<p>Any credit card that is possessed by a student should involve the bill going back to the parent, or at least visible by the parent online. Many students get overwhelmed with their first credit card. You can also specifically ask for a credit card with a low credit limit, which reduces the hazards from overspending.</p>
<p>I have a system with my college kids that works well. I give them a credit card in their name, which is my account. They are only allowed to use it for college books, software, emergencies, and food they buy at a supermarket. If they want to go out to eat, they have to use their debit card, which involves spending the money they earned over the summer. It helps to instill some financial discipline, so they don’t go out to restaurants twice a day. I’ve told them “If you run out of spending money before the end of the school year, that is your problem, not mine.”</p>