One major benefit of student credit cards is that they enable cardmembers to earn rewards while they make purchases and build credit. They may also have lower spending limits and more relaxed eligibility requirements than regular credit cards. Nonetheless, you’ll still need to meet some basic criteria to qualify, such as age and income requirements.
Student cards may be a good option for students who may not yet have an established credit score. For example, there is no credit score required to apply for Discover Student credit cards.1 You can continue using your card with the same Cashback Bonus® program after graduation and may even become eligible for a credit line increase. This guide will walk you through some requirements you may need to meet and provide you with four alternatives to a student credit card.
![Optimistic university student with curly hair carrying notebooks and wearing a yellow shirt and backpack, standing in a modern building with glass doors.](/content/dam/discover/en_us/credit-cards/card-acquisitions/grey-redesign/card-smarts/2023/06/bg-studentcreditcard-image-cs.jpg.transform/cs-medium/img.jpg)
Do You Have To Be a Student To Get a Student Credit Card?
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No impact to your credit score
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No Credit Score Required to Apply (Student): Based on the preceding 12 months of Discover Student credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation. Not having a credit record may impact your approval odds.
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Build credit with responsible use(Student): Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact your ability to build credit.
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2% Chrome Gas and Restaurants: You earn a full 2% Cashback Bonus® on your first $1000 in combined purchases at Gas Stations (stand-alone), and Restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at Gas Stations and Restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, earn 1% cash back. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Even if a purchase appears to fit in a 2% category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in that category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn 2% if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Learn more at Discover.com/digitalwallets. See Cashback Bonus Program Terms and Conditions for more information.
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Secured Card Deposit Range: You must make a minimum security deposit of $200 (or more, in increments of $100 up to $2,500), which will equal your requested credit limit. Discover will determine your maximum credit limit by your income and ability to pay.
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No Credit Score Required (Secured Card): Based on 2023 Discover it Secured credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation.
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