Lisa Cahill, Credit Cards Moderator
@lisacahill
The best Discover student credit card is the Discover it® Student Cash Back because it gives 5% cash back on different types of purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 spent quarterly, and $6,000 annually) in rotating categories that require activation. That bumps up the card’s earning potential to the top tier of student credit cards. You have to sign up for the new categories each quarter, but there’s an extra cherry on top for those who do: Discover it Student Cash Back will match the cash back that new cardholders earn the first year. That can be a huge benefit if you’re maxing out the card’s 5% back categories. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
The other Discover student card contender is the Discover it® Student chrome, which gives a consistent 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants combined each quarter. All other purchases get 1% back. While this rewards setup could work to a commuting student’s advantage, the maximum a cardholder can earn in normal bonus rewards annually is $80. On the plus side, this card won’t make you register for cash back every quarter. Discover it Student chrome also doubles the first year’s cash back, though the bonus has less earning potential than with the Discover it Student Cash Back.
Discover it Student Cash Back: 5% back on up to $1,500 spent per quarter in rotating categories that require activation.
Discover it Student chrome: 2% back on up to $1,000 spent per quarter at gas stations and restaurants combined.
Features on Both Cards: 1% cash back on non-bonus purchases, first-year’s rewards doubled, no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, 0% intro APR for the first 6 months on purchases, and 17.49% - 26.49% Variable regular APR.
Overall, students who are organized and eager to enter the world of credit card rewards will do well getting the Discover it Student Cash Back. The Discover it Student chrome might be the better option for commuting students who spend a lot at gas stations and restaurants, but the cash back opportunities aren’t quite as promising.

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