Discover it® Student Cash Back

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $0
• APR: 0% intro for 6 months, then 16.99%–25.99% variable
• Rewards: 5% rotating categories + 1% on everything else
• Bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match + $20/year Good Grade Reward (up to 5 years)
• Best For: College students, first-time cardholders, credit building
• Credit Needed: None (no credit history required)

Overview

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is the perfect first credit card for college students, offering 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories and 1% on all other purchases with no annual fee. Designed specifically for students with no credit history required, it features Cashback Match for your first year, a unique Good Grade Reward program, and helps you build credit while earning rewards.

What makes this card exceptional for students is the combination of no credit history requirement, generous rewards that match or exceed non-student cards, and student-specific perks like the $20 annual Good Grade Reward. It's a true starter card that doesn't compromise on earning potential—in fact, with Cashback Match, you'll earn 10% in rotating categories and 2% on everything else during your first year.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 6 months, then 16.99%–25.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 10.99% intro APR for 6 months, then 16.99%–25.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: None

Note: 6-month 0% intro APR on purchases helps manage textbook costs and other college expenses interest-free initially.

Benefits Overview

Travel Benefits

• No foreign transaction fees (perfect for study abroad programs)
• Emergency card replacement worldwide
• 24/7 fraud protection while traveling
• Wide acceptance at 99% of merchants nationwide and abroad

Everyday Benefits

• $0 fraud liability guarantee (never responsible for unauthorized purchases)
• Free FICO credit score monitoring to track credit building progress
• Social Security number dark web monitoring alerts
• Account freeze feature via mobile app or website
• 24/7 U.S.-based customer service
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus to build credit history

Lifestyle Benefits

• Good Grade Reward: $20 statement credit annually for 3.0+ GPA (up to 5 years)
• Customizable card designs to personalize your card
• Cash back redemption through PayPal
• Gift card redemptions (often at discounted rates)
• Statement credit or direct deposit options
• No minimum redemption threshold

Rewards & Cash Back

• 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, Amazon.com, and more) up to $1,500 per quarter when you activate
• 1% cash back on all other purchases (unlimited)
• Quarterly maximum: $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter in 5% categories (then 1%)
• Activation required: Must activate each quarter's 5% categories via app, website, or text
• No expiration: Rewards don't expire for the life of your account
• Redemption options: Cash at any amount, statement credit, gift cards, PayPal transfer, or Amazon purchases

2025 Rotating Categories (Typical Examples)

• Q1: Grocery stores, CVS, Walgreens (great for snacks and essentials)
• Q2: Gas stations, wholesale clubs, select streaming services
• Q3: Restaurants, PayPal, select retailers (perfect for dining out)
• Q4: Amazon.com, Target, Walmart (ideal for holiday shopping)

Pro Tip: Set a phone reminder to activate new categories at the start of each quarter. Takes 30 seconds via the Discover app.

Welcome Bonus

Unlimited Cashback Match: Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. There is no limit to how much they'll match, and this applies even if you redeem rewards throughout the year.

Example Value for Students:

• Earn $200 cash back in your first year
• Get matched with an additional $200
• Total: $400

This essentially doubles your rewards rate to 10% in bonus categories and 2% everywhere else during your first year—unmatched among student credit cards.

Good Grade Reward Program

Earn $20 per school year for maintaining a 3.0+ GPA (up to 5 consecutive years from account opening)

How to Claim:

1. Log in to your Discover account
2. Go to Your Shortcuts and select Good Grades Reward
3. Enter your school's grading scale and your GPA
4. Receive your $20 statement credit within 7 days
5. Available once per school year

Total Potential Value: $100 over 5 years (plus regular rewards)

Eligibility: Must have indicated enrollment in college on application and account must remain open when reward is requested.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Balance Transfer Fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Minimum Interest Charge: $0.50
• Minimum Credit Line: $500

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• College students with limited or no credit history
• First-time cardholders building credit from scratch
• Students with good grades who can earn $20/year bonus
• Study abroad participants (no foreign transaction fees)
• Organized students who can maximize rotating 5% categories
• Young adults learning financial responsibility
• Anyone wanting to build credit while earning rewards

