MoneyGeek’s Take

Discover it® Student chrome Review

The Discover it® Student chrome benefits students that want to build credit and earn cashback rewards. In addition to a 0% intro APR, Discover will match all cash back rewards accrued in the first 12 months. That means that you can earn up to double the rewards in your first year as a Discover it® Student chrome user.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/14/2022
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Last Updated: 11/14/2022

You can earn up to $1,000 per quarter in 2% cash back rewards for gas and dining purchases. Additionally, you can earn 1% cash back on all other purchases up to any amount – there is no earnings cap for 1% cash back rewards. Discover will also match all rewards accumulated during the first year. For example, if you earn $100 in cash back rewards during your first 12 billing cycles, Discover will give you an additional $100.

Students do not need a credit score to apply for the Discover it Student Chrome, and it doesn’t have an annual fee. Since it reports to all three credit bureaus, it’s a good choice for students who want to build their credit.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Discover it® Student chrome at a Glance

Used responsibly, students can earn rewards and build credit through the Discover it® Student chrome. You can earn up to $1,000 per quarter through its 2% cash back rewards on gas and restaurant purchases and 1% cash back rewards on everything else.


  • Discover it® Student chrome

    A good student credit card with bonus cash back categories

    • Limited-FairRecommended Credit
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1%-2% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 2xRewards Rate on Dining
    • 2xRewards Rate on Gas

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards.

Pros & Cons Explained

Before applying for a Discover it Student Chrome credit card, it’s important to understand the basics of a credit card. That way, you can more accurately compare the pros and cons of each card.

MoneyGeek outlined the pros and cons of the Discover it® Student chrome to make the process easier for you.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Offers cash back rewards
    You will receive 1% to 2% in cash back rewards on all purchases made with your Discover it® Student chrome. You’ll receive 2% cash back on gas and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 per quarter. This includes cafes, takeout, deliveries and fast food. You can also receive 1% cash back on all other purchases that exceed the quarterly cap or fall to other categories. Rewards can be disbursed in many forms including cash, statement credit, gift card, PayPal credit or a donation to your preferred charity.
  • Cash back match for the first year
    Discover will match all the cash back rewards you’ve earned over the course of your first 12 billing cycles. If you earned $100 in rewards at the end of the first 12 billing cycles, you’ll receive another $100. This promo covers all the rewards you’ve earned, and it’s not restricted by purchase minimums.
  • No annual fee
    Like other student cards, Discover it® Student chrome doesn’t have an annual fee.
  • No credit score requirement
    The Discover it® Student chrome credit score requirement is similar to most other student cards, in that you don’t need a credit score to be eligible for a card. However, you will need to present a proof of income when applying for this card.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • Poor international acceptance
    Although the Discover it Student Chrome doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, it suffers from limited acceptance outside the U.S. Because of this, you may find it difficult to use if you’re traveling overseas.
  • International students can’t apply
    Discover it Student Chrome requires cardholders to have a Social Security Number, similar to other student cards. As such, international students that don’t have an SSN can’t get this card.
  • Has a spending limit for the 2% cash back
    The 2% cash back rewards rate is generous, but it’s limited to $1,000 per quarter. If you spend more than this and want to earn more in cash back rewards, you may want to consider other card options.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

Each month, MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards in our database and compiles a list of the best for popular categories. Although the Discover it Student Chrome didn’t make it on our list, you can check our picks for the best student cards of 2022.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

The biggest benefit of the Discover it Student Chrome is the cash back rewards program. You can earn 1% cash back on all purchases, and 2% cash back for up to $1,000 worth of gas and restaurant purchases per quarter. The regular 1% rate covers all categories and doesn’t have a limit.

Moreover, all rewards earned during your first year of using the Discover it® Student chrome will get matched. If you earned $100 in rewards, you’ll get another $100 as a bonus.

You can redeem your rewards through:

1

Cash

You can choose to deposit your rewards to your bank account or use them as a statement credit.

2

Pay with Rewards

Pay for your Amazon or PayPal purchases using your cash back rewards.

3

Gift Cards

If you have at least $5 in rewards, you can redeem your cash back as a gift card.

4

Charity

You can donate to a charity using the rewards you’ve earned.

Other Features Explained

Beyond its cash back rewards, the Discover it Student Chrome offers other benefits and features, including:

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Access to Discover’s mobile app
    With Discover’s mobile app, you can track and manage your rewards, message customer service, view your FICO score and more.
  • Free Identity Protection alert
    You’ll get notified if it's found that your Social Security number is being used on the Dark Web.
  • Ability to disable card
    You can use Discover’s mobile app to temporarily freeze your card if you lose it. This blocks purchases, cash advances or balance transfers using your card.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

You can use the Discover it® Student chrome to finance an upcoming purchase. It features 0% APR for the first six months, which means you won’t be charged any interest during that period. After six months, your APR will increase to 15.99% – 24.99%, depending on your credit score.

