Discover offers two credit cards for students looking for a first card with which to begin building credit: The Discover it^® Student Cash Back and the Discover it^® Student chrome.

The Discover it^® Student Cash Back offers a higher cash back rate on purchases that fall into specific categories (such as Amazon, grocery stores and restaurants) that change every quarter. Cardholders are required to activate those categories in order to earn the higher cashback rate.

Despite the effort required to activate a new category every quarter, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back’s rewards program along with its $0 annual fee make it hard to beat. But if fussing over bonus categories is too much trouble, students should look to other student cards that are more straightforward, such as the Discover it^® Student chrome.

• Generous rewards rate on rotating categories

  Cardholders earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

• Cashback match the first year

  This card offers a unique new cardmember 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.

• Intro purchase APR offer

  If you need to finance a large purchase over a few months, there is an intro offer of 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases from the date of account opening. After that, the interest rate will range from 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR.

• $0 annual fee

  For college students on a budget, paying an annual fee to carry a credit card probably doesn’t make sense. Luckily, this card’s annual fee is $0.

• Foreign transaction fee: None

  If you travel abroad, you won’t have to worry about paying an extra fee for purchases made overseas.

• Bonus categories require activation

  The Discover it^® Student Cash Back’s highest bonus categories must be activated online each quarter, and this could be a hassle for some students who don’t want to bother or would prefer a card offering a flat-rate rewards program.

• Spending cap on higher-rate purchases

  The elevated cash back reward is limited to a maximum of $1,500 on purchases each quarter.

• Low rewards rate on everything else

  The rewards earnings rate for non-bonus category purchases and bonus category purchases over the quarterly cap is subpar.

• No intro 0% APR on balance transfers

  If you’re looking for a balance transfer card offering a 0% intro APR period in which to save on interest charges, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back won’t be a good fit as it offers 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months for balance transfers, then a 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR will apply. There are better balance transfer card offers with 0% intro APR and longer intro periods.

Compare it to the Discover it^® Student chrome

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Discover it^® Student chrome

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Rates & Fees

Discover it^® Student chrome

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Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 6 months

Regular Purchase APR 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee $0

Rewards Rate 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… Read More

Highlights

• No credit score required to apply.
• 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.
• NEW! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
• 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 14.49% - 23.49% applies.
• Click "Apply Now" to see terms and conditions.

Typical Credit Needed

600 850

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Another good card for building credit while in college is the Discover it^® Student chrome. Both the Discover it^® Student Cash Back and the Discover it^® Student chrome have the same benefits and features key to Discover cards — but they differ in how their cash back programs operate.

With the Discover it^® Student Cash Back, you can earn more cash back when you opt into the rotating spending categories each quarter. The Discover it^® Student chrome, on the other hand, is better suited for commuter students, and offers a less generous flat-rate rewards program. Cardholders earn 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. The Discover it^® Student chrome‘s annual fee is $0.

Students willing to keep track of bonus categories can maximize their cash back with the Discover it^® Student Cash Back, while also building credit through responsible credit practices. But if remembering to opt into the categories quarterly is too much of a hassle, the Discover it^® Student chrome may be a better fit. Whichever you choose, paying on time and keeping balances low will help build a great credit score.