Pros
- A no-fee first card with rewards and credit-bureau reporting.
- 5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases. Annual fee: $0.
- Intro APR value: Intro APR offer may be available.
Cons
- Rotating categories and Discover acceptance both require a little planning.
- Balance transfers are not free: Balance transfer fee applies.
Best for
- Readers who want student rotating cash back and match a students profile.
- Households comparing Cash back, Students, Build credit, No annual fee options and willing to verify current issuer terms before applying.
- People who want a card that is cheaper to keep open long term.
Skip if
- You will carry a balance after any intro period; interest can erase rewards quickly.
- The main trade-off is a deal-breaker for you: Rotating categories and Discover acceptance both require a little planning.
Terms snapshot
- Rewards
- 5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases.
- Welcome offer
- Discover Cashback Match for new cardmembers after the first year.
- Intro APR
- Intro APR offer may be available.
- Regular APR
- Variable APR; see issuer terms.
- Balance transfer fee
- Balance transfer fee applies.
- Foreign transaction fee
- $0
Issuer terms and source check
BillSaver summarizes publicly available terms for comparison. Before applying, read the issuer terms page directly and confirm rewards, APRs, fees, welcome offer requirements, transfer rules, credits, and eligibility restrictions.
Open issuer terms for Discover it® Student Cash Back
How BillSaver evaluates this card
We compare the card against the job a reader is likely hiring it to do: rewards, debt breathing room, travel value, student use, business spending, or credit building. The review weighs annual fee, reward simplicity, APR exposure, intro period, transfer cost, foreign transaction fee, credit profile, issuer terms access, and the practical trade-off called out above.
Credit card terms, welcome offers, APRs, credits, and eligibility rules can change without notice. BillSaver summarizes publicly available card terms for comparison only; verify rates, fees, rewards, and offer language with the issuer before applying. BillSaver may earn compensation from some product links when approved relationships exist; compensation does not replace issuer terms or editorial fit. Source: issuer terms page linked above. Last checked May 18, 2026. Read the BillSaver credit card methodology and advertising disclosure.