Discover it® Student Chrome review: This student credit card matches your first-year earnings dollar-for-dollar
Getting into college is a time for celebration, but also a time for financial planning. Though it is harder to save money in college, especially while working entry-level or hourly-wage jobs, one way to set yourself up for lifelong financial health is by being intentional with your credit card and building your credit score. The Discover it® Student Chrome is designed for this very purpose. Even if you don't have a long history of credit use, this cash-back card starts you out with a low credit limit and lets you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%. Below, Select breaks down the rewards and benefits associated with the Discover it® Student Chrome to help you decide if it's right for you.

Discover it® Student Chrome Learn More On Discover's secure site Rewards 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.

Welcome bonus Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

Annual fee $0

Intro APR 0% for 6 months on purchases

Regular APR 18.24% - 27.24% Variable

Balance transfer fee 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Foreign transaction fee None

Credit needed Fair / New to Credit

*See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Discover it® Student Chrome review. Pros Cash-back program

Generous welcome bonus Cons Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%

You must be a U.S. citizen and college student to apply for this card Learn More View More

Discover it® Student Chrome review

How to qualify for the Discover it® Student Chrome

Discover it® Student Chrome rewards

Imagine earning cash back from late-night, fast-food study sessions or road trips on the weekends. The Discover it® Student Chrome rewards cardholders with 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%. Taking full advantage of this reward by spending $1,000 a quarter on gas and dining would earn you $20 every three months. The Discover it® Student Chrome also lets you earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. For new card members in the first year only, Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned dollar-for-dollar at the end of your first year. You can redeem your cash back in the following ways: Statement credits to offset your bill

Electronic deposits to your bank account

Gift cards, ranging from $5 to $200 and in increments of $5

Charitable donations to select organizations

Pay with cash back at designated merchants, like Amazon.com Your rewards never expire, but if you don't use your card for 18 months, Discover will automatically apply your cash back to your account balance.

Discover it® Student Chrome fees

The Discover it® Student Chrome has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good choice for students studying abroad. If you need to finance textbooks or dorm room essentials, you can take advantage of the introductory 0% APR for the first six months on new purchases. After the intro period, there's a 18.24% - 27.24% variable APR. We always recommend you pay your balance on time and in full in order to avoid interest charges.

Bottom line

The Discover it® Student Chrome is an excellent card for building credit and setting college students up for lifelong success. Cardholder reviews on Discover's site average 4.8 stars and cite the U.S.-based customer service that is available any time. However, if extra cash would help you pay for that new laptop, you may want to consider applying for a credit card with a welcome bonus, like the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, now with a $50 bonus offer when you make your first purchase within the first three months of account opening.

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value for students, Select analyzed popular credit cards available for college students looking to build credit. We compared each card on a range of features, including: credit limit, rewards program, introductory and standard APR, welcome bonuses and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit score and customer reviews when available. We also considered any special student-centric programs that offer incentives or extra rewards. Because it's unusual for college student cards to have robust rewards programs, we did not analyze how many rewards points you can earn in the first year. For students who are looking to build their credit history and develop strong financial skills, it's more important to practice good credit card habits — spending within your means, paying your balance on time and in full — than try to optimize your points balance. Information about the Chase Freedom® Student credit card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Chrome, click here.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.