Our Verdict
The Discover it® Student Chrome is best summed up with one word: mediocre. With earnings of 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases, the Discover it® Student Chrome card falls short compared to other student cards on the market.
Mediocrity doesn’t mean it’s the worst choice, however. On the plus side, the Discover it® Student Chrome card has no annual fee and Unlimited Cashback Match™ - Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Earning some rewards is better than earning no rewards. But know that other cards, including some by Discover, offer more appealing options than this one.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Earn rewards while building credit
- Cash back earned is automatically matched at the end of your first year as a cardholder
- Introductory APR offer
Cons
- Reward earning is capped in highest category to $1,000 in purchases per quarter
- Rewards are less-than-stellar in comparison with other student cards
Highlights
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back 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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% – 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Introduction
For those who commute to school and dine out frequently, the Discover it® Student Chrome may be worth considering. It earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. But, like studying for your finals, choosing a credit card should require more effort than a quick review of the highlights.
The Discover it® Student Chrome offers a number of small but interesting perks. Most rewarding is the Unlimited Cashback Match™ - Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
The card offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then a standard variable APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies. The card also waives late fees on the first payment. If using a credit card and paying it monthly takes a little getting used to, Discover gives you one free pass.
Quick Facts
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR offer: 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then a standard variable APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies
- Unlimited Cashback Match™ - Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards
Discover It Student Chrome Rewards
Earning Rewards
Cash-back rewards of 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Restaurants also include cafes, take-out, delivery and fast food.
With the 2% cash-back reward only applicable to the first $1,000 in spending in-category per quarter, the maximum cash-back earned per year in the elevated rewards categories is $80.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards earned with the Discover it® Student Chrome can be redeemed at any time for any amount.
Rewards do not expire and are credited to the account if the account is closed. Redemptions can be issued as statement credits, electronic transfer to a bank account, as a donation to certain charities or redeemed for purchases with specific merchants.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the Discover it® Student Chrome, Forbes Advisor used data from various government agencies to determine what the typical college student spends in a year. Using these average spending assumptions, we estimate that a college student could expect to earn $174.34 cash back with this credit card each year, plus the cash-back match at the end of the first year.
0% Introductory Rates
The Discover it® Student Chrome offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then a standard variable APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
Other Discover It Student Chrome Benefits
- Choose a card design. Select from several design options.
- Refer-a-friend. Statements credits for successful applications from friends.
- Discover mobile app. Online banking on-the-go.
- Cashback Match. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Social Security number monitoring. Help identifying Social Security number security breaches on the dark web upon signup.
- Freeze it®. Quickly and easily halt all action on a card when lost or stolen.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
- Purchase intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 6 months
- Balance transfer intro APR: 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: None
How the Discover it Student Chrome Stacks Up
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Chrome seems the best fit for student commuters and foodies who want to earn specific cash back in those two categories. For others, there’s the Discover it® Student Cash Back, which offers 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more, up to the quarterly maximum once activated. Plus, automatically earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The card’s quarterly bonus categories have included Amazon.com, Target, drugstores like Walgreens and CVS and restaurants. Due to the higher earnings rate and max earnings each quarter, the annual reward potential for this card’s bonus categories is $300—more than twice that of the Discover it® Student Chrome. But keep in mind, the categories rotate and your spending habits may not always align.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back, like the Discover it® Student Chrome, has no annual fee.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card lets you earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (which excludes superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. Since food often accounts for the highest spend category for students, this card could be a great fit. With an available welcome bonus of $50 after spending $100 in the first three months plus no annual fee (rates & fees), this card gets an A+.
Discover it® Student Chrome vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students
When it comes to earning cash back on a student card, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students is the top earner. The card earns 3% cash back in the category of choice and an automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Bonus earning is limited to the first $2,500 in the 3% and 2% categories combined each quarter. Earn an unlimited 1% on all other purchases. You can log in to your mobile app to change your highest earning category once a month. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students also comes with a generous welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Compare Discover It Student Chrome With Other Cards
Is the Discover It Student Chrome for You?
Better student credit cards exist. Worse student credit cards exist, too. But most consumers have a choice—and that choice probably shouldn’t be the Discover it® Student Chrome card.
Though it has some safety features as you get accustomed to making payments, the card overall fails to be a top choice among its peers.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards
