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Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% – 27.24% variable
Intro Bonus
Cashback Match Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. There is no limit to how much can be matched.
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
None
Expert Take: When other cards offer an unlimited 2% cash back on all spending, seeing a quarterly cap on the Discover it® Student Chrome’s rewards is disappointing. Still, the card is offered to students with no credit score, making it a viable alternative for students looking to build credit.
Pros
- Offered to students with no credit score
- No annual fee
- Simple cash back rewards redemptions
Cons
- Bonus category rewards are capped at $1,000 in spending each quarter (then 1%)
- No consumer insurance benefits like extended warranty or purchase protection
- Other cards offer more generous rewards to students
Vault’s Viewpoint on the Discover it® Student Chrome
If you’re attending university, some considerable expenses are in your future—from textbooks to a new laptop to even furnishing your dorm room. How do you reckon you’ll pay for it?
The Discover it® Student Chrome is a top-tier student credit card that can help you with this very situation. It comes with 0% intro APR for six months on purchases (then 18.24% – 27.24% variable) to help you quickly pay off large purchases without incurring nightmarish interest.
Even better, the card earns rewards. Some of the most common purchases among students are for eating out and at gas stations. It’s not a coincidence that the Discover it Student Chrome rewards you the most for these transactions.
But here’s the card’s best perk: It doesn’t require a credit history for approval. While many students have a credit profile because of student loans, becoming an authorized user on another person’s credit card or taking out a car loan, a card explicitly offering credit to students with no credit score fills a need. This type of offering can be especially helpful to students who have no credit history in the United States.
Discover it® Student Chrome Highlights
Annual fee: $0
Welcome bonus: Through Discover’s Cashback Match program, receive an unlimited cash back match of all of the cash back you earn in your first year
Earning Rewards With the Discover it® Student Chrome
The Discover it® Student Chrome earns rewards on every purchase, plus the card automatically matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year. Here are the details:
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Redeeming Rewards
Most Discover it® Student Chrome credit card holders will want to redeem rewards for cash back through Discover’s website. Discover offers cash back redemptions at any amount, plus an option to redeem rewards automatically. You can also redeem Discover it® Student Chrome rewards to pay for purchases on Amazon.com or where PayPal is accepted.
Rates and Fees
The Discover it® Student Chrome doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers a promotional APR on purchases and balance transfers. Here are the details:
- Annual fee: $0
- Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 6 months from account opening
- Intro APR on balance transfers: 10.99% intro APR for six months for transfers that post by November 10, 2024
- Regular APR: 18.24% to 27.24% variable
- Balance transfer fee: 3% for transfers that post to your account by November 10, 2024, under the promotional APR; 5% thereafter
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Late payment fee: None the first time you pay late; up to $41 thereafter
- Penalty APR: None
- Cash advance fee: 5% (minimum $10)
- Cash advance APR: 29.99% variable
Discover it® Student Chrome Drawbacks
It’s hard to argue that the Discover it Student Chrome is a top-tier student credit card. But there’s always room for improvement. Here are a couple shortcomings that you should be aware of.
Bonus Categories Are Capped
Again, the Discover it Student Chrome offers practical 2% bonus categories that complement the spending habits of many students. However, you’ll only receive this return for up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter—then 1%. All to say, you’ll only get a maximum of $20 per quarter ($40 per quarter during the card’s initial Cashback Match period).
This bonus cash limitation is notably tightfisted. Virtually all other credit cards that enforce a bonus rewards cap allow for $1,500 in spending per quarter (or more).
Low Minimum Earning Rate
After your first cardmember year in which you’ll receive Discover’s Cashback Match, the Discover it Student Chrome earns just 1% cash back for purchases that aren’t made with restaurants or gas stations. That’s a forgettable return, especially considering several other beginner cash back credit cards offer a minimum of 1.5% cash back.
It’s not that big of a deal; after all, the Discover it Student Chrome is meant to be a stepping stone to bigger and better cards. Just be aware that this card is far from the most lucrative option for common expenses like groceries and streaming services.
Discover it® Student Chrome Benefits
The Discover it® Student Chrome is light on benefits, but it includes a free credit scorecard and U.S.-based customer service.
- Free FICO credit scorecard: Get a free credit scorecard based on your TransUnion credit report.