Not Good For

• Non-students (regular Discover it® Cash Back offers identical rewards)
• Students who forget to activate quarterly categories
• Those needing higher credit limits (minimum $500 line)
• Students who won't utilize rewards (consider secured cards for pure credit building)
• High spenders exceeding quarterly limits ($1,500/quarter in 5% categories)

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee and no credit history required—perfect for first-time cardholders
• Unlimited Cashback Match doubles all first-year earnings (effectively 10% + 2%)
• Strong 5% rotating categories with generous $1,500 quarterly maximum ($75 max/quarter)
• Good Grade Reward pays $20 per year for 3.0+ GPA (up to 5 years, $100 total)
• 0% intro APR for 6 months helps manage college expenses
• No foreign transaction fees—great for study abroad programs
• Cash back never expires as long as account remains open
• Free FICO credit score access to monitor credit building progress
• $0 fraud liability guarantee with robust security
• Social Security number dark web monitoring alerts
• 24/7 U.S.-based customer service
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus to establish credit history
• Same rewards as non-student Discover it® Cash Back

Cons

• Must remember to activate 5% bonus categories each quarter
• Rotating categories may not always align with student spending habits
• 5% cash back caps at $1,500 per quarter in bonus categories (then drops to 1%)
• Shorter 6-month 0% intro APR on purchases vs. non-student cards (15 months)
• Good Grade Reward requires manual submission each year
• Variable APR can be high (up to 25.99%) after intro period if carrying a balance
• Balance transfer fee applies (3% intro, then up to 5%)
• $500 minimum credit line may be limiting for some students
• Limited premium travel benefits

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Credit Needed
Chase Freedom Student	Future Chase ecosystem members	$0	1% cash back + bonus categories	Limited/No history
Capital One SavorOne Student	Dining and entertainment focus	$0	3% dining, entertainment, grocery + 1%	Limited/No history
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Student	Customizable 3% category	$0	3% in choice category + 2% grocery + 1%	Limited/No history
Discover it® Secured	Building/rebuilding credit	$0	2% gas/restaurants + 1%	No minimum

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value for Students (First Year with Cashback Match + Good Grade Reward)

Typical student spending $6,000 per year:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Cash Back Earned	After Cashback Match
5% rotating categories	$3,000	5%	$150	$300
All other purchases	$3,000	1%	$30	$60
Good Grade Reward (3.0+ GPA)	—	—	—	$20

First-Year Total Value: $380

Ongoing Annual Value (After First Year):

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
5% rotating categories	$3,000	5%	$150
All other purchases	$3,000	1%	$30
Good Grade Reward (3.0+ GPA)	—	—	$20

Ongoing Yearly Value: $200

5-Year College Value (with Cashback Match first year + Good Grade Reward all 5 years):

• Year 1: $380 (with Cashback Match)
• Years 2-5: $200/year × 4 = $800
• Total 5-Year Value: $1,180

Compare this to a no-rewards secured card earning $0, and the Discover it® Student Cash Back provides exceptional value while building the exact same credit history.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If…

• You're a college student with limited or no credit history
• You want to earn rewards while building credit (most starter cards offer none)
• You can maintain a 3.0+ GPA to earn the $20 annual bonus
• You're organized enough to activate quarterly categories (takes 30 seconds)
• You want to maximize first-year value with Cashback Match
• You plan to study abroad or travel internationally
• You need a 0% intro APR for textbooks or college expenses
• You want free FICO score monitoring to track credit progress

You Should Skip It If…

• You're not currently enrolled in college (get the regular Discover it® Cash Back instead)
• You'll forget to activate categories every quarter
• You prefer automatic rewards without quarterly management
• You need a higher initial credit limit (minimum $500)
• You want a card with longer 0% intro APR (15+ months available elsewhere)
• You have poor spending discipline and might carry balances (high APR after intro period)

Credit Building Features

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is specifically designed to help students build credit:

• No credit history required for approval—ideal for first-time cardholders
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
• Free FICO score monitoring to track your credit progress
• Educational resources to help improve credit knowledge
• Responsible use builds strong credit for future financial needs (car loans, apartments, mortgages)
• No security deposit required unlike secured credit cards
• Helps establish payment history (35% of your credit score)
• Builds credit utilization ratio (30% of your credit score)

Pro Tip: Keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit and pay on time every month to build excellent credit during college.

Apply Now

Apply for Discover it® Student Cash Back

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Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.