Pros & Cons

Pros

  • +No annual fee

Cons

  • No purchase protection

Our Review

Jumpstart Your Credit Journey with the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card

  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in rotating categories when you activate
  • 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
  • Unlimited Cashback Match™—Discover automatically doubles all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months; 10.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months
  • No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Free FICO® Score access and reports to all three major credit bureaus
  • First late payment forgiven—no late fee on your first missed payment

Perfect for students building credit, this card combines straightforward rewards with flexible financing and credit‑building tools. Activate quarterly bonus categories like groceries, gas or streaming services to earn top‑tier cash back, then sit back as Discover matches your earnings at year’s end. Manage your account seamlessly in the Discover mobile app, enjoy real‑time alerts and track your progress with free score updates.

Terms apply. Bonus categories require quarterly activation and are capped at $1,500 per quarter before reverting to 1%. Balance transfer fee: 3% intro, up to 5% thereafter. See Discover for full details.

Rewards

All Spending

1x

Cash Back pts per dollar

Credit Card Rewards Calculator

See how much you could earn with this card based on your spending.

¢/ point
0.50¢
Groceries1x
$700/mo
Gas & EV1x
$200/mo
Transit1x
$100/mo
Restaurants1x
$300/mo
Pharmacy1x
$50/mo
Travel1x
$150/mo
Bills & recurring payments1x
$250/mo
Telecom1x
$150/mo
Entertainment & streaming1x
$100/mo
Office supplies1x
$0/mo
All other spending1x
$500/mo

Points Earned

30,000

Cash Back/yr

Estimated Value

$300

After Fees

+$300

1st Year Value

$300

incl. welcome bonus

Breakdown

Groceries$8,400/yr × 1x8,400 pts
Gas & EV$2,400/yr × 1x2,400 pts
Transit$1,200/yr × 1x1,200 pts
Restaurants$3,600/yr × 1x3,600 pts
Pharmacy$600/yr × 1x600 pts
Travel$1,800/yr × 1x1,800 pts
Bills & recurring payments$3,000/yr × 1x3,000 pts
Telecom$1,800/yr × 1x1,800 pts
Entertainment & streaming$1,200/yr × 1x1,200 pts
All other spending$6,000/yr × 1x6,000 pts
Total annual spend$30,000
Total monthly spend$2,500
Average earn rate on spend per year1x
Total points earned30,000 pts
Value of points accumulated in the first year$300

Terms & Conditions

Card Features

  • 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
  • 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.
  • 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 17.24% – 26.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

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Conditions apply. All information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Card details, rewards, and offers are subject to change at any time. Always verify the latest terms on the issuer’s website before applying. Milesopedia USA may receive compensation through affiliate links. This does not affect our editorial choices or card rankings. © 2026 Discover. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.