Discover it® Chrome for Students

Our review of the Discover it® Chrome for Students

The Discover It Chrome for Students is an excellent option for the commuter student who wants to learn about credit responsibly, while still earning great rewards. The card earns 2% back on the first $1,000 spent each quarter on both gas station or restaurant purchases and earns unlimited 1% cash back on every other purchase – all for no annual fee.

Who Can Benefit from a Student Credit Card?

Student credit cards are particularly beneficial for college students who are just starting to build their credit history. These cards often come with lower credit limits and more lenient approval requirements, making them accessible to students with limited or no credit history. Additionally, student credit cards often offer rewards and benefits tailored to the needs and preferences of students, such as cashback on textbooks or discounts on school supplies. It’s here where Discover’s student cards shine, thanks to the 0% intro APR on purchases and Discover’s Cashback Match.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a student credit card, you must meet certain criteria set by the card issuer. Here are the general requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a Discover student credit card.
• Residence: You need to be a U.S. citizen or resident with a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
• Enrollment: Discover student credit cards require you to be enrolled in a two- or four-year college or university to apply.

How to Apply

When applying for a Discover it® Chrome Student credit card, applicants are typically required to submit the following personal information and documentation:

• Full name
• SSN/ITIN
• Birth date
• Address and duration of residence
• Current school enrollment details and documentation
• Any income (if applicable)
• Email address and telephone number

You’ll also need to provide the information for any co-signers to your application. This information includes items such as their SSN, income information, contact details, and an agreement of responsibility should you not pay your credit card bill.

How to Earn Cash Back

The Chrome Card for Students offers a great way to earn cash back, especially for dining and gas expenses. Students enjoy a generous 2% cash back on purchases made at gas stations or restaurants. Additionally, they can earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. It’s important to note that Discover places a cap on the 2% cash back for restaurant spending. This cap applies to up to $1,000 of combined purchases each quarter in those categories. While this limitation may be disappointing, it’s worth considering that if your annual purchases for fueling up or dining out amount to less than $4,000, there’s no need to worry.

What Does Discover Classify As Restaurant Purchases?

Discover classifies “restaurants” as any purchase made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S.

What Does Discover Classify As Gas Station Purchases?

Discover defines “gas stations” as any purchase 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.

Discover Cashback Match After Year One

Discover offers a unique benefit called Cashback Match. With Cashback Match, Discover automatically matches the cash back you earn during your first year of membership. This means that for every dollar you earn in cash back, Discover will match it, effectively doubling your rewards. For example, if you use your Discover It Chrome Card and earn $500 in cash back, Discover will give you a dollar-for-dollar match, resulting in an impressive $1,000 cash back on your purchases. With Cashback Match, you can make the most of your purchases and enjoy even greater savings. Plus, there are no limits or restrictions on how much cash back you can earn, making it a valuable feature for cardholders.

How to Redeem Cash Back

Redeeming cash back rewards with Discover is simple. There is no minimum redemption threshold, and your rewards never expire. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or shop with points through Amazon and PayPal. To redeem your cash back rewards, simply log in to your Discover account and navigate to the rewards section. From there, you can choose the redemption option that suits you best. Whether you prefer to receive cash back, treat yourself to a gift card, or indulge in some online shopping, Discover makes it easy to make the most of your rewards.

0% Introductory APR Offer

New cardholders can take advantage of 0% introductory APR on purchases for six months from the date of account opening. After that, the APR will vary based on your creditworthiness and the Prime Rate. This introductory interest rate is especially beneficial for college students who need to purchase their semesterly textbooks and supplies. However, it’s important to keep in mind that carrying a balance will reduce your available credit, increase your credit utilization, and potentially diminish the value of your cash back rewards if you don’t repay it during the promotional period.

Discover Card Student Benefits

One of the great features of Discover student credit cards is the unique set of benefits it provides.

Good Grades Credit

Discover provides additional benefits for cardholders who demonstrate hard work in the classroom. Students enrolled in the Good Grades Benefit program can receive a $20 statement credit each school year (September to August) if they earn a 3.0 GPA or higher. This benefit can be enjoyed for up to five years. To qualify for the credit, students need to maintain a “B” average or 85% based on the school’s grading system, which may use a 0 to 100% scale. The Good Grades Reward is available during the first five years of account opening. Fortunately, requesting the statement credit is a simple process for cardholders. To submit your grades, log in to your Discover account between May and August. Please note that this offer is not available over the phone. Once logged in, navigate to the “Your Shortcuts” section located at the bottom left of the page. Click on the “Good Grades Reward” option to proceed with your request.

Refer-a-Friend Credit

One of the great perks of Discover student credit cards is the opportunity to earn statement credits by referring your friends for a Discover credit card. Simply inform a friend about any of Discover’s student credit cards, and if they apply online using the specific offer sent via the provided digital link, they will become a cardmember and you will receive the statement credit bonus. Please note that referral rewards are not available for phone, mail-in, or other digital applications.

