infinia Metal credit card
HDFC BankVisa

Infinia Metal

74
Net savings₹9,174/yr
Savings rate1.9%
Annual feeYou pay ₹14,750
Lounge✈∞ dom🌏∞ intl

✓ Base rate 2.83% on other spends earns you about ₹5,264 a year on ₹1,86,000 of spend.

Details

All 31 cards ranked for school and college fees

Cards ranked for school and college fees
#CardScoreNet savings / yrOn school and college fees / yrAnnual feeLounge
1ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal credit cardEmeralde Private MetalICICI Bank92/100₹13,920
2.8% rate		₹4,590
2.5% back		You pay ₹14,749unlimited domestic + unlimited international/yr
2HDFC Bank Millennia credit cardMillenniaHDFC Bank76/100₹8,532
1.7% rate		₹1,800
1.0% back		Waived ₹1,1808 domestic/yr
3HDFC Bank Infinia Metal credit cardInfinia MetalHDFC Bank74/100₹9,174
1.9% rate		₹5,094
2.8% back		You pay ₹14,750unlimited domestic + unlimited international/yr
4Standard Chartered Ultimate credit cardUltimateStandard Chartered72/100₹8,444
1.7% rate		₹5,940
3.3% back		You pay ₹5,900unlimited domestic/yr
5IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Power+ credit cardFIRST Power+IDFC FIRST Bank × HPCL71/100₹9,258
1.6% rate		₹1,350
0.8% back		Waived ₹5894 domestic/yr
6HDFC Bank Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank credit cardTata Neu Infinity HDFC BankHDFC Bank69/100₹8,334
1.5% rate		₹2,700
1.5% back		Waived ₹1,7698 domestic + 4 international/yr
7HDFC Bank Regalia Gold credit cardRegalia GoldHDFC Bank64/100₹6,441
1.3% rate		₹2,394
1.3% back		Waived ₹2,95012 domestic + 6 international/yr
8HDFC Bank Regalia credit cardRegaliaHDFC Bank64/100₹6,441
1.3% rate		₹2,394
1.3% back		Waived ₹2,95012 domestic + 6 international/yr
9HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege credit cardDiners Club PrivilegeHDFC Bank64/100₹6,441
1.3% rate		₹2,394
1.3% back		Waived ₹2,9508 domestic/yr
10HDFC Bank Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank credit cardTata Neu Plus HDFC BankHDFC Bank59/100₹5,676
1.0% rate		₹1,800
1.0% back		Waived ₹5894 domestic/yr
11ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver ICICI Bank credit cardHPCL Super Saver ICICI BankICICI Bank59/100₹5,175
1.0% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Waived ₹5904 domestic/yr
12IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Wealth credit cardFIRST WealthIDFC FIRST Bank59/100₹5,029
1.0% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Free for life8 domestic + 8 international/yr
13IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select credit cardFIRST SelectIDFC FIRST Bank59/100₹5,029
1.0% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Free for life8 domestic/yr
14HDFC Bank Regalia First credit cardRegalia FirstHDFC Bank55/100₹4,018
0.8% rate		₹1,440
0.8% back		Waived ₹1,1808 domestic/yr
15Punjab National Bank PNB RuPay Select credit cardPNB RuPay SelectPunjab National Bank53/100₹3,922
0.7% rate		₹1,206
0.7% back		Waived ₹5908 domestic/yr
16HDFC Bank Times Platinum credit cardTimes PlatinumHDFC Bank52/100₹3,334
0.7% rate		₹1,080
0.6% back		Waived ₹1,1804 domestic/yr
17ICICI Bank Coral credit cardCoralICICI Bank50/100₹2,526
0.5% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Waived ₹5904 domestic/yr
18ICICI Bank Rubyx credit cardRubyxICICI Bank49/100₹2,646
0.5% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Waived ₹2,3608 domestic/yr
19HDFC Bank IndianOil HDFC Bank credit cardIndianOil HDFC BankHDFC Bank47/100₹5,698
1.2% rate		₹1,152
0.6% back		Waived ₹590No lounge access
20IDFC FIRST Bank Ashva credit cardAshvaIDFC FIRST Bank47/100₹2,440
0.5% rate		₹1,494
0.8% back		You pay ₹3,5398 domestic + 8 international/yr
21IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Classic credit cardFIRST ClassicIDFC FIRST Bank45/100₹5,029
1.0% rate		₹900
0.5% back		Free for lifeNo lounge access
22HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal credit cardDiners Club Black MetalHDFC Bank40/100₹767
0.2% rate		₹4,806
2.7% back		You pay ₹11,800unlimited domestic + unlimited international/yr
23IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST WOW credit cardFIRST WOWIDFC FIRST Bank39/100₹3,423
0.7% rate		₹1,206
0.7% back		Free for lifeNo lounge access
24AU Small Finance Bank Zenith+ credit cardZenith+AU Small Finance Bank36/100−₹337
-0.1% rate		₹900
0.5% back		You pay ₹5,899unlimited domestic + 4 international/yr
25IDFC FIRST Bank Mayura credit cardMayuraIDFC FIRST Bank36/100−₹1,100
-0.2% rate		₹1,494
0.8% back		You pay ₹7,07912 domestic + 12 international/yr

Showing the top 25 of 31. Browse every card →

Ranked by the open CardLens engine: rewards at realistic redemption value + milestones + waivers − fee incl. 18% GST − forex, for the spend profile stated above. Profile: for ₹15,000 a month of school, college and course fees paid direct. Figures are estimates from public issuer terms – verify on the issuer page before applying. How the score works →

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Frequently asked questions

Which credit card is best for school and college fees in India in Sept 2026?

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal ranks first for school and college fees on CardLens: about 2.5% back on ₹15,000/month of school and college fees, ₹13,920 net a year after fee. HDFC Bank Millennia is second. The ranking is for a stated spend profile and changes with yours.

How does CardLens rank cards for school and college fees?

We take the standard Indian cardholder profile, change it to reflect this use (for ₹15,000 a month of school, college and course fees paid direct), and score every card with the same open engine used everywhere on the site: rewards at realistic point value + milestones + waivers − renewal fee incl. 18% GST − forex markup, then a 0–100 score that also counts usable lounge access, redemption flexibility, lifestyle fit, simplicity and fee safety. Nothing is hand-picked and no issuer pays for placement.

Will my own answer be different?

Probably. Caps, fee-waiver thresholds and milestones all depend on how much you spend and where. Set up your profile in Find My Card and every page on CardLens re-scores for you.