I have 6 credit cards—here’s what I’m considering for my 7th card

Did you know that the average American adult holds around 3 to 4 credit cards? For college students, this number is even lower, as many students hold only one credit card or may not hold a credit card at all.

As a sophomore in college, I recently added another credit card to my wallet, bringing the total number of credit cards I have to six. Having six credit cards can sound crazy to many people, especially if they are unaware of how you can wisely use credit cards to your advantage to earn points and positively boost your credit score.

While one might think that I randomly apply for any credit card offering a substantial introductory bonus, this is not the case. For me, applying for a credit card requires strategic thinking and future planning, especially when considering restrictions.

The Cards I Currently Have

At the time of writing this article, I have six credit cards. In order of application date, the cards that I have are:

• Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Each and every single credit card I have had was obtained when they were offering the best welcome bonus, with the exception of the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. When I got the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, it was offering a cash back bonus of $50 after spending $100 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. However, the historically best offer is a cash back bonus of $100 after spending $300 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

For the other cards, I applied when they were offering some of their best welcome bonuses ever, and I did so strategically. Here are the introductory offers I was able to tap into:

• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: $900 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: 5 Marriott Free Night Awards after spending $5,000 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: $900 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: 80,000 AAdvantage® miles after spending $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

While the introductory bonus is one of the important aspects of applying for a new credit card, it shouldn’t be the only factor you consider. Most of my credit cards have no annual fee, and the ones that do have a minimal annual fee of under $100. I have yet to add a premium travel credit card to my wallet, but some of the credit cards I have gotten have been able to substantially improve my travel experience.

For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card allowed me to save thousands of dollars on hotels for my family’s trip to Hawaii, and I can easily convert the cash back from the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card into points to transfer thanks to my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Next Card: Premium Travel?

The <aadvantage-card> is another credit card in my wallet that has enabled a number of travel perks, as it allows me to check in my first bag for free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, as well as enjoy preferred boarding. However, these perks aren’t really “premium”, and they’re only limited to American Airlines.

Since I haven’t yet owned a card that unlocks a number of premium travel perks, such as lounge access, I’ve been considering applying for a premium travel credit card for my next card. A card that fits this criteria and that I’ve been eyeing for a while is none other than the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

If used correctly, the Venture X is one of the best premium travel credit cards available on the market. The Venture X offers a number of valuable travel perks for cardholders, including a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile annual anniversary bonus, a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, etc.

For me, the most valuable perks of the Venture X are its current introductory offer, $300 annual travel credit, and unlimited access to Capital One Lounges.

The current introductory offer on the Venture X is a bonus of 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 or more in purchases within the first 6 months of account opening. 100,000 miles is a substantial amount of miles, and can always go a long way due to Capital One’s extensive list of transfer partners.

If you’ve been eyeing to fly in business class on one of the best airlines in the world, you could transfer 60,000 of your Capital One miles to Air Canada Aeroplan and book a business class seat on Singapore Airlines on their fifth-freedom route from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) in Germany.

Capital One Lounges

Much like Chase Sapphire Lounges, Capital One Lounges is Capital One’s line of exclusive, premium airport lounges that are only accessible to a select number of people. Capital One Lounges are available in a few airports across the United States, with locations open at New York (JFK), Las Vegas (LAS), Washington (DCA + IAD), Denver (DEN), Dallas (DFW), and an incoming location that will be opening at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

In order to access a Capital One Lounge for free, you must be a Venture X cardholder, be one of two complimentary guests accompanying a Venture X cardholder (until February 1, 2026), or be an authorized user on a Venture X card (until February 1, 2026). Beginning February 1, 2026, Venture X cardholders will need to spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year to earn two complimentary guests for lounge access through the following year, and pay a $125 annual lounge access fee for authorized users. You can also access Capital One Lounges for free if you are a Capital One Venture X Business cardholder.

I usually rely on going to Chase Sapphire Lounges as I have complimentary access through being an authorized user on my parents’ Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, and Chase Sapphire Lounges are available at my home airports. However, I’ve never stepped foot inside a Capital One Lounge, and it would be nice to enjoy premium lounge access whenever I travel to an airport that doesn’t have a Chase Sapphire Lounge but does have a Capital One Lounge.

Next Card: Simply Earning More Miles?

A simpler card that I am considering adding to my wallet is the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. Historically, its best introductory offer has been a bonus of 75,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $5,000 or more in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.

As I’ve explained in this article, American Airlines’ loyalty program is one of the most valuable loyalty programs out there, as you can book a business class flight on Japan Airlines from the U.S. to Japan for as little as 60,000 AAdvantage miles.

Since I already have the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, I wouldn’t unlock any benefits with the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® that would be useful to me. I would only apply for the card to take advantage of the introductory bonus, as well as the fact that it is a business credit card, which wouldn’t affect Chase’s notorious 5/24 rule.

Final Remarks

Having six credit cards as a college student might sound excessive at first, but when approached strategically, credit cards can be powerful financial tools rather than liabilities. Every card I’ve added to my wallet has served a specific purpose—whether that’s earning outsized welcome bonuses, unlocking travel perks, or building a strong credit profile over time.

As I think about what card comes next, the decision isn’t just about chasing the biggest bonus. It’s about evaluating how a new card would fit into my long-term strategy, complement the cards I already have, and realistically match my spending habits. A premium travel card, such as the Venture X, could significantly enhance my travel experience through lounge access and transferable miles, while a business card could be a simpler way to continue earning valuable points without compromising future flexibility.

Ultimately, there’s no single “right” number of credit cards to have. What matters most is intentionality: knowing why you’re applying, understanding the trade-offs, and using credit responsibly. Whether I end up adding a premium travel card or sticking with a more conservative option, the goal remains the same: maximizing value while staying financially disciplined.