| Category | Rate | Type | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rotating Categories
5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, wholesale clubs, streaming services, Amazon.com, drug stores, home improvement stores); requires free quarterly activation; 1% earned on spending above the $1,500 quarterly cap. Q1 2026: Grocery Stores, Wholesale Clubs, Select Streaming Services. Q2 2026: Restaurants, Home Improvement Stores.
Rotating
|
5x | Cash Back | $6,000/yr |
|
All Other Purchases
Unlimited 1% cash back automatically on all purchases not within the activated quarterly bonus category, and on rotating category spend above the $1,500 quarterly cap.
|
1x | Cash Back | No cap |
| Benefit | Category | Value / Coverage |
|---|---|---|
|
First Late Payment Fee Waiver
Discover waives the late payment fee the first time a cardholder pays late; subsequent late payments may incur a fee of up to $41.
|
Financial | Fee waived (first occurrence) |
|
Intro APR on Purchases
Eligible new cardholders receive a 0% introductory APR on purchases for a promotional period from account opening, after which the standard variable purchase APR applies.
|
Financial | 0% intro APR for promotional period |
|
No Annual Fee
The Discover it® Student Cash Back carries no annual fee for the life of the account.
|
Financial |
$0
Up to $0
|
|
No Credit Score Required to Apply
Discover does not require a prior credit score or credit history to apply for this student card, making it accessible to first-time credit users.
|
Financial | Complimentary |
|
No Foreign Transaction Fee
Discover charges no foreign transaction fee on international purchases, making the card usable abroad without additional surcharges wherever Discover is accepted.
|
Financial |
$0
Up to $0
|
|
No Overlimit Fee
Discover does not charge an overlimit fee if the cardholder's balance exceeds their credit limit.
|
Financial |
$0
Up to $0
|
|
No Penalty APR for Late Payments
Discover does not raise the purchase APR as a penalty for late payments, regardless of payment history — an important protection for students learning to manage credit.
|
Financial | Complimentary |
|
100% U.S.-Based Customer Service
Cardholders have 24/7 access to live U.S.-based customer service agents by phone or messenger app; certain specialized agents may not be available at all hours.
|
Lifestyle | Complimentary |
|
Free FICO® Credit Score Access
Cardholders receive free access to their FICO® Credit Score (Score 8, based on TransUnion data) on monthly statements and online, along with key factors affecting their score — particularly valuable for students building credit for the first time.
|
Lifestyle | Complimentary |
|
Free Overnight Card Replacement
Discover provides free overnight shipping for a replacement card to any U.S. street address upon request if the card is lost or stolen; not available for P.O. boxes or international addresses.
|
Lifestyle | Complimentary |
|
Credit Building with Responsible Use
Discover reports the cardmember's account activity including payment history, credit limit, and balance to all three major credit bureaus each month, helping students establish and build their credit history from the start.
|
Other | Complimentary |
|
1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
Earn unlimited 1% cash back automatically on all purchases that do not fall within the activated quarterly bonus category, and on rotating category spend above the $1,500 quarterly cap.
|
Rewards | 1% cash back (unlimited) |
|
5% Cash Back on Rotating Categories
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, wholesale clubs, streaming services, Amazon.com, drug stores, home improvement stores) on up to $1,500 in combined spending per quarter when you activate; reverts to 1% after the quarterly cap.
|
Rewards | 5% cash back (up to $1,500/quarter) |
|
Cashback Match (First-Year Welcome Bonus)
At the end of the first cardmember year, Discover automatically matches all cash back earned dollar-for-dollar with no minimum spend requirement and no cap; exclusively available to new cardmembers.
|
Rewards | Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match |
|
Flexible Cash Back Redemption
Cash back can be redeemed in any amount (as little as one cent) as a statement credit, direct deposit, credit toward Amazon.com or PayPal purchases, gift cards, or charitable donations; cash back never expires for the life of the account.
|
Rewards | No minimum redemption |
|
$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee
Cardholders are never held responsible for unauthorized purchases made on their Discover card, provided they have not shared card access with another person or merchant.
|
Security |
$0 liability
Up to $0
|
|
Dark Web Social Security Number Alerts
Discover monitors thousands of dark web sites and alerts the primary cardmember if their Social Security number is detected; requires free activation and a valid email address on file.
|
Security | Complimentary |
|
Discover Identity Alerts
Discover monitors the cardmember's Experian credit report and sends alerts for new inquiries or newly opened accounts in addition to dark web SSN monitoring; free to activate.
|
Security | Complimentary |
|
Freeze It® Account Freeze
Cardholders can instantly freeze their account via the Discover mobile app or website to block new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers if the card is lost or misplaced; recurring transactions and payments continue.
|
Security | Complimentary |
|
Online Privacy Protection
Approximately every 90 days, Discover scans at least 10 popular people-search websites for the cardmember's personal information and assists in submitting opt-out removal requests; available free via the Discover mobile app.
|
Security | Complimentary |
