The information about the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students has been collected independently by Moneygeek.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
MoneyGeek’s Take
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Review
Updated: November 6, 2024
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Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
On Issuer's Site
Rewards Summary
1% cash back on every purchase
Earn 1% cash back on every purchase
APR
22.99% VariableAnnual Fee
$0Recommended Credit
(No Credit History)Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
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MoneyGeek’s methodology for this review involves collecting credit card information, standardizing data points, analyzing potential cardholder profiles, considering annual and introductory bonuses, establishing the card values and reviewing data monthly to reprocess rankings.
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is primarily meant for students with a limited credit history. Usually, people with bad credit scores would have to put down a security deposit or have a co-signer to get approved for a credit card. However, this isn't the case with this unsecured card.
Since you don’t need a Social Security number to apply for this card, it is an excellent option for international students in the U.S.
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Overview
Understanding the bonus and rewards structures of this card will help make your decision-making process easier.
Quick Take
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- Receive one year of Amazon Prime Student on Deserve after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles from account opening
- Receive up to $600 in cell phone protection when you use the card to pay your monthly cell phone bill
Important Card Details
You’ll have a clear picture in your mind about the various fees associated with the Deserve EDU Mastercard for students after reading the fine print of this card. With a relatively high APR and low cash back rate, this card doesn’t excel in these areas like some competing cards.
Regular APR
This card charges a high variable regular APR of 22.99%, a much higher rate than you’ll find with some other cards. This means that to avoid a lot of interest on your balance, you should pay it off in full every month.
Cash back Rewards Rate
With this card, you’ll get a flat cash back reward of 1% on every type of purchase. It’s certainly better than nothing, but many other cards offer higher rates and/or bonus categories that help you accrue rewards faster.
Additional Benefits
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students also offers some other features for their customers.
- Zero fraud liability: In case your card is lost or stolen, you won’t be liable for any unauthorized transactions that take place.
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection: With this feature, your card will be monitored for any suspicious activity and you’ll be immediately notified if any fraudulent activity occurs.
- Easy pre-qualification: You can pre-qualify for this card without affecting your credit score.
How the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Compares To Other Cards
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students compares well with other cards in the same category because very few cards meant for students have a $0 annual fee and no fee for international transactions.
In-Depth Credit Card Comparisons:
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students vs Chase Freedom® Student credit card
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students vs Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students vs Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards
- Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students vs Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
How the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Compares
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
- Purchase APR: 22.99% variable
- Annual fee: $0
- International transactions fee: None
- Cash back rate: 1%
- Best for: international students without an SSN and frequent travelers
Chase Freedom® Student credit card
- Purchase APR: 19.99% variable
- Annual fee: $0
- International transactions fee: 3%
- Cash back rate: 1%
- Best for: Students with no credit history looking for an easy cash back rewards program
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average credit score needed to get approved for Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students?
You’ll need a credit rating of at least 630 to qualify for this card.
Does Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students report to all three credit bureaus?
Yes, Deserve reports to all three credit bureaus.
Is the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students application process lengthy? Can you prequalify?
It can take up to 10 working days for the application to process. You can pre-qualify online by filling out a form on the Deserve website.
What information is needed to apply for Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students?
Generally, you’ll need to provide your legal name, birth date, address, university/college ID, Social Security number and annual income if you’re a U.S. citizen. For international students, an SSN is not required.
Does Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students have good customer service or satisfaction?
Yes, Deserve has very good customer service. It’s easy to get in touch with their reps, who are friendly and helpful.
Does Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students have a mobile app or the option to pay or manage your account online?
Yes, Deserve has a mobile app to help you manage your account online.
Does Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students raise credit limits automatically or charge for limit increases?
Deserve raises credit limits automatically after analyzing the account every few months.
Does Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students offer the options to freeze your credit/account or have other security features?
Yes, Deserve offers many security features to keep your account safe. These include Mastercard ID Theft Prevention and easy account freezing through the company’s mobile app.
Does Deserve offer other credit cards besides the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students?
Yes, Deserve also offers the Deserve PRO and Deserve Digital First cards for its customers. In addition, business customers can get co-branded cards from Deserve.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Deserve. "Credit Cards." Accessed November 6, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.