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Discover it Student Cash Back review Elevated cash back for the go-getter student

Students can get higher cash back rates when they put in a little leg work to activate rotating quarterly categories. Written by Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, Nov. 8, 2022 Edited by Credit Cards Editor Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards Reviewed by Personal Finance Writer Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of “How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Nov. 8, 2022

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Snapshot

4.3 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bottom line This card is one of the top student-focused credit cards on the market, due to its $0 annual fee, competitive cash back rewards rate, first-year cash back match and user-friendly terms. This card’s rotating cash back categories offer students on a budget a great variety and opportunity to recoup value on everyday expenses. on Discover's secure site

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Rewards rate Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - 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 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Card Overview

If you're a student in the market for a starter credit card, the Discover it Student Cash Back card offers perhaps the highest rewards rate you're likely to find on a card for applicants with . Having the cash back power of the full-fledged card plus Discover's unique low fees makes this card a leader among . Unless you're considering a card with a simpler rewards program, this Discover student card should make your short list.

What are the pros and cons

Pros

Strong variety of bonus spending categories with 5 percent cash back on activated rotating category purchases (up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1 percent) and 1 percent on all other purchases. This card does not charge fees: no annual fee, foreign transaction fees or penalty APR and the first late payment fee is waived (up to $41 thereafter). The issuer matches all cash back earned in your first 12 months.

Cons

Rotating categories might be high maintenance for students new to credit cards. This card offers no purchase or travel protection benefits. The intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers are short, so it’s best to avoid carrying a balance when possible.

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

Rewards rate: 5 percent cash back on each quarter's activated rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, then 1 percent) and 1 percent on all other purchases Welcome offer: All cash back earned within the first 12 months will be matched Annual fee: $0 Purchase intro APR: 0 percent for six months Balance transfer intro APR: 10.99 percent for six months Regular APR: 15.99 percent to 24.99 percent variable

Current welcome offer

As is common with most of Discover's card offerings, often includes a welcome offer where Discover matches all the cash back you earn during your first 12 months. This offer is what you'd also get as a Discover it Student Cash Back cardholder. While the first-year cash back match offer differs from the typical cash back - which you'd receive upfront after meeting a spending requirement within a set time frame - this style of welcome offer could be to a student's advantage. This structure allows instead of overspending for a bonus since there isn't a limited-time spending requirement. Perhaps one of the main reasons that cash back matching is a great incentive is because many starter cards simply don't carry welcome offers. Outside of Discover's cards, the most popular student-centric offer is the card's one year of Amazon Prime Student subscription reimbursement after spending $500 on purchases within your first three months of card membership. In fact, if you spend more than $4,000 in your first year across your 5 percent rotating categories, you'll earn more cash back than the biggest student intro bonus on the market: the ' $200 cash bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days.

Rewards rate

The Discover it Student Cash Back card is a , meaning it earns higher cash back rates in bonus spending categories that cycle each quarter. In exchange for higher reward rates, your combined category purchases are capped at a $1,500 quarterly limit. If juggling these category restrictions and remembering to activate your categories each quarter seems intimidating for an entry-level card, the card and its year-round bonus categories, though less rewarding, might be a bit easier to handle.

How you earn

Upon activation, you'll earn 5 percent cash back within the bonus categories up to $1,500 on combined purchases (then 1 percent back). You'll also collect 1 percent cash back on all other purchases, which is a good deal for student cards. After all, several such cards earn a maximum of 1 percent back. Usually, there will be two to three cash back categories each quarter that fit with each period's popular expenses. For example, you'll typically earn bonus cash back at drugstores and pharmacies in Q1 (January to March) and at online shopping retailers in Q4 (October to December). Discover's quarterly category calendar is generally reliable from year to year since each year's categories are announced ahead of time and the categories are pretty similar each year. Right now you'll earn 5 percent back on up to $1,500 in purchases from Amazon and Digital Wallets purchases - perfect for online shopping at the beginning of the fall semester or early holiday shopping.

