Getting a credit card
How to Maximize Discover® Student Credit Card Rewards and Benefits contents
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Discover offers two rewards credit cards for college students: the Discover It® Student Cash Back Card and the Discover It® Student Chrome Card.
The best credit card option for you should offer rewards that align with your spending habits and tools that align with your priorities.
Responsible credit habits can help you maximize your rewards.
Have you ever found money you didn’t know you had tucked away in a coat pocket? That’s kind of what it feels like when you unlock the full potential of your credit card rewards program. Cash back rewards may help you stretch your budget or indulge in a luxurious purchase. With a student credit card from Discover, you can earn cash back on everything you buy. Savvy students can take a few simple steps to maximize their rewards.
Discover offers two rewards credit cards that have been designed with college students in mind: the Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card and the Discover it® Student Chrome Card. There’s no credit score required to apply for Discover Student credit cards,1 so either option may be a good fit for a college student just beginning their credit journey.
The primary difference between Discover student cards comes down to rewards. As you compare credit cards, you could boost your cash back earnings by picking the option that most closely aligns with your spending habits.
One choice is the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card. With this rotating rewards card, you 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, you earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
If you tend to switch up your shopping habits and don’t mind opting into new offers every quarter, you could make the most of your rewards with a Student Cash Back Card. But if you think you’ll have trouble keeping track of changing rewards categories, you might find it challenging to use the card to its highest potential.
If you’d prefer earning consistent cash back in the same rewards categories, the Discover it® Student Chrome Card might be a good choice. Instead of activating rewards offers in rotating categories, you can earn 2% Cashback Bonus® 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.2
The Student Chrome Card may help you maximize rewards while you check out all the cafes around your campus or commute to your university from home.
Both the Student Cash Back Card and Chrome Card earn cash back on all purchases. But using your card strategically can boost your rewards.
If you align your credit card spending with the card’s bonus reward categories, you never have to miss out on rewards.
For example, you may want to use your Student Chrome Card every time you eat off-campus, as long as you have enough available credit. You might even offer to put the bill on your card when you go out to eat with friends to get rewards for your meal. Similarly, you could earn cash back when you fill your tank with the Chrome Card before a spring break road trip.
Aligning your spending habits with rewards categories may be a little trickier on the Student Cash Back Card, but it can seriously pay off. In the beginning of the year, you may earn extra cash back when you use your card to cover streaming services or groceries. Then, after a few months, you might switch to using your card at drugstores or restaurants. Just remember to activate the bonus category each quarter.
To make the most of your cash back, try to repay your balance in full each month. That way, you can enjoy the rewards without worrying about accruing interest on the purchases you made.
Discover It® Student Cash Back
Earn top-tier rewards and build credit history with a Discover student card3
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Some credit card issuers offer cardmembers a bonus just for signing up. But only Discover automatically gives unlimited Cashback Match to all new cardmembers: we'll match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.4
Your Discover® Card offers many features, tools, and perks to help you manage your account and enjoy your rewards.
Some credit card issuers don’t allow you to redeem your credit card rewards until you’ve earned a set amount. And if you don’t redeem them in time, you risk losing them.
Not at Discover. At Discover, redeem rewards for any amount.5 Rewards don’t expire for the life of the account.5 You also have several options for redeeming rewards.
Discover has no annual fee on any credit card, including student cards.
Discover also has no foreign transaction fee when you travel internationally, so you don’t have to worry about spending extra to use your card if you study abroad.
Missing a credit card payment may seriously damage your credit score and leave you with late fees.
Fortunately, you can avoid late fees and pay your credit card bills automatically by setting up Discover DirectPay. DirectPay automatically withdraws your credit card payment from a linked checking account by the payment due date. Just make sure you have enough money in your linked checking account to avoid overdraft fees.
You can update your payment settings through online banking or the Discover mobile app.
Did You Know?
Discover Cardmembers can sign up for credit card alerts to keep track of their minimum payment due date. They can also set up alerts or reminders to track their spending.
An annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate your credit card issuer uses to determine any interest you may owe. With Discover, you may qualify for a low introductory APR promotion. That means for a set period after account opening, any balance you carry will accrue interest at the promotional rate rather than the standard purchase APR.
If you always pay your credit card in full, then a low intro APR may not affect you much. But if you tend to carry a balance, then a lower APR can save you money, especially if you’re financing a pricey purchase. Just make sure you keep track of the promotional period end date and repay your balance before it ends, or your outstanding balance will start accumulating interest at the standard rate.
Whether you’re getting credit cards, personal loans, or buying a car, your credit history and credit score will matter. A student card can help you build credit history with responsible use and nourish your credit knowledge.
Once you’ve chosen a card with the best membership rewards, you don’t want to lose them. Student credit cards are easy to manage with a little effort.
Try to pay off your credit card balance in full each month. That way, you can avoid interest charges and minimize your credit card debt. If you’re not careful, interest charges may offset rewards.
If you make only the minimum payment, you may have trouble staying on top of your balance. A high balance increases your credit utilization ratio (the total sum of your outstanding credit card debt compared to your available credit), which can hurt your credit score.
It’s a great idea to take advantage of rewards, but not if it will cause credit trouble. Ideally, your balance should be only a small portion of your credit limit. Try not to spend more on your credit card than you could afford to cover in cash. When you put a purchase on your credit card specifically to earn rewards—like covering dinner for you and your roommates—try to repay the expense right away, if possible.
If your credit card balance becomes difficult to manage, you may fall behind on your payments. Missing a credit card payment can lead to a higher penalty interest rate, fees, and damage to your credit score.
Responsible credit card use, on the other hand, can help you build credit history. A budget can help you avoid overspending while making consistent and predictable use of your student credit card and its rewards.
If you’re a college student, a student credit card from Discover can help you earn rewards while you establish a strong credit history. Whether you opt for the Student Cash Back Card or the Chrome Card, you can access tools and features that help you build good credit habits and take your rewards to the next level.
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