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The Discover it® Student chrome card is the student version of the Discover it® chrome. Like its sibling, this card earns cash-back rewards on qualifying purchases and gives cardholders a potentially rich bonus with double cash back in the first year. It also has perks and bonuses aimed directly at its target audience of students. Yet the combination of a good core feature set and those unique Discover perks makes this a compelling choice for people beyond that demographic. We’ll explore why in this Discover it® chrome review.
On Discover's Secure Website.
Discover it® Student chrome
On Discover's Secure Website.
Great for: Gas stations & restaurants cash back for students
Bottom Line
Earn double cash back in the first year and secure rich rewards for gas & restaurants to fuel both your car and stomach. The inclusion of no annual fee makes this a hard-to-ignore card in its category.
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months
Ongoing APR
12.99% - 21.99% Variable APR
Welcome Bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
Highlights
This credit card is a good fit for: Students who do a lot of driving or eating out, as they can make the most of bonus cash back on gas and restaurant spending.
Cash back match for the first year: A huge selling point of Discover credit cards is the issuer's unique sign-up bonus. Discover will match a cardholder’s annual cash back earnings 1-for-1 during the first year.
2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations: Cardholders can earn this elevated cash-back rate for up to $1,000 in combined spending on those two categories every quarter. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
No annual fee: This is very helpful for those on a student-sized budget.
Six-month 0% into APR on purchases: That might not be long compared to the longest 0% intro APR cards, but it's a long period for student credit cards. The go-to variable rate applies after the promo.
$20 Good Grade statement credit: This bonus is unique to Discover's two student cards (the other being the Discover it® Student Cash Back). The issuer gives you a $20 statement credit each school year that you deliver a GPA above 3.0. The $20 credit is good for up to five years after the account is opened.
Free FICO® Score: It's critical for early-stage credit cardholders to learn about credit scores. Helpfully, Discover provides your FICO® Score and the factors affecting it as a free service. You can access it via your online account management page, through the Discover app, or in every account statement.
No foreign transaction fee: Purchasing goods from overseas or during travel outside the U.S. won't incur any additional fees.
Free Discover identity alerts: This opt-in service keeps an eye on your credit report, looking for new, unauthorized accounts being opened. It also monitors a host of websites that list Social Security numbers. You will receive an alert if the service detects suspicious activity.
Bonus cash back: It's a minor complaint, especially since student credit cards are typically light on rewards, but the bonus cash back on the Discover it® Student chrome could be better. 2% back on two categories, with a $1,000 quarterly spending cap, is good but not great. And although gas stations are a solid bonus category for students, restaurants are an area where students on a budget probably won't spend much.
Given that it's designed to be your first credit card, the Discover it® Student chrome doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement. You can get approved for it even if you don't have a credit history yet.
To apply for this card, you must be at least 18 years old, and you need your Social Security number, a U.S. bank account, a U.S. mailing address, and consistent income. Any source of income qualifies, even a regular allowance from your parents to help with school costs.
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Discover it® Student Cash Back |
Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students |
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0 stars
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4.5 stars
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
Apply Now
On Discover's Secure Website. |
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Read Full Review | |
Rates & Fees | |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
Welcome Bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Bonus: N/A |
Rewards Program: 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically. |
Rewards Program: Earn 1% cash back on all purchases |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 6 months Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Regular APR: 12.99% - 21.99% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 18.74%, variable |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now
On Discover's Secure Website. |
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The Discover it® Student chrome is one of the best credit cards for students who need a secure payment method that they can use to build credit. It has all the perks you would need, it doesn't have any unnecessary fees, and it even earns cash-back rewards on every purchase.
Not only is this a fine starting-out card for students, it's also a good choice for others with a limited credit history or with a credit score that lands in the fair category.
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