Discover cash back 2022 categories

Quarterly categories 2022 Discover it categories Q1: Jan. through March Grocery stores Fitness clubs Gym memberships Q2: April through June Gas stations Target Q3: July through Sept. Restaurants PayPal Q4: Oct. through Dec. Amazon.com Digital Wallets

How to redeem

Discover offers several ways to redeem your rewards. You can receive cash back as a direct deposit into your bank account or as a statement credit. You can also choose to donate your rewards to charity, pay with your rewards at Amazon.com or redeem for gift cards.

How much are your rewards worth

Like other cash back programs, each percentage point of your rewards rate will net you 1 cent back of your total purchase. For instance, 1 percent of a $100 purchase will net you $1 and 5 percent would earn $5 back. Converting cash back into gift cards or using them for online retailer merchandise usually means stomaching a drop in reward value, but Discover guarantees all redemption options will yield at least a 1:1 value. Redeeming for a gift card with Discover is one of the few times it might be a wise move if you have a specific purchase in mind. Depending on the merchant, cardmembers that select a gift card (ranging from $5 to $200) can have 5 percent to 20 percent in extra value added to the balance.

Other cardholder perks

Discover cards are typically light on benefits, but luckily the features are a bit meatier in the student card landscape.

24 7 U S -based customer service

Besides value, customer service and security are two of Discover's founding principles. Its high caliber of has landed Discover a top spot in the renowned for five of the past seven years. You'll receive 24 7 U S -based customer service, a free FICO Credit Scorecard, spending summary reports and in-depth credit monitoring that even scours the dark web for your Social Security number. like this normally require a third-party subscription, but the Discover card automatically provides it at no charge.

Rates and fees

The Discover it Student Cash Back card has the potential to be a low-cost alternative to other , such as credit-builder loans and starter credit cards. There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, which can come in handy while . Plus, your first late payment fee is waived (up to $41 thereafter) and you won't be charged a penalty APR. This element gives you a safety net while you're learning the credit card ropes. You'll also get a fantastic chance to water down any interest you might accumulate in the case of an emergency, thanks to the card's six-month 0 percent intro purchase APR. There's also a reduced 10.99 percent intro APR for balance transfers for the first six months. Even after this intro period, the ongoing 15.99 percent to 24.99 percent variable APR could be below the . That's a blessing considering starter cards are notorious for their .

How the Discover it Student Cash Back compares to other student cards

While the Discover it Student Cash Back credit card is among the leaders in its category, there is a variety of options from other issuers for students looking to build credit while earning rewards. These cards are typically forgiving to new credit card users and offer student-centric rewards, allowing students to recoup value on popular spending categories and focus on building their credit profile.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. on Discover's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - 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 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Rewards rate Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Discover it® Student chrome

on Discover's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - 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 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Rewards rate Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Limited Time Offer: Earn $100 when you spend $100 in the first three months Rewards rate Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) Earn 1% on all other purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Discover it Student Cash Back vs Discover it Student chrome

Both Discover student credit cards offer the same solid rewards, benefits and rates, but they have different cash back programs. Instead of rotating 5 percent bonus categories, the Student chrome card earns 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. The Discover it Student chrome might be a better choice for students that don't want to dive into the rewards deep end and track activation periods and several quarterly bonus categories. But unless you've done the math and your budget would earn more cash back from year-round 2 percent gas station and restaurant categories, the Discover it Student Cash Back card is the stronger card thanks to its higher rewards rate and higher quarterly bonus spending cap.

