As we neared the end of our student credit card reviews, we just had to look at the Discover Student Card. These cards are the ideal way to begin your real-world financial experience while building a solid credit history. The trick is to find the one that's right for you. Star Reviews thought the Discover Student Card credit application was simple to complete, but continue on for what else we discovered.
About the Discover Student Card:
The Discover Student Card is a great credit card for students who are already beginning to establish a solid credit history. However, if you've got some dings or dents in your credit report, this probably isn't the card for you. Students need a somewhat established credit rating to qualify for a Discover Student Card account. One thing to note about this card is that the interest rate is higher than student credit cards without a rewards program. However, if you plan on paying off your balance in full each month, the interest rate should be a non-issue and you'll benefit from the added perks of the rewards program.
Navigating the Discover Student Card website:
The website for the Discover Student Credit card is simple and straightforward. Instead of having to wait until you fill out all of your information in order to see the terms and conditions of the card, the Discover Student Card allows you to see all of the terms right there on the application page. The application itself is also easy to master, just a one-page form with a simple submit button at the bottom. Reading the terms and conditions and filling out the form should take just a few short minutes.
Star Reviews' Favorite Feature:
The Discover Student card is one of the only student credit cards to offer a rewards program, and though the interest rate is higher than credit cards that don't offer rewards programs, it is actually a very reasonable rate for a rewards-based card.
Discover Student Card Features:
- Online account access.
- $0 liability for unauthorized transactions.
- Discounts on products and services at participating merchants and retailers.
Introductory Offers:
- 0-percent APR for 6 months.
Standard Terms:
- 16.99% variable APR.
- 22.99% variable APR on cash advances.
- 0% Interest on Purchases for 6 Months
- 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories like Travel, Gas, Restaurants, Movies, and More
- Up To 1% Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
- Build Your Credit History
- No minimum income or cosigner required
- No Annual Fee
- Easy Online Account Management Options
- Up to 20% cashback when you shop online
- $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee
- View Discover® Card Rates, Fees, Rewards and Other Important Information
- Additional cardholders at no additional cost.
- 25-day grace period.
- $39 over-the-limit fee.
Customer Support:
The Discover Student Card website did not offer customer service contact information, but the main Discover homepage did. Discover offers customer support via FAQ, email and a toll-free phone number.
Reaching customer support may prove to be a bit frustrating. If you would like to access support through email, you need to log into the Discover account center (and you must be a cardholder to do so) and submit a request using their online form. Then it can take 1 to 2 business days to receive a response. The FAQs section can definitely help you out if you need instant assistance.
Toll-free phone support is also available, but when we called their support line, we didn’t really love the looping automated system. While this can be a bit irritating, the reps prove to be very helpful once you actually get through. The rep we spoke with was cordial and knowledgeable, adequately answering all of our questions.
Upside:
0-percent intro APR, cash-back rewards, no balance transfer fees.
Downside:
Interest rate higher than other student credit cards on the market.
Summary:
While there are other student credit cards on the market that offer a lower interest rate, the Discover Student Card is one of the only ones to offer cash-back rewards. This makes this card a top pick for students who plan on paying their balances off in full each month. The 0-percent intro rate is also a huge plus, as many student credit cards don't offer cardholders any introductory incentives.
We liked that there wasn’t an annual fee, which can be a difficult feature to find in this day and age. There is a 25-day grace period if you should need it, which is pretty comparable to their competitions’ grace periods. Telephone customer support is efficient and friendly if you can make it through the looping menu options. Email support and the FAQs database are also good. We think this is a good choice in student credit cards.