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What Happens to Your Student Credit Card When You Graduate?

6 min read

Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

A Discover® student credit card keeps the same terms, conditions, and account status when you graduate.
Keeping your student credit card open after graduation may help you maintain a low credit utilization ratio and long credit history.
Updating your credit card issuer about changes in your income and employment after graduation may help you access more credit.

Your graduation is a major milestone. You may be preparing to pursue higher education as a graduate student or leave college behind to make big career moves. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave your student credit card behind.

If you keep your student card open after you graduate, you may be able to maintain some of the benefits, depending on your credit card issuer. Some credit card companies may upgrade your card to a regular card after graduation. Or you may choose to cancel your student card and open a new account. Before you determine the fate of your card after graduation, carefully consider your options.

Options for student credit cards after graduation

What happens to your student credit card after graduation is typically up to you. You may be able to maintain the same credit card account, upgrade it, or replace it with a new card.

Your credit card issuer’s policies may affect your choices. It’s important to keep an eye on any letters or emails from the company about your card as you approach graduation, so you don’t miss any information about your credit card options.

Keeping your student credit card open after graduation

Though student cards are made for your college years, you don’t have to close your account when you’re no longer a college student. Many credit card companies let you keep your student card open for as long as you want.

Keeping your student credit card open allows you to keep using the card you’re familiar with, but convenience may not be the only benefit. Maintaining an older credit card may help build your credit history, especially if your student account is your oldest credit account. The average age of your credit cards affects your credit score. Older accounts show lenders that you have experience managing credit, which may help you qualify for credit cards and loans.

Depending on your needs, your student card alone may not be the best fit as you begin your next chapter. Student cards may have lower credit limits and may offer fewer rewards than other cards. But you may keep your student card open and add another traditional credit card or rewards credit card to the mix.

Canceling your student credit card after graduation

Canceling a student credit card after graduation is an option, but it’s important to remember that closing any credit card may lower your credit score.

When you close a credit card account, your overall available credit decreases by the amount of the credit limit on the closed account. If you’re carrying any balances, lowering your available credit may lower your credit score by increasing your credit utilization ratio, the portion of your available credit in use at any given time. Plus, if your student card is your oldest credit account, closing it may lower the average age of your accounts.

However, closing the account may be worth the potential drawbacks if it has high fees or if you want another rewards credit card but have trouble juggling multiple cards. Simplifying your finances and reducing the temptation to overspend are often good reasons to close a card. The right decision depends on your personal financial situation and goals.

Upgrading your student credit card after graduation

Some card issuers automatically upgrade your student credit card to a regular credit card after graduation without requiring a new credit card application.

A traditional card may come with a range of added benefits, such as a higher credit limit, better rewards rate, or other perks that may be more aligned with your financial needs after graduation.

While many credit card issuers allow you to keep your student credit card account, not all credit card companies offer an automatic upgrade. Instead, your new, regular credit card may have the same terms, conditions, and rewards as your student card.

Making the switch to a traditional card may also have some drawbacks. A traditional credit card may have a higher interest rate and may charge an annual fee compared to some student credit cards.

What happens to your Discover student credit card after graduation?

Your Discover student credit card account doesn’t change after you graduate from college. The account’s terms, conditions, rewards, and features remain the same.

If you have the Discover it^® Student Chrome credit card, you’ll continue to earn 2% Cashback Bonus^® at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically² after graduation.

Learn More

Do student credit cards become obsolete after graduation?

No, student cards usually don’t become obsolete after you graduate. Typically, you may keep using your student card after you get your diploma.

You also don’t need to cancel your student credit card account to apply for a new credit card. In fact, because canceling your student card may have a negative effect on your credit score, keeping the account open and in good standing may help you qualify for another rewards credit card. Rather than canceling your student card, you may want to consider how it may fit into your financial life after graduation.

How your student card can graduate with you

Student cards are usually issued with lower credit limits, which reflect the higher risk students with limited credit history and income may pose to credit card issuers.

After you graduate, your credit card provider may ask you to update your information, including:

Graduation date
Personal income
Employment status
Housing costs

Keeping your credit card company updated about your financial information may improve your chances of receiving a credit limit increase, especially if your postgraduation job gives you a higher income.

You may often request a credit limit increase over the phone, or within your mobile app.

Did you know?

If you’re no longer a college student but you’re new to credit, a secured credit card may help you build positive credit history. A secured credit card works like a traditional credit card, but you back the credit limit with a refundable deposit.

Learn More

The bottom line

In most cases, you decide what happens to your student card after graduation. Keeping your account open may help you establish a positive credit history and save you the effort of completing a new credit card application. But you may want to expand your horizon after graduation and apply for an additional credit card.

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