For example, if you’re not on the campus meal plan, you could purchase grocery store gift cards during the quarter that you earn a cash back bonus and then use those gift cards throughout the year. Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, each time you activate. Privacy Policy. If you’re a student and would like to start building good credit, the Discover it® Student Cash Back may be for you. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. The Discover it® Cash Back features a high cash-back rate in rotating quarterly categories — but you don't get those rewards automatically, activation is required and spending caps apply. Remember, you must enroll in the category each quarter to get the higher rate. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: The editorial content on this site is not provided by the companies whose products are featured. There is no high penalty APR, which some issuers will apply if you make late payments or go over the credit limit. This unique signup bonus will double all the cash back you earn in your first year. Read more, Melissa Lambarena is a credit cards writer at NerdWallet. All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. If you want something more straightforward, try the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer. You’ll earn 5% cash back in categories that change every three months, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter when you activate and 1% back on everything else. Its annual fee is, , you don't have a say in which categories earn 5% cash back. It is not our partner’s responsibility to ensure all posts or questions are answered. Our scoring system favors cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting customer service. Since it’s a category card with rotating bonuses, the Discover it Student Cash Back card’s cash back program takes some time to master. With the, Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card. Rewards can be earned retroactively if you activate the categories by the 14th of the third month of the quarter; this is not the case with the Discover it® Cash Back. The, does that and more with its annual fee of. Do you have a correction, tip, or suggestion for a new post? For students who can benefit from its rotating bonus categories, it's a good fit. You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Discover it® Cash Back. Leave your own review below, we’d love to hear what you think! CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. If your account is closed or no longer in the cash back reward program at the time we calculate your potential award, your cash back will not be matched. Some of the reviews on the NerdWallet site were purchased through a third party provider. It starts off at 1% cash back on all purchases, and increases to 1.25% after six on-time payments, then 1.5% after 12 on-time payments. If you want a card with bonus categories that stay put, consider the. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us.