No credit score is required for students to apply for Discover it Student Cash Back or Discover it Student Chrome cards. 1
Some secured credit card issuers automatically upgrade secured card customers to a standard credit card after they’ve had their secured card for a specific amount of time and have demonstrated responsible financial behaviors that have built credit.
If you want to build credit, it will take time and won’t happen overnight. You have to show creditors you can responsibly manage credit from month to month. By knowing how credit scores are calculated, you can better use your card responsibly to help improve your score. Consider two of the biggest credit scoring factors:
• On-time payments: pay at least your minimum monthly credit card payment by the due date every month.
• Credit utilization ratio: how much of your available credit you’re using. To help maintain a low credit utilization ratio, use your credit card to make only the purchases you can afford and pay off your credit card balance in full by your due date.
There’s no set time that it takes for credit card payments to help develop your credit score. As your credit history shows more and more activity reported to the different credit bureaus, your credit score will evolve. Keep in mind, credit bureaus may keep records of missed payments for several years.
Any time you apply for credit, it creates a hard credit inquiry on your credit report, which typically lowers your score. But if you have no credit history, you’re what’s considered “credit invisible”. Since there’s no single “starting” credit score for everyone’s credit, your first credit score depends on your credit activity over at least the first 6 months that you manage a loan or card. If you practice responsible credit habits, you may start with a higher score.
People who have no credit history, a limited credit history, or those who need to rebuild their credit may find credit cards for no credit most beneficial.
• Students with no or limited credit history: try a student card
• If you’re not a student and lack a credit history: consider a secured credit card
• Rebuilding credit after some financial setbacks: a secured card may be right for you
Whether having no credit is better than having bad credit may depend on the type of credit card you’re applying for and the credit card issuer. With that said, no credit just means you haven’t established a credit history. In that case, you may have access to more types of credit meant for people just starting out. On the other hand, bad or poor credit means you likely have some negative credit activity in your credit history and you may be more suited to credit cards specifically designed to help rebuild credit.
There are different types of credit cards meant for people with no credit history. Student credit cards are also popular with students who may not have sufficient credit history to apply for traditional credit cards.
If you’re new to the U.S., you may not have any credit history: but be sure to review your credit report, as student loans or other bills may supply some level of credit history.
Look for a secured credit card if you can provide a security deposit for the card or see if you’re pre-approved for a standard credit offer with low eligibility requirements.
When you’ve established credit, you may qualify to get your deposit back on a secured credit card.
For many credit cards, having no credit history could disqualify you from getting approved. However, as many people need to start their credit journey somewhere, student credit cards and secured credit cards often have different eligibility standards than traditional unsecured cards. There’s no credit score required for eligible students to apply for Discover it Student cards. 1
The offer terms presented on this page (including, but not limited to, APR rates) may be different than offer terms displayed if you navigate away from this page. Check the terms of your specific offer before you move forward with submitting an application.
No credit score required to apply (Student): We may use credit scores if available.
Many factors affect your credit, such as payment history and amount of credit extended and used. Using your credit responsibly may help you build good credit.
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2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants: You will earn 2% cash back on your first $1000 in combined purchases at gas stations (stand-alone) and restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at gas stations and restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, except as noted below, earn 1% cash back. Gas station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retails stores and establishments classified as a bakery, may not qualify. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Capital One uses merchant category codes to determine if a purchase is in one of the additional cash back categories. This means that sometimes a purchase may not earn additional cash back. For example, some food trucks or food carts may use a merchandise code and restaurants in department stores or hotels may use a merchandise or hotel code instead of a dining code. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn additional cash back if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Capital One is not responsible for merchant category codes used by merchants. Applies to all rewards: Earnings will apply to net purchases (purchases minus any credits or returns). Cash advances, balance transfers, transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts, and checks used to access your account are not considered purchases and will not earn rewards. Portions of purchases paid with rewards, transactions that do not comply with our policies and/or applicable laws, or any cash you receive in connection with a purchase at the point of sale through Discover’s Cash at Checkout feature will not earn rewards. See Your Rewards Program Terms & Conditions and your online account for more details.
Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 365 days and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when transactions are processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardholders. No purchase minimums.
Limited Time Offer: This one-time bonus is available by clicking the “Apply Now” button on this page, and may not be available if you navigate away from or close this page. Existing or previous cardholders may not be eligible for this product if they have received a new cardholder bonus for this product in the past 48 months.
