For many college students and recent grads, opening your first credit card is an important step in establishing a positive credit history and rapport with lenders. One card that can help young consumers start building credit responsibly is the Discover student credit card. In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of the key features and benefits that make the Discover student card a solid option for financing school and daily expenses as credit newcomers.
Student Credit Card Basics
Most major credit card issuers offer starter cards tailored for college-aged applicants, understanding they likely don’t have extensive credit histories yet. Like other student cards, Discover’s product requires:
- Applicants be enrolled at least half-time in college or have recently graduated within the past 24 months.
- A cosigner over age 21 with an established credit profile to increase approval odds.
- Basic income information usually relies more on the cosigner’s details if the student is unemployed.
If approved, expect intro credit limits in the $300-$500 range depending on personal and cosigner credit strength. Students then have access to borrowing and benefits while also beginning to build their own credit scores independently.
Rewards Structure
At its core, the Discover student card rewards responsible use by offering cashback on a wide variety of purchase categories at compelling rates:
- 5% cash back in bonus categories that rotate quarterly, like gas stations, restaurants, Amazon, etc. up to the quarterly $1,500 cap, then 1% thereafter.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
- Unlimited cash back with no annual fee ensures ongoing reward value for years of use.
The rotating bonus structure balances cash back earnings with learning to pay full statements each month on time. With no FX fees either, rewards accrue whether shopping stateside or abroad.
Additional Perks
Beyond competitive rewards, Discover enhances the student experience through included benefits:
- Free FICO score access through online accounts every month keeps applicants aware of credit progress.
- Zero liability protection shields approved transactions if cards are lost or stolen.
- Optional credit limit increases over time when demonstrating responsible repayment habits.
- Student-focused financial education resources on managing debt and building credit scores strategically.
These extras foster positive long-term credit habits without unexpected fees or penalties for minor payment issues many new users face while adjusting to credit responsibilities.
Promotional Offers
Like most student cards, Discover frontloads approval incentives to drive initial spending:
- $20 bonus credit after first purchase.
- Opportunities to earn 10,000-15,000 bonus points worth $100-150 in gift cards when spending $500 in the first 3 months.
- 0% intro APR periods of 6-15 months on both purchases and balance transfers (13.74%-24.74% variable afterward).
Used wisely, these temporary perks can enhance rewards or save on interest for those carefully financing school costs or a computer setup. Just be sure to repay intro amounts to avoid later interest charges.
Managing Accounts Online
Student cardholders benefit from Discover’s robust digital account access through online banking or mobile app:
- Detailed transaction histories make budgeting easy.
- Account alerts help spot potential fraud right away.
- One-time payment options like transferring money from checking.
- Interactive tools visually track credit scores and reports over time.
- Live customer support is just a message away.
Relying less on paper statements instills technology skills as well as responsible habits around monitoring accounts regularly for issues. Overall it simplifies the transition to independent credit tracking.
Why Discover is a Solid Starter Card
As a first credit experience, the Discover student card provides a few core advantages over competitors for new users:
- Rewards flexibility satisfies varied spending without bonus category stress as habits develop.
- Simple approval requires just one creditworthy co-signer to increase odds versus multiple bank account qualifications.
- Promotional offers and education resources incentivize optimal usage upfront.
- Generous per-purchase protections prevent unexpected losses.
- Among the most generous credit limit increases over time based on performance relative to peers.
Having solid digital access combined with a rewards structure forgiving of learning curves makes Discover an intuitive brand for college students committed to learning financial fundamentals at their own pace.
Using Credit Wisely
While these starter cards can help build positive repayment trends, there are also risks if not managed responsibly:
- Only spend what can realistically be paid off monthly to avoid revolving interest charges.
- Resist continuous limit increases until financially secure enough to curb overspending urges.
- Set spending alerts or freezes on compromised cards and review reports vigilantly.
- Prioritize balancing school with credit education – avoid loan dependency.
With discipline and care, approved applicants can establish 700+ scores within a year or two with a student card. But rushing repayment progress risks negatively impacting that all-important early credit performance.
Graduating From Student Cards
After 12-18 months of managing the student card responsibly, Discover then provides a natural way to transition to mainstream credit:
- Product changes allow upgrading to regular Discover cash-back rewards cards with higher limits.
- Loyalty bonuses like cash-back matches for transferred rewards entice retaining business.
- If scores rise sufficiently, chances improve for approval on highly desirable travel rewards programs too.
With graduation comes greater independence and access to competitive credit options. Proving financial maturity with Discover makes for a frictionless process and continued rewards benefits as spending levels rise accordingly.
Other Factors to Consider
While the Discover student card offers benefits, potential downsides include:
- Reliance on cosigner credit quality which also affects approval odds and rates long term.
- Periodic interest charges for those not paying balances in full.
- Minor fees for late/missed payments undermine educational goals.
- Credit factors like high balances relative to limits could lower scores.
However, the included education, rewards, and online tools better prepare applicants for long-term fiscal responsibility compared to some competitors requiring steep qualification hurdles.
Should You Get the Discover Student Card?
In summary, if you’re looking for a credit starter focused on learning healthy habits and building an independent profile, the Discover option provides:
- Flexible rewards aligned with a student’s varied spending.
- Robust management features through accounts and easy graduation.
- Educational perks supporting credit stewardship over the years.
- Good starting approval odds require just one cosigner.
With a commitment to strictly following repayment best practices, this card sets up applicants to develop creditworthiness responsibly over both college and early careers. With no annual fees either, it remains a cost-effective choice versus other subprime starter products for cash-strapped students. The Discover student card could help begin establishing positive credit health right from the start.