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Discover it® Student chrome Review
The Discover it® Student chrome is a low-cost credit card that’s a good fit for college students looking to earn cash back rewards on everyday expenses. It offers 2% cash back for purchases made at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 per quarter, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Additionally, the card’s intro bonus includes an unlimited cash back match after the first year. Among student credit cards, the Discover it® Student chrome is certainly one worth considering.
What we like about the Discover it® Student chrome
- Students earn 1% cash back on all purchases and 2% for purchases at restaurants and gas stations, where many college students tend to frequent
- Discover matches all the cash back earned at the end of the first year, giving cardholders some control over the bonus they receive
- Students get an annual $20 statement credit for earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher (limit of five years)
- Accounts have an on/off switch that’s easy to control, allowing cardholders to quickly disable their card if it’s lost
- Students gain free access to their FICO credit scores
Things to consider
- Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted as other major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard
- If you don’t own a vehicle or rarely eat out, the 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations won’t be as useful for you
- The reward categories remain the same throughout the year
Discover it® Student chrome cash back details
Discover’s cash back program is a great way to earn money on purchases you make during college. While you can earn more when you eat out and fuel up, you can also earn 1% cash back when you buy books, travel to visit family and all other purchases. Plus, Discover’s offer to match your first year’s cash back earnings (with no limit) at the end of the first year is a perk you don’t see with many other student credit cards.
The best way to maximize Discover’s cash back program is to use your card for as many purchases as possible, especially during the first year. However, keep in mind that you should be paying off your balance each month to minimize interest costs after the first six months.
How does it compare to other student cash back credit cards?
The Discover it® Student chrome stands out among student cash back credit cards, thanks to its cash back rewards and unlimited cash back match offer. However, if you’re still building up your credit or have no credit, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One may be a better fit for you. It has more flexible approval requirements and offers an automatic credit line increase after making your first five on-time payments.
If you have good credit, the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is worth checking out. It has a higher earning potential than the Discover it® Student chrome, offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening and lets you choose the category in which you earn the maximum reward rate.
| Card | Annual Fee | Intro Bonus | Credit Needed | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journey Student Rewards from Capital One | None | NA | Average, Fair, Limited |
|
| Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students | $0 | Earn $200 after making $1,000 in purchases within your first three months; Introductory 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of having the card | Good |
|
| Discover it® Student chrome | See Terms | Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched. | Fair/New to Credit |
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Too long, didn’t read?
The Discover it® Student chrome is a competitive credit card for those headed off to college and just starting to navigate their own finances. It offers a generous rewards program, ranging from 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases) to the first-year match on all cash back earnings at the end of the year.
If you’re a student that doesn’t eat out or drive much, you may want to check out a student card that offers a more versatile cash back program like the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students. If you are more challenged in the credit space, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One may be the best fit.
Please Note: Information about the Discover it® Student chrome and Journey Student Rewards from Capital One has been collected independently by TheSimpleDollar.com. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Editorial Note: Compensation does not influence our recommendations. However, we may earn a commission on sales from the companies featured in this post. To view our disclosures, click here. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. Reasonable efforts are made to present accurate info, however all information is presented without warranty. Consult our advertiser’s page for terms & conditions.
