For a third of American parents in 2026, back-to-school shopping is as much a financing decision as a spending one. Credit card use for back-to-school shopping rises sharply with income and is skewed toward males. At least 1 in 5 (22%) parents earning under $50,000 name a credit card as their primary back-to-school payment method, compared with 58% of parents earning $150,000 or more. The income divide points to two different reasons parents reach for a credit card for back-to-school shopping: one driven by need, one by preference. Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) opened a new credit card specifically for back-to-school shopping, and another 32% considered it, including some weighing a 0% intro APR credit card.