Best Credit Cards to Use For Education and School Fees (2026)
Paying school fees for yourself, child, or someone kind enough to let you earn rewards on your card? Here are some ways to pay for such expenses and earn some miles or cashback, even if the institution does not accept credit cards.
Looking for other areas of spend? Tap here.
Merchant Category Codes
Most schools and universities should fall under one of these Merchant Category Codes (MCC):
- 8211 – Elementary And Secondary Schools
- 8220 – Colleges, Junior Colleges, Universities, And Professional Schools
- 8241 – Correspondence Schools
- 8244 – Business And Secretarial Schools
- 8249 – Vocational And Trade Schools
- 8299 – Schools And Educational Services Not Elsewhere Classified
Many banks and cards have excluded these MCCs, but the ones that I’ve listed below have not.
While rare, at least one educational institution, SMU, is listed as 9399 – Government Services. American Express cards currently do not exclude this MCC.
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Miles
| Card | Local Earn Rate | Foreign Currency Earn Rate^ | Monthly Cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Amex Platinum Charge | 0.78 miles per dollar | 2.2 miles per dollar (until 22nd February 2027) | 0.78 miles per dollar: unlimited 2.2 miles per dollar: S$15,000 spend | 📲 Registration required for 2.2 miles per dollar foreign currency spend promo |
 Chocolate Card | 1 mile per dollar | 1 mile per dollar (no fx fee) | S$1,000 spend | ⚠️ S$100 spend cap for 9399 (SMU affected) |
 Maybank Horizon Visa | 1.2 miles per dollar | 2.8 miles per dollar | Unlimited | 💸 Min. spend of S$800 for 2.8 miles per dollar ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 Maybank Visa Infinite | 1.2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar 3.2 miles per dollar | Unlimited | 💸 Min. spend of S$4,000 for 3.2 miles per dollar ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 Maybank World Mastercard | 0.4 miles per dollar | 2.8 miles per dollar 3.2 miles per dollar | Unlimited | 💸 Min. spend of S$800 for 2.8 miles per dollar 💸 Min. spend of S$4,000 for 2.8 miles per dollar ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 Maybank XL Rewards | 0.4 miles per dollar | 4 miles per dollar | 0.4 miles per dollar: unlimited 4 miles per dollar: S$1,000 spend | 💱 Best used for foreign currency ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 UOB Visa Infinite Metal | 1.4 miles per dollar | 2.4 miles per dollar | Unlimited | ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
Cashback
| Card | Local Earn Rate | Foreign Currency Earn Rate^ | Monthly Cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Amex True Cashback | 1.5% cashback (3% for new cardholders) | 1.5% cashback (3% for new cardholders) | Unlimited | 💳 School must accept American Express |
 Maybank XL Cashback | 0.2% cashback | 5% cashback | S$80 cashback | 💱 Best used for foreign currency ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 Maybank Platinum Visa | 3.33%* cashback | 3.33%* cashback | Quarterly cashback of S$30, S$100 or S$200 | 💲Quarterly mechanic: spend S$300, S$1,000 or $2,000 per month for a quarter ⚠️ Education expenses can only make up 30% of each spend tier* ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 Maybank Barcelona | 0.3% cashback | 0.3% cashback | Unlimited | ❌ Does not work for 9399 (SMU excluded) |
 UOB Absolute | 0.3% cashback | 0.3% cashback | Unlimited | 💳 School must accept American Express |
*Cashback may be diluted as spend cap is lower than min. spend
Payment Services
If the school does not accept credit card, you are still able to use your card through payment services:
Best cards for other types of spend
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Seth Wee was a licensed financial adviser representative from 2009 to 2025, with over 16 years of experience in Singapore’s financial advisory industry.
He started Sethisfy.com in 2019 to share practical insights on credit cards, banking products, and miles strategies, helping readers identify financial products that deliver the best value. Seth has been featured in CNA, Channel 8, Today, and a host of other publications. In 2025, he was also part of a panel at CPF’s Ready For Life festival.
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