Discover it Student Cash Back vs Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Card

The has the potential to be more rewarding than the Discover it Student Cash Back - and is much easier to use. For no annual fee, you'll earn a whopping unlimited 3 percent cash back on popular categories that students can take advantage of nearly every day, such as dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target). What's more, you'll also get an entire 8 percent cash back on Vivid Seats purchases if there's a concert coming up. Since it's probably hard to maximize rotating categories on a student's budget, the SavorOne Student is likely more rewarding than the Discover it Student Cash Back, but it's a close call. Based on the $15,900 average yearly spend (courtesy of the ) and assuming you can maximize your Discover card's 5 percent categories' quarterly spending limits, the Discover it Student Cash Back card only earns $29 more per year in rewards than the SavorOne Student card. However, the Discover it Student Cash Back has a big leg up on the student SavorOne card if you think you may carry a balance. The SavorOne Student poses a higher 16.49 percent to 26.49 percent (variable) APR with no zero-interest offers to shield you from interest, so the Discover it Student Cash Back would be far more cost-effective if you think you may ever need some time to pay off any student or emergency expenses that pop up.

Best cards to pair with the Discover it Student Cash Back card

Since you're just starting on your credit journey, it's crucial to focus on building good credit habits and eventually instead of chasing rewards. Applying for a second credit card this early might not be the best use of your time, but a cash back card that can earn a flat rate higher than 1 percent back - like the Capital One Quicksilver Student card - could earn more rewards on purchases outside your 5 percent categories or their quarterly spending limit.

Bankrate s Take - Is the Discover it Student Cash Back card worth it

The Discover it Student Cash Back card is one of the few student credit cards that offer rewards on par with its issuer's signature card. Its rotating category cash back is hard to beat, plus the first-year cash back match is outstanding considering this card's low ongoing rates and fees. The information about the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card for Students has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card last updated on 10.3.2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be a student for the Discover it student cards

Discover and most issuers require you to be a U.S. student enrolled at either a two-year or four-year college or university to apply for a student credit card.

However, the term "student" doesn't define a certain age range. Student credit cards are primarily meant for young adults just establishing their credit score with a starter card, but you can apply for a student credit card if you're a non-traditional student returning to college as long as you're at least 21. This aspect can be helpful if you're enrolled at a college but you want better rates and benefits than secured credit cards typically offer. Younger students 18 to 21 must provide proof that they can make the credit card payments or have the approval of a cosigner.

Can I still use my Discover it student card after graduating college

Don't worry, you'll still be able to use your student credit card after graduation. Your Discover it Student Cash Back becomes a standard Discover it Cash Back with the same cash back program and card design. Plus, Discover may tag your account as eligible for a credit line increase if you contact Discover to update your personal information and income. However, depending on your credit score and spending, you may want to consider applying to more rewarding cards with better rates once you graduate.

What is the Discover it Student Cash Back credit limit

The Discover it Student Cash Back card terms state that you'll start off with at least a $500 credit limit. Although they don't mention a maximum limit and you can't request a specific credit limit when applying, you may be able to contact Discover for a higher limit once you've proven your good credit habits.

Can you use your Discover student card abroad

You can use Discover it student cards outside the U.S. In fact, the Discover it Student Cash Back card is a solid choice to take on your study abroad since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

However, there could be a few drawbacks to using your Discover reward card internationally. Purchases that would normally earn you 5 percent cash back might not earn rewards since Discover's merchant category codes (MCCs) may classify global merchants differently than U.S. retailers. Discover credit cards also have a lower merchant acceptance rate compared to Visa or Mastercard — the largest two networks. This factor might not be a big issue, though. Discover is accepted at 99 percent of U.S. merchants that accept credit cards and Discover has 18 global network alliances. That means that over 48 million merchants across more than 200 countries and territories will accept your Discover student card.

Which streaming services will the Discover it Student Cash Back earn rewards on

Here's a list of the streaming services that will earn you 5 percent cash back: Amazon Prime Video Amazon Music Apple Music Apple TV+ AT&T TV Now BET+ CBS All Access DAZN Disney + ESPN+ Fubo TV Google Play Movies & TV HBO Max Hulu Netflix Pandora Philo Peacock TV Showtime Sirius XM Starz Sling Spotify Vudu YouTube TV

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Written by Garrett Yarbrough Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers. Edited by Credit Cards Editor Reviewed by Personal Finance Writer

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