Discover® Open RoadSM Card For Students

Are you always on the road for some reason or another? Have you ever wished you could get back a percentage of the money you spend on gas? If you are, then the Discover Open Road Card, issued by Discover Financial, might just be what you’re looking for. It is a gas rewards platinum card which lets you earn rewards in the form of rebates.

No annual fee for you or for any additional cardholders.
Get a free $150 Restaurant.com gift certificate after your first purchasewith the Discover Open Road Card within 6 months of account opening. This is an amazing sign-up promotion for new card members as you can use this $150 voucher to save at over 15,000 restaurants nationwide. 


0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months. 
This card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months. Thereafter, the variable APR will be between 10.99% and 20.99% depending on your credit score. This offer will benefit those who intend to buy an expensive item and then repay it over 12 months interest-free.


0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 12 months. 
This is a great benefit if you plan to take advantage of the introductory 0% balance transfer deal by transferring your balance from another card account (that charges high interest) to this one. After the introductory period, the variable APR will be between 10.99% and 20.99% depending on your credit score.


2% Cashback on gas and restaurants on your first $250 in combined purchases each month. 
After the first $250 spent on gas and restaurants each month, the cashback you will receive will be the same as that of any other purchases. Restaurants include cafes, fast food services, restaurants and cafeterias.
1% unlimited Cashback on all other purchases after having spent $3,000 for the year. For the first $3,000 you spend, you will receive 0.25% cashback. After the first $3,000, you will get 1% cashback.


Cashback Bonus ranging from 5% to 20% 
This is on purchases made in over 200 retailers in Discover’s online shopping mall.


No Cashback expiry date. 
If your account is dormant and inactive for 18 months or more, or if you fail to make any minimum payment due for two consecutive billing periods, your rewards will be forfeited. Otherwise your rewards don’t have an expiration date. You won’t have to worry about your cashback ever expiring, thus allowing you to accumulate all the cash you want without the pressure of having to use your rewards by a certain date.


Redeem your Cashback Bonus for gift cards or cold hard cash. 
Gift card redemption starts from $20 from over 100 brand-name retailers. You can even double your Cashback Bonus when you redeem for gift cards from their Partners. If you prefer to get your reward in cash, you can get an electronic deposit to your bank account in increments of $50, or credit your Discover Card account in increments of $50.


Travel accident insurance of up to $500,000.
With this free insurance, you can now travel with peace of mind. Remember to pay for your travel tickets with the Discover Open Road credit card.


$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.
 This ensures that you’re never responsible for unauthorized charges on your Discover Card.

Student UPside Visa® Prepaid Card

• A card truly designed for the 13-25 age group and their parents
• Full parental control. Safer than cash
• Parents can load the card online from their own credit card or checking account
• Instant online funding, great for emergencies when your child is away from home
• If your child is in high school, you can set allowances and monitor his/her spending online. Also perfect if he/she is traveling without you
• If your child is already in college, he/she can receive free direct deposits from an employer, write checks and most importantly stay out of debt.
• Only $2.99 a month or $29.95 a year

JourneySM Student Rewards from Capital One®

The Capital One Journey Student Card is tailored to the student who wants to earn cash back while also earning a solid credit history through responsible credit card use and financial management. Although you have to have decent credit in order to be eligible for this card, those who have a good track record will find it a solid choice – especially as they build their credit. You can get free text and email alerts sent to you to help you monitor your account, for example, and you will earn a huge 25% bonus on your cash back rewards by paying your bill on time.

There is no annual membership fee and cardholders get 1% back on every purchase. Accumulated cash rewards don’t expire, either, and there is no limit to the amount of cash you can earn. The earned cash can be redeemed by check or as a credit deposited to your account.

Many students don’t realize how quickly they can spoil their credit – while others also understand that it is also possible to rapidly establish better credit. Since credit history is a journey that starts early in life, this is a good choice and it is supported by the kind of innovative online tools and technologies for which Capital One is famous. The customer service at Capital One is also usually above average, and that can be especially helpful for consumers just starting out who may have more questions.

The Bottom-Line:
This is a reliable student-oriented credit card with a solid rewards program that pays cash back and also gives bonuses to cardholders who pay their bills on time. Capital One also offers good account management tools like text alerts. There is no annual fee and rewards are not limited and do not expire.


The Good:
There are easy ways to earn cash back rewards that don’t expire, and there is no limit on cash back you can earn. There is also no annual fee and a nice bonus if you pay your bills on time.


The Not So Good:
You have to have pretty decent credit in order to get this card, so those with bad credit may not be eligible.

Citi Forward® Card for College Students

The Citi Forward® Card for College Students earns you ThankYou rewards and reduces your APR for Managing your Finances Responsibly.

The Citi Forward® Card for College Students rewards you for smart savings and responsible management of your finances. This card lets you REDUCE your APR when you stay under your credit limit and pay your bills on time, while maintaining an active account.

• Reduce your APR by 2% over time with responsible payments
• Enjoy 0% Introductory APR on purchases
• Earn 1,000 bonus ThankYou® Points just for signing up for paperless statements
• Earn up to 1,200 bonus ThankYou® Points for paying on time
• Earn 5x ThankYou® Points for purchases in spending categories
• Earn 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on other purchases
• No Cosigner required
• No Annual Fee

You'll earn ThankYou® Points on every purchase you make. The Citi ThankYou rewards program is one of the most extensive in the industry. With rewards ranging from travel to cash back to must-have merchandise it puts other rewards programs to shame. 

0% Introductory Rate on Purchases

If you qualify, you'll receive a special introductory APR interest rate as a new cardholder: an introductory 0% APR on purchases for 7 billing cycles after account opening. After this Introductory APR period ends, purchases will be subject to a reasonable APR that varies along with the prime rate. 

Live Smart, Spend Smart, Save Smart

The Citi Forward® Card for College Students lets you reduce your costs as a responsible consumer. You'll accrue ThankYou rewards points for managing your finances on time and save money by reducing your APR over time.
Reduce Your APR by up to 2% - When you keep an active account and continue to manage your credit and finances responsibly, you can reduce your APR by up to 2%. You must make at least one purchase, stay under your credit limit, and pay your minimum monthly payment (or more) on time. Do this 3 months in a row, and your APR will be reduced by .25%! You're eligible to earn up to 8 decreases like this, up to 2% of your purchase APR!
No Annual Fee and No Cosigner Required - With the Citi Forward® Card for College Students, you won't be charged an annual fee as a cardmember. Plus, you won't need a cosigner in order to open an account. Membership is still subject to a credit check when you apply, however.

ThankYou Rewards: Earn more of what you want, when you want it

You can earn plenty of ThankYou® Points on everything you buy using this card. Earn more in special spending categories, and at LEAST 1 point per $1 you spend. As for rewards there are new options every month, from travel to cash back to merchandise.
Earn up to 1,200 Bonus Points - You'll earn 100 bonus points for every month in which you make your minimum monthly payment on time and are not over your credit limit. You can earn up to 1,200 points per year in this manner!
Earn 1,000 Bonus Points - Here's how it works: You'll earn 1,000 bonus ThankYou® Points when you enroll in paperless statement service within 3 months of account opening. 
Earn 1 ThankYou® Point for Every $1 Spent - You will earn 1 ThankYou® Point for every dollar you spend on all other types of purchases. 
Earn 5x ThankYou® Points per $1 - You will earn five ThankYou® Points per every $1 you spend on purchases at stand-alone merchants within specific purchasing categories: 

• Book Stores
• Record Stores
• Restaurants (includes Fast Food)
• Movie Theaters
• Video Rental Stores

Redeeming Your ThankYou Rewards

You can redeem your ThankYou rewards points starting at just 1,000 points. When you reach 10,000 points, you can use the special "Your Wish Fulfilled" service, which lets you customize a rewards package just for you. There are plenty of other options as well:

• Rewards by Category - There are literally dozens of rewards categories in which to find the perfect reward for your lifestyle. Search by number of points required, as well as merchandise category. Books, electronics, computers, home and garden, sporting and outdoor, health and beauty, tools, automotive accessories, and more. 
• Prepaid Visa cards and Gift Cards - Turn your rewards into dining gift cards, eco-friendly gift cards, electronics gift cards, entertainment gift cards, gas gift cards, retail store gift cards, or even Visa prepaid cards good around the globe, wherever Visa is accepted. 
• Travel Rewards - Use your points to hit the road, or walk the path less traveled. The online booking tool allows you to use points for flights, hotel stays, rental cars, vacation packages, and cruises, all without blackout dates or seat restrictions. You can also use your points for Travel Certificates which you can use aboard cruises, in hotels, or for rental cars. Just remember to redeem your points before you go!
• Rewards for Cash - You can turn your ThankYou rewards points into cash and other monetary rewards like statement credits, mortgage payments, student loan rebates, and even donations to your favorite charity.

Not seeing what you want? Use the "Your Wish Fulfilled" feature to talk to a wish specialist who will put together the perfect rewards package for you! You must have 10,000 points saved up, however.

