Discover it® Student Cash Back
Basic Information
Program ID: discover-it-student-cash-back
Issuer: Discover
Card Type: Credit
Network: Discover
Card Tier: Student
Data Complete: Yes
Created: 01/07/2026 18:07
Last Scraped: 01/15/2026 07:44
Fee Structure
| Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Year 1 Waived: | No |
| Effective Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Authorized User Fee: | $0.00 |
| Penalty APR: | 30.00% |
Additional Fees
| Late Fee: | $41.00 |
| Returned Payment: | $41.00 |
| Balance Transfer: | 3% of the amount of each transfer |
| Cash Advance: | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater |
| Foreign Transaction: | 0.00% |
Interest Rates
Purchase APR Range: 1,824.00% - 2,724.00%
Intro Purchase APR: 0.00%
Intro APR Duration: 6 months
Balance Transfer APR: 1,824.00%
Intro BT APR: 0.00%
Intro BT Duration: 6 months
Cash Advance APR: 2,999.00%
Sign-Up Bonus
Bonus Amount: $0.00
Spending Requirement: $0.00
Time Period: 360 days
Bonus Timing: Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. The matched cash back will be applied to your account after your first 12 consecutive billing cycles. There is no minimum spending requirement for the match itself, only to earn cash back through regular use of the card.
Rewards Program
Reward Type: Cash Back
Base Reward Rate: 1.00%
Bonus Reward Rate: 5.00%
Bonus Categories: Rotating quarterly categories (e.g., Gas Stations, Restaurants, Digital Wallets, Grocery Stores, Amazon.com, Target, etc.)
Point Value Estimate: 0.0100 cents/point
Expiration Policy: Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
Transfer Partners: None
Card Benefits
Protection Benefits
- Extended Warranty
- Purchase Protection
- Cell Phone Protection
- Price Protection
Travel Benefits
- Travel Insurance
- Primary Rental Protection
- Trip Delay Coverage
- Lost Luggage Coverage
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Premium Benefits
- Airport Lounge Access
- Concierge Service
- Global Entry Credit: $0.00
- TSA PreCheck Credit: $0.00
Approval Criteria
Recommended FICO Range: 670 - 850
Approval Odds Category: Good
Pre-qualification Available
Soft Pull Supported
Hard Pull Bureau: Experian, TransUnion, Equifax
Issuer Rules
Rules: The Discover it Student Cash Back card offers a 'Cashback Match' bonus, where Discover automatically matches all the cashback earned by the cardholder during their entire first year of card membership. There is no specific spend threshold for this bonus, it applies to all cashback earned. Eligibility requirements for 2026 are expected to remain consistent: applicants must be currently enrolled in a college or university (enrollment verification may be required), be at least 18 years old, possess a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and demonstrate sufficient income to make minimum payments (which can include scholarships, grants, and for those 21+, reasonable access to parental funds). The card is designed for students with limited or no prior credit history. Discover generally limits new personal card applications to one every 12 months.
Maximum Cards Per Issuer: 2
Minimum Spend Interval: 12 months (for Cashback Match bonus)
Shutdown Risk Triggers: Manufactured spending, excessive credit limit requests, rapid accumulation of credit across multiple issuers, abuse of rotating bonus categories, consistent non-payment or late payments, suspicious account activity, and attempts to circumvent application frequency rules.
International Friendly
User Analytics & Insights
User Ratings
Average Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
Top Positive Feedback:
Excellent cash back rewards, especially the first-year match; great for building credit with no annual fee; student-friendly perks and good customer service.
Top Negative Feedback:
Limited acceptance compared to Visa/Mastercard; rotating categories require activation; initial credit limits can be low.
Approval Experience Score: 85.0 / 100
Recommended Alternatives
- Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students
Card Value Score: 90.0 / 100
Est. Annual Rewards: $200.00
User Portfolio Metrics
Avg Portfolio Size: 1 cards
Avg Portfolio Age: 6 months
Store vs Co-brand: 100% General / 0% Store
Risk Assessment
Default Risk Group: Medium
Predicted Approval Probability: 85.0%
Terms Version Control
Version ID: v1.0