- 100% U.S.-based customer service: Get connected to a U.S.-based customer service representative whenever you call Discover’s customer service center.
Who Is the Discover it® Student Chrome Best For?
If you have a limited credit history, it can be difficult to get approved for any credit card. With no credit score, getting a first credit card often means picking up a secured card and having some of your cash tied up in a security deposit. Fortunately, the Discover it® Student Chrome is available even to students with no credit score. If you’re a full-time student and want to get a first credit card, the Discover it® Student Chrome offers the possibility of approval and is a good alternative to a secured credit card.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Discover it® Student Chrome?
Most students who have a positive credit history should look at another credit card. Other student cards offer more rewards and better benefits. Also remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to student credit cards if you already have an income and an established credit history. If you’re working a part-time job and have established an on-time payment history with a car loan, student loan or other credit, an entry-level credit card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, for example, can offer you a better combination of rewards and benefits.
Even if you’re a student with no credit score, look at Discover’s other student credit card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back. The card’s high rewards in rotating bonus categories will likely earn you more rewards than you can rack up with the Discover it® Student Chrome.
How Does the Discover it® Student Chrome Stack Up to Its Competitors?
Most students will find that getting approved for a student credit card is their easiest path toward a first credit card and establishing a credit history. Here’s how the Discover it® Student Chrome stacks up to other student credit cards.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover offers two student credit cards: the Discover it® Student Chrome and the Discover it® Student Cash Back. Both cards have a $0 annual fee, earn cash back rewards and are offered to full-time students. With either card, you’ll receive a Cashback Match welcome bonus, which matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first cardmember year.
With the Discover it® Student Cash Back, instead of 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%), you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending each quarter on rotating bonus categories when you activate. Discover’s bonus categories have historically included useful categories like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, digital wallets and big box stores like Target and Walmart. If you keep track of your spending categories, chances are that you can earn more cash back with the Discover it® Student Cash Back.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Discover it Student Chrome’s bonus categories are capped at $1,000 in quarterly spending (then 1%), but the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers uncapped cash back on its bonus categories. For most students, the SavorOne Student can be a more rewarding card.
With the Capital One SavorOne Student, you earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases. Plus, Capital One Entertainment purchases get you 8% cash back, and Uber and Uber Eats purchases earn 10% cash back through November 14, 2024. Unless you’re using your card solely for gas purchases, you’re likely to earn more cash back with the SavorOne Student.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Most student credit cards don’t offer much of a welcome bonus, but the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students currently offers 25,000 points—worth a $250 statement credit toward dining and travel purchases—after spending just $1,000 on the card in the first 90 days. The card also features an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
For ongoing spending, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students earns 1.5X points on all purchases, with no limits and no expiration dates. Note, the card’s points can’t be redeemed for cash back—you’ll need to use them for statement credits to offset purchases of flights, hotel stays, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, baggage fees and dining purchases. If you’re a student who occasionally travels, you should be able to redeem points often enough for the card to make sense. If that’s you, the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students can be a good choice for the simplicity of earning 1.5X points on every purchase.
Is the Discover it® Student Chrome Worth It?
The Discover it® Student Chrome won’t turn heads for generous rewards. But it does offer them, which can’t be said for every beginner credit card. For most full-time students, the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Capital One SavorOne Student will offer more cash back. But the Discover it® Student Chrome is one of the few unsecured cards offered to people with no credit score.
If you’re a student, don’t have a credit score and want an unsecured card to build a credit history, the Discover it® Student Chrome is a reasonable choice. However, once you have built your credit score and can qualify for a non-student cash back card, you can almost certainly find a better card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Credit Limit for the Discover it® Student Chrome?
If you’re approved for the Discover it® Student Chrome, your credit line will be at least $500. You may be offered additional credit based on your credit history.
What Credit Score Is Needed for the Discover it® Student Chrome?
You do not need a credit score to be approved for the Discover it® Student Chrome. If you have an established credit history, Discover will consider how you handle your other credit accounts when deciding whether to approve your application and how much credit to extend.
What Happens to a Discover Student Card When You Graduate?
When you graduate, Discover will upgrade your student card to a similar unsecured credit card. You don’t have to close your student credit card if you graduate or are no longer a full-time student.
Newsweek writer Joseph Hostetler contributed to this post.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
