A method of making an antifuse includes providing a substrate having a bit line diffusion region and a capacitor diffusion region. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, and a word line is formed on the gate dielectric layer. An oxide layer is formed on the capacitor diffusion region, in a separate process step from forming the gate dielectric layer. A select line contact is formed above and contacting the oxide layer to form a capacitor having the oxide layer as a capacitor dielectric layer of the capacitor. The select line contact is configured for applying a voltage to cause permanent breakdown of the oxide layer to program the antifuse.