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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.
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On Discover's Secure Website.
Discover it® Student chrome
Apply Now
On Discover's Secure Website.
Great for: Gas stations & restaurants cash back for students
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.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.
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.
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
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Good Grades Rewards: $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.
- Earn rewards while building your credit history that can help you after graduation. And, get your free Credit Scorecard that includes your FICO® Credit Score and important details that help make up your score.
- No annual fee. No late fee on first late payment. No APR change for paying late.
- Refer-a-Friend: Once you become a Discover it® Student cardmember, you can earn a statement credit each time you refer a friend and they’re approved. Over half a million students got Discover Cards from their friends' recommendations.
- Freeze It® on/off switch for your account that prevents new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers in seconds.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 12.99% - 21.99% applies.
Full Discover it® Student chrome review
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.
Pros
- Double cash back bonus offer
- Gas and restaurant rewards
- No annual fee
- Good grades credit
- Free credit score monitoring
Cons
- Lackluster cash back rate
Top perks
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.
What could be improved
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.
Suggested credit score
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.
Alternatives to consider
- If you want to earn more cash back: The Discover it® Student Cash Back has very similar benefits to the Discover it® Student chrome, except it earns an impressive 5% back in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate, up to a spending cap of $1,500 per quarter. The typical student may earn more cash back with those 5% bonus categories.
- If you're an international student: The Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students doesn't require a Social Security number, making it one of the few cards international students can get. This card is no slouch when it comes to benefits, either, offering 1% cash back and a free year of Amazon Prime Student.
As of Jan. 05, 2021
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| Discover it® Student Cash Back |
Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students |
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.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. |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.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. |
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Apply Now
On Discover's Secure Website. |
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| Read Full Review | |
| Rates & Fees | |
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Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
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Welcome Bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. |
Welcome Bonus: N/A |
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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 |
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Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 6 months Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 12.99% - 21.99% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 18.74%, variable |
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Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now
On Discover's Secure Website. |
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This credit card is right for you if:
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.
About the Author
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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