If you don't have a credit card in your name yet, get one. Since you are still a student, you're probably eligible for a student credit card, which most of the

If you don't have a credit card in your name yet, get one. Since you are still a student, you're probably eligible for a student credit card, which most of the major card issuers offer and (I think) is generally easier to get with limited credit history. If you can't get that, talk to someone at your credit union or bank about opening a secured or co-signed (by a willing parent or guardian with good credit history) card to get you started. Make sure you get a card without an annual fee. Even if you eventually no longer use your "starter" credit card, keep the account open and stick it in a drawer. Accounts that have been open longest are good for your credit history (and this is why you should, at least, start with a no-fee card). As others have said, on-time payments and length of history are mostly key. As you build credit, get another card or two with higher credit limits. Call your cards' customer support lines every year or so and ask for a higher limit. Having a high limit (assuming you will not abuse it and rack up debt you can't pay) is good in itself, but mostly I'm suggesting this since the fraction of your credit that you actively use factors into your credit score, and a low fraction is better. As someone else mentioned, diverse sources of credit are good for your history too. Assuming you're not looking to buy a house soon, an auto loan is probably the only other type you'd get. Even if you can buy a car in cash, think about financing through your credit union. If you can get a loan with a lower APR than what you might conservatively get with that cash sitting in an investment account (4-5%), you'll at least break even financially and the credit history may be worth it when you're looking at mortgages.