Discover it® Student Cash Back
A student cash back credit card that earns 5% on rotating quarterly categories and 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee and Cashback Match at the end of your first year.
Annual Fee
$0
Top Earning Rate
5% back rotating quarterly categories (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, amazon.com)
Foreign Tx Fee
None
Rating
N/A
Current Welcome Offer
0 cashback
Card Offers
public
0 cashback
Earning Rates
Requires quarterly activation; up to the quarterly maximum each time activated. Categories vary each quarter.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Cashback Match doubles first-year cash back earned
- 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories
- No foreign transaction fee
- Free FICO score and Good Grades Reward
Cons
- Rotating categories require quarterly activation
- 1% cash back on non-bonus purchases
- No welcome bonus
- Variable APR up to 27.24%
- Limited international acceptance
Key Takeaways
- Earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories (activation required) and 1% on everything else
- Cashback Match automatically doubles all first-year cash back at year-end
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees apply
- Access free TransUnion FICO Score 8 monthly
- Good Grades Reward offers $20 credit per school year for 3.0+ GPA
Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% |
APR Information
- Purchase APR
- 18.24% - 27.24%0% intro APR for 6 months
- Balance Transfer APR
- 18.24% - 27.24%10.99% intro APR for 6 months
- Cash Advance APR
- 29.99%
APRs shown are variable and may change based on the Prime Rate. Your actual APR will be determined based on your creditworthiness.
Card Benefits
6 benefits (2 strong or better)
Travel Credits
Statement Credits
Lifestyle Benefits
Coverage Tier Legend
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cash back earning rates on the Discover it® Student Cash Back card?
How does the Cashback Match work?
Is there an annual fee for this card?
Does the card charge foreign transaction fees?
What is the introductory APR?
What is the Good Grades Reward?
How can I access my FICO score?
What is Freeze it®?
About This Card
This card suits college students with fair credit who want to build credit while earning cash back on rotating categories. The first-year Cashback Match and student-specific rewards add value without fees.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is designed to help college students start building credit while earning real cash back rewards. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter—like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more—up to the quarterly maximum each time they activate. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cash back automatically. Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year (Cashback Match™). There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and the card includes access to your free FICO® Credit Score. Students can also earn a $20 Statement Credit each school year their GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to 5 years.
The Cashback Match doubles all first-year cash back without minimum spend or cap, setting it apart from other entry-level student cards.
Ready to Decide?
Apply for the Discover it® Student Cash Back
0 cashback with no annual fee.
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Sources & Methodology
Sources & Methodology
Card details are collected by automated crawlers from official issuer pages, then verified by editorial review.
Last updated:
Pending editorial review.
- 6 of 6 benefits rated high confidence
- 1 of 1 offer verified
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