Discover Cardholder Benefits and Security Protections

Cardholders of the Discover payment network enjoy a range of security protections and benefits. Discover, the fourth largest payment network, offers many of the same features as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. These include:

• Fraud Protection
• Freeze It credit lock
• Cardmember Inquiry Services
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• No over-the-limit fees

Additional Discover Benefits

In addition to the above benefits, the Discover it® Chrome card offers the following notable features:

• EMV Chip Technology: Shop securely with a contactless-chip enabled card.
• Digital Wallets Access: The card is compatible with popular mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
• FICO Score: Cardholders also receive complimentary access to their updated FICO® Score through Discover’s Credit Scorecard.
• SSN Alerts: Discover provides an alert if your Social Security Number is found on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. This service is free, but you need to activate it separately.
• US Based Customer Service: Cardholders have 24/7 access to Discover’s customer service agents, who are based in the United States. Discover is well-known for its exceptional customer care, making this a valuable but often overlooked feature.

SavorOne Student Cash Rewards

• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards: Earn unlimited 3% back on dining & entertainment, plus 3% back on groceries, and 1% on all other purchases
• Perks: $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Discover it® Student

• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, plus 1% back on all else
• Perks: $20 statement credit when GPA is 3.0 or higher every school year

Discover it® Chrome for Students

• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards: Earn 2% cash back at gas and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, plus 1% back on all else
• Perks: $20 statement credit when GPA is 3.0 or higher every school year

Tips for Building Credit In College

1. Always pay on time: Paying your credit card bill on or before the due date is crucial. Late payments can lead to late fees, increased interest rates, and negative marks on your credit report.

2. Try to pay in full: Aim to use only a small percentage of your available credit. Ideally, keep your credit card balances below 30% of your credit limit, as issuers tend to view credit usage over that level as risky. If possible, pay your bill in full, as this can help you avoid missed payments, interest charges, and late fees. This also demonstrates responsible credit management to lenders and positively impacts your credit score.

3. Monitor your credit score: Regularly check your credit report to ensure accuracy and detect any potential errors or fraudulent activity. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) annually.

4. Create a budget – and stick to it: Create a budget and use your credit card for planned expenses. Avoid using credit cards for impulsive buys or unnecessary purchases, as it could lead to overspending and financial hardship down the line. Take the time to calculate what you are spending on food, entertainment, transit, streaming, utilities, and other services. Doing this can help you identify areas of waste and can even give you more pocket money.

5. Graduate (to better cards): A student credit card is just that: a credit card for students. As you build your credit history and demonstrate responsible credit management, you can apply for credit cards with more attractive terms and benefits. Consider proprietary cards with rewards programs, like Chase Unlimited Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, or American Express Membership Rewards.

Full-Fledged Card for Students

One of the great things about Discover’s student credit card offers is that they are essentially the same as their non-student counterparts but with additional student-centric perks. The Chrome for Students Card, for example, has the same 2% cash back at gas and restaurants as the normal Discover It Chrome Gas & Restaurants Card; the same 1% back on all other purchases; and the same Discover Cashback Match – just with the addition of a good grade rebate. That card is essentially the same as the Citi Rewards+® Card – another excellent gas rewards credit card.

Cashback Match

One notable feature of this card is the Cashback Match. Discover offers a cash back match program that doubles your cash back earnings for the first year. In other words, if you earn $250 in cash back, Discover will match that amount, resulting in a total of $500. This feature is particularly attractive to new cardholders who wish to maximize their rewards.

Student Perks

Most student cards are light on perks. Discover, however, does things differently. Students not only receive cash back on every purchase that is matched at the end of the first year, a good grades bonus, and free FICO score access, but also 0% introductory APR for the first six months on purchases.

Rewards Cap

One major drawback of the Chrome Student Card is the cap on rewards. If you frequently commute to campus by car and dine out, you may reach the $1,000 quarterly cap on 2% rewards quickly.

Should You Apply for the Discover It Chrome for Students Card?

If you are a student that doesn’t live on campus and commutes to class, the Discover It Student Chrome is an excellent option to consider. Most student cards don’t offer much beyond the opportunity to build credit. The Chrome for Students, on the other hand, allows you to build a solid credit history while earning cash back for your commute – how great is that? Discover’s Cashback Match ensures that all the cash back you earn from purchases when filling up the tank, enjoying Taco Tuesday, or even making purchases at the school bookstore is doubled after the first year. The addition of a $20 statement credit for good grades each year means the bonuses never have to stop, however, with up to $100 earnable for excelling in the classroom. Building credit while in school is an important financial step, and the Discover It Chrome for Students is a great way to establish responsible credit practices and work your way up to other, more lucrative credit card offers in the future. The Chase Freedom® Rise Credit Card is another great student credit card to consider, as it offers cash back, a good grades discount, and no annual fee. Browse Other Card Offers: