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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Deserve<sup>®</sup> EDU Mastercard for Students
Rewards Rate
1% unlimited cash back on ALL purchases
Extra Perks
Receive one year of Amazon Prime Student on Deserve after your first purchase with your new Deserve EDU Mastercard (Lifetime Value of $59).
Boost Your Credit Score
Build a positive credit history with responsible use
Editorial Note: shortenedCCEditorialNote

Who is the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students best for?

College students looking for a simple cashback card and the ability to try Amazon Prime Student can benefit from the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students. The cashback program is straightforward — no rotating categories or activation required, simply earn 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases.

Plus, this card has a great Amazon Prime Student subscription offer that will pay for your membership for a year. And finally, it’s a great choice for international students studying in the United States, because it doesn’t require a Social Security number (SSN) to apply. However, it won’t build credit history without an SSN linked to the account.

Quick facts

    • Receive one year of Amazon Prime Student on Deserve after your first purchase with your new Deserve EDU Mastercard (Lifetime Value of $59).
    • Earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases with your Deserve EDU Mastercard. Once approved, you'll automatically start earning cash back on all purchases.
    • Feel secure with cell phone protection up to $600.
    • No deposit required. No annual fees.
    • No international transaction fees on purchases abroad so you can travel with confidence.
    • No Social Security Number required for international students to apply.
    • Refer A Friend Program: Refer anyone to Deserve using your personal referral code. Upon approval, card activation and use, you'll receive $30 and so will your referral. Referral bonuses are unlimited!
    • Manage and track your spending, set automatic payments and securely freeze your card all through one easy to use app.
    • See if you prequalify with no impact to your credit score in minutes.
    • Deserve Mastercards are issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC.
    • Enjoy Mastercard Platinum Benefits intended to make your life easier like Mastercard ID Theft Prevention™ and Master Rental®.
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 660 720 850
    Limited / Good / Excellent
  • Up to $600 in cellphone protection for damage or theft
  • Travel assistance services when 50 or more miles from home

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

23.24% Variable

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A (Balance Transfers are not available)

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

N/A (Cash Advances are not available)

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

N/A (Balance Transfers are not available)

Pros and cons of the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

  • Earn rewards on every purchase
  • Apply without an SSN
  • Amazon Prime Student credit
  • $0 annual fee
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Rewards rate is subpar
  • Won’t build credit without an SSN
  • Doesn’t report to Equifax
  • No intro 0% APR offers

What we like about the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

  • Earn rewards on every purchase

    The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students earns 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases, which is decent for a student card. The cash back you earn is automatically redeemed for a statement credit in increments of $25. Plus, cash back doesn’t expire while your account is open.

  • Apply without an SSN

    If you’re an international student studying at a university in the U.S., and you need a credit card that doesn’t require an SSN to apply, the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is a good option. Just know that while you’ll be able to use the card to make purchases, you won’t be building credit history unless you get an SSN and add it to your Deserve account.

  • Amazon Prime Student credit

    As long as your account is in good standing, you may be reimbursed for an Amazon Prime Student subscription — with a maximum lifetime total of $59. This is a great perk that can allow you to enjoy the wide range of benefits Amazon Prime provides such as free two-day shipping, video and music streaming and more.

  • annual fee

    It’s always a positive when a credit card charges a $0 annual fee, especially for college students who are likely on a tight budget.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None

    Many other cards charge a 3% fee on transactions made abroad, but the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students does not. Whether you’re a student from the U.S. traveling for a study abroad trip or an international student in the U.S. going back to visit family, this is a good card to carry with you.

What to look out for with the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

  • Rewards rate is subpar

    While rewards shouldn’t be your focus with a student card and it’s great to be earning any rewards, the 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases this card offers isn’t the highest rate in the student card market. You can find student cards that offer higher rates in select categories or other flat-rate cards that reward on-time payments.

  • Won't build credit without an SSN

    This card allows international students to apply without an SSN. However, you won’t build credit history or establish a credit score until you’ve got an SSN linked — and building credit is important in case you might need to apply for other financial products in the future, such as an auto loan.

  • Doesn't report to Equifax

    If you’ve got an SSN linked to your Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students account, your payment history and credit utilization will be reported to two of the three credit bureaus — Experian and TransUnion. This card doesn’t report to Equifax, unlike many other credit cards which report to all three bureaus.

  • No intro 0% APR offers

    Some credit cards offer intro 0% APR periods where you can pay off a purchase over a period of months without incurring interest charges, or get an interest-free window of time after you move debt over from another card with a balance transfer. The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students doesn’t do that, however, so be aware that the regular APR is 23.24% variable.

Alternate student card to the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

Compare it to the Discover it® Student Cash Back

| Disclosures
Discover it® Student Cash Back*
Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back
Learn More
0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases
17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
$0
Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
600 660
Limited / Fair
*The information related to the Discover it® Student Cash Back has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

If you’re a student looking for a card that allows you to earn high cashback rates in select categories, check out the Discover it® Student Cash Back.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back lets you earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

This is great if you want to utilize the bonus categories, and since they rotate each quarter, there’s a good chance at least one category may suit your spending.

Looking at the rewards offered by the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students, they’re pretty basic — 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases, but may be more beneficial if you don’t want to deal with the activation required to get a high cashback rate on certain spending categories with the Discover it® Student Cash Back.

If you plan on purchasing school supplies and textbooks, the Discover it® Student Cash Back’s intro APR of 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases  (after, 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR), may come in handy. In comparison, the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students lacks an intro 0% period.

How to build credit

Assuming your card is reporting to the credit bureaus, there are a couple key factors that will help you build a great credit score:

  • Pay on time and in full. A good habit to get into when you’re new to credit is to pay each statement on time and in full. Payment history is the most important factor of your credit score, weighing in at 35%. And by paying on time, you also avoid late payment fees, penalty APRs and interest charges.
  • Don’t spend more than 30% of your credit limit. The amount of credit you use divided by your total credit limit is known as your utilization rate. It’s important not to overspend since utilization (or amounts owed) is an important factor of your credit score. To find how much you can spend while maintaining a 30% utilization rate, multiply your credit limit by .30. For example, with a $500 credit limit multiply by .30 and you get $150 as the maximum amount you should spend.

Is the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students right for you?

With its Amazon Prime Student subscription offer and a decent cashback rate, the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is a good choice for students who are beginning their credit journey. It’s also a solid option for international students at U.S. universities who need a credit card but may not qualify for other student cards that require an SSN.

The information related to the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The information related to the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Chase Freedom® Student credit card and Jasper Cash Back Mastercard® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.