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Discover Cards For Students: Build Credit For Tomorrow
Posted on Feb 27, 2019
Updated on Jan 8, 2024
Building credit history while at college is actually a good move. You may be able to establish your credit faster and graduate with a diploma and good credit score. There are different ways to start building your credit and getting a student credit card is probably one of the best. Discover offers two impressive credit cards - Discover it® Student Cash Back and Discover it® Student Chrome. Read on to see why we think those are best student credit cards to start with.
Rewards
While earning rewards may not be your goal, it is still good to get some percentage back from each of your purchase. Both Discover student credit cards allow to earn cash back on all purchases. Plus, there is an introductory bonus offer.
Thus, if you chose the Discover it® Student Cash Back card, you will Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. All other purchases will earn 1% cash back.
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Intro APR on Purchases
0% Intro APR (6 months)
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
10.99% Intro APR (6 months)
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Annual Fee
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Bonuses
Not all student credit cards offer bonuses, even though they may offer rewards per dollar spent. Discover student credit cards come with an introductory bonus offer - Cashback Match™. Thus, all new cardmembers will get all the cash back they've earned at the end of their first year matched. For example, if you earn $100 cash back during the first year of your cardmembership, you will get another $100 cash back at the end of the year, which will total in $200 cash back for the first year. But this is for the first year only.
Saving On Gas
If you are on the go, the Discover it® Student Chrome may be a better option for you. It will allow you to earn cash back on your next road trip with 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. No sign-ups or activation here. You simply shop and earn cash back. All other purchases will earn 1% cash back automatically.
our choice
Intro APR on Purchases
0% Intro APR (6 months)
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
10.99% Intro APR (6 months)
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Annual Fee
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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 cash back 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, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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0% Intro APR
Another rare benefit among credit cards for students - a zero introductory interest rate. Both Discover student credit cards come with 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases. The introductory period is not super long, but enough to get used to your new credit card or to prepare for a new school year. When the 0% intro APR is over, the ongoing APR will be 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR.
Low Fees
Both Discover student credit cards come with $0 annual fee, which is quite common for student credit cards. In addition to no annual fee, the cards have no foreign transaction fees. The average fee for purchases in a foreign country or in a foreign currency is usually around 3%, which can add a lot to your bill. So, if you travel abroad on vacations or planning a trip abroad, the no foreign transaction fee feature will help you to save on credit card purchases.
Credit Tools
Discover provides a free FICO Score to primary cardmembers on their monthly statements. Knowing your FICO credit score, you will be able to see if your credit score goes up and down and act quick if it falls.
Another good benefit that is available to Discover cardholders is Freeze it®. This feature allows you to temporarily deactivate your card with the Discover mobile app or online. When you freeze your card, any new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers won't be processes. However, you will still need to make all payments associated with the account. You can unfreeze your account any time, and continue using your credit card.
Student Credit Card Requirements: Getting Approved For A Student Credit Card
While it is relatively easy to get approved for a student credit card than other cards, there still are some minimum approval requirements.
You may have little or no credit history, or little or no FICO score and still be approved for a student credit card. However, you should meet these minimum requirements:
- Be a student over the age of 18
- Be a US resident or citizen with a Social Security Number
- Have verifiable income or a part-time/full-time job
- Have no bad marks on your credit reports
Today many issuers do not allow co-signers, and Discover is one of them, so if you are planning to apply with a co-signer, you will need to look for issuers who allow co-signers. Generally, if you haven't made any credit mistakes yet and have proof of income, there should not be any problems with qualifying for a student credit card.
