Discover it® Student Cash Back
Discover
Welcome Offer
Is the Discover it Student Cash Back right for you?
The Discover it Student Cash Back is a no-annual-fee student cash-back card from Discover. Its strongest everyday earning is 5% on Rotating Categories (activate quarterly), with 1% on most other purchases. With no fee, the question is simply whether 5% on Rotating Categories (activate quarterly) beats what your current card earns there.
Who it's for
- ✓ Students starting a credit history
- ✓ People who spend steadily on Rotating Categories (activate quarterly), where it earns 5%
- ✓ Anyone who wants Rotating Categories (activate quarterly) rewards without paying an annual fee
Who should skip it
- — People who want a set-and-forget card
- — Heavy spenders outside Rotating Categories (activate quarterly) — everything else earns 1%
First-year value estimate
Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $240 before credits ($240 in rewards minus the $0 fee).
Assumptions
- $3,000 a year in Rotating Categories (activate quarterly) (5%) and $9,000 on everything else (1%) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
- Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
- No welcome bonus is listed in our record, so none is counted.
- No annual fee in any year.
An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-04-16.
How it compares
Rules and gotchas
- Bonus cap on Rotating Categories (activate quarterly): 5% cash back on rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter then 1%)
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Discover it Student Cash Back have an annual fee?
- No. Our record lists a $0 annual fee for the Discover it Student Cash Back.
- What does the Discover it Student Cash Back earn?
- 5% on Rotating Categories (activate quarterly), and 1% on other purchases. Some bonus rates are capped; see the rules and gotchas above.
- Is the Discover it Student Cash Back worth it in the first year?
- Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Rotating Categories (activate quarterly)), the first year comes out around $240 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $0. Year two drops to about $240 before credits.
- What credit do I need for the Discover it Student Cash Back?
- Our record lists "Fair to Good (Student)" credit as the typical target for the Discover it Student Cash Back. It's built for students, so a limited credit history is expected. Discover makes the final decision based on its own criteria.
Earning Rates
Other Benefits
Other Benefits
Free access to your FICO credit score
$20 statement credit each school year you maintain a 3.5 GPA or above
0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then 16.49%-25.49% variable
Insurance
Sources
- https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/student-credit-card/it-card.html
- https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/discover/discover-it-student-cash-back
Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026