Other Perks and Services

Here are some of the perks and services you'll enjoy as a Citi card holder. For a complete list of what is available to you, consult the information that comes with your card after acceptance. 
Identity Theft Protection - Identity Theft happens. If it happens to you, Citi will help you get your life back on track with advice and assistance. 
$0 Liability for Fraudulent Charges - If your account information is compromised, an investigation will be conducted and you won't be held responsible for fraudulent charges. 
Free Cell Phone Insurance - Lose your phone? You're covered for $250 worth of equipment (with a $50 co-payment).
Online Banking Services - Check your account balance, pay your bill, monitor account activity, and even transfer balances quickly and easily. All online and totally secure.

Final Thoughts and Considerations

There are some terms and conditions (as well as fees) you should be aware of before you submit an application. They are very reasonable, and they're listed within the terms and conditions link at the bottom of this review page.


For college students, there aren't too many card offers out there better than this one. Aside from giving you the protections and services of a premium credit card, you'll also be rewarded for managing your credit correctly. Over time, you can even REDUCE what that line of credit costs you...and redeem great rewards along the way!! 

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Card For College Students

Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa for College Students is a great student credit card for those who do a large amount shopping online. With Citi Dividend you’ll earn five percent cash back for every purchase at a drug store, supermarket, gas station, convenience store and utility payment. After six months you only get two percent cash back on those purchases. All other purchases will get you a one percent cash back reward. The coolest feature is the virtual account numbers available to card holders. This tool will ensure the safety of your identity while shopping online. They also offer a great credit education system as well as travel insurance up to $1 million if you use your Citi Dividend card to purchase the tickets.

APR for Purchase: 

Citi Dividend offers six months with no APR and no annual fee. However, once those six months are up, Citi Dividend's APR is 16.24 percent. Citi Dividend provides a 20-day grace period during which you can pay off your credit.

Points for Card Use: 

Unlike the other Citibank cards we reviewed, Citi Dividend does not offer a point system but has implemented a cash back reward system. Citi Dividend is a great alternative for those who would like to stick with Citibank and find comfort with a cash back system. With Citi Dividend you get five percent cash back when you swipe your card at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations and utilities. However, you will only have a limited amount of time to enjoy this luxury because after six months the five percent cash back is bumped down to two percent.

Citi Dividend also makes shopping online beneficial by offering a five percent cash back reward for buying through any of 400 plus online retailers partnered with Citibank. All of the cash rewards you’ve earned will show up on your account at the end of the month under Dividend Dollars.

Who it is for:

Citi Dividend is a card designed strictly for the college crowd. To become a Dividend cardholder you must be at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in college. All of the places through which you can earn bonus points are geared toward college students, as are the rewards.

Discover Student Credit Card

Get paid for spending and enjoy a fairly low APR with Discover Student Credit Card. Instead of a point system which allows you to redeem earned points for fun prizes, Discover Student offers a cash back system which reimburses you a percentage of what you spent. Earn 5 percent cash back on purchases made at gas stations, home improvement stores, grocery stores, and more. Earn up to 20 percent cash back on purchases made through Discover.com. Although the percentage of cash back is relatively small, you have the ability to use your reward however you like, unlike a point system which locks you into a certain set of prizes.One feature Discover Student offers that we particularly like is the Student Center. This free online education source helps student understand ins and outs of credit. A budget calculator is also available in this section so you can see if what you’re bringing in matches what you’re spending. This tool is great for students who are unfamiliar with money management and budgeting.

APR for Purchase:

Discover did a good job in this section with a relatively low regular Annual Percentage Rate of 13.99-20.99% and a 25-day grace period. APR is the amount you have to pay for using credit after your grace period is up, so a low APR and high grace period are desirable. Discover Student also offers no APR for the first 9 months and no annual fees.

Points for Card Use:

Unlike our number one product, Discover Student gives cash back opposed to points. While we prefer the points system better because they usually rack up quicker, the cash back system can be very rewarding if you use the card enough. Cash back rewards work on percentages. With Discover Student, you get 5 percent cash back on purchases made at all department stores, home improvement stores, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and travel. You also get one percent cash back on all other purchases. While this may seem like a small amount, if you use your card to make large purchases, say for instance, tuition, the 1 percent isn’t so bad. Discover Student also makes online shopping all the more rewarding. Card users will get 20 percent cash back on all online purchases made through ShopDiscover. By logging into ShopDiscover you will be able to purchase from an array of online sources including Best Buy, iTunes, JCPenney, Office Depot, Six Flags, North Face, GAP, Foot Locker, and many more.However, this card does not offer cash back for paying your bills on time or getting a good GPA. Cash Back rewards are placed in your account at the end of every month.

Who it is for: 

Many of the aspects of Discover Student are geared toward college students, including the name. Although there is not stipulation requiring you to be enrolled in college, you must be 18 years of age or older to be a card user.