Understanding the Fine Print

Before you decide if the Discover it Student Chrome is a good fit for your needs, it’s a good idea to read its fine print and understand its various fees. Like most student cards, it doesn’t have an annual fee. It offers cash back rewards on all purchases, but keep in mind that failing to settle your statement in full each payment period will result in interest payments.

>>MORE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BALANCE TRANSFERS WITH DISCOVER
  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    15.99% – 24.99%
  • Annual Fee
    $0
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    1%-2% Cash Back
  • Airline Benefits
  • This is an icon

    Regular APR

    After the Discover it® Student chrome’s six-month intro APR (0% for purchases and 10.99% for balance transfers), its regular APR is 15.99% – 24.99%. This rate varies based on your creditworthiness. Note that the APR for cash advances is 27.99%.

  • This is an icon

    Cash Back Rewards Rate

    For your first $1,000 per quarter spent on gas and restaurants, the Discover it Student Chrome gives a 2% cash back reward. For purchases exceeding that limit or falling to other categories, the cash back rate is 1%. There’s no limit on how much rewards you can earn, and they never expire. However, Discover will credit your unused cash back rewards once your account is closed or if you haven’t used your account in 18 months.

  • This is an icon

    Balance Transfer Fee

    The Discover it Student Chrome’s balance transfer fee is 3% for the first three months, and it becomes 5% afterward.

  • This is an icon

    Cash Advance Fee

    Whenever you take out cash from your Discover it Student Chrome, you pay either $10 or 5% of the advanced amount, whichever is greater.

  • Late Payment Fee

    You don’t have to pay a penalty the first time that you miss your due date. However, you can pay up to $40 for any subsequent late payments.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

If you’re comparing the Discover it Student Chrome with other student cards, carefully review their APRs and all associated fees. Such information can be easily accessible on the provider’s website. However, if you’re comparing this card with your current credit card, you can use your last billing statement or check your provider’s website or mobile app. You can also find additional information through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s credit card agreement database.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Discover it® Student chrome?

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Other Considerations for Discover it® Student chrome

Whether you’ll use the Discover it Student Chrome on its own or as an additional card affects its overall utility as a financial tool. Since it doesn’t have an annual fee, it’s great as an additional card. However, it’s also a reliable card on its own, especially for people who are only just starting to build their credit.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

The Discover it Student Chrome is a good first credit card because you don’t need a credit score to apply, and it doesn’t carry any annual fees. Moreover, you can use it to improve your credit score and gain cash back rewards in the process.

However, if you’re planning to use it as your only card, keep in mind that the 2% cash back rate for gas and restaurant spending has a $1,000 per quarter cap. You can still get 1% cash back rewards on all purchases afterward, but other people might prefer a card that has a higher cash back rate or spending cap. Additionally, the Discover it® Student chrome is not ideal if you frequently go overseas.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

Since the Discover it® Student chrome doesn’t have an annual fee, it’s a perfect additional card in your wallet. You can pair it with another cash back card and earn savings on gas and restaurant purchases. And because the card doubles all your earned points during the first year, you can get up to 4% cash back on your spending.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS:

MoneyGeek uses a detailed and streamlined research process when reviewing credit cards. We collect data from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s database, standardize data points for easy analysis, estimate average spend profiles, determine a card’s long-term value and conduct routine re-ranking to ensure our analysis and recommendations remain up to date.

How Discover it® Student chrome Compares to Other Cards

The Discover it Student Chrome performs well when compared to other student cards. It has all the features one expects of a card in its category: $0 annual fee, no credit score requirement needed and cash back rewards. However, its bonus 2% rate for gas and dining as well as its cash back match feature make it stand out from the crowd.

Quick Comparison of Discover it® Student chrome
creditCard

Discover it® Student chrome

  • Intro APR: 0% for the first six months
  • APR: 15.99% – 24.99%
  • Cash back rate: 2% for gas and restaurants (with $1,000 per quarter spending cap); 1% on all other purchases
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Intro offer: Matches all cash back rewards earned during the first year
  • Requirements: Doesn’t need a credit score, but requires cardholders to have a Social Security number
  • Best for: Students who are starting to build their credit
creditCard1

Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Credit Card

  • APR: 21.74%
  • Cash back rate: 1% on all purchases
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Intro offer: Complimentary Amazon Prime Student for a year
  • Requirements: Doesn’t need a credit score and Social Security number
  • Best for: International students looking for a simple and easy-access credit card

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions about the Discover it Student Chrome to help you decide if it’s the right one for you.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you’re having hesitations about the Discover it® Student chrome, consider exploring your options beyond student cards. You can also check other cash back cards and secured cards to see if those are a better fit.

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