Discover it Student Cash Back Card vs Quicksilver Rewards for Students
Fees, rewards and real yearly value, side by side. Updated October 29, 2026.
Discover it Student Cash Back Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$312/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. No welcome bonus.
Quicksilver Rewards for Students
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$468/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $50 welcome bonus: $518
The short answer
- On typical spending, the Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students comes out ahead: about $468 a year after its fee, against $312 for the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
- The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students earns more on groceries, dining, gas, travel, everything else.
Side by side
| Discover it Student Cash Back Card | Quicksilver Rewards for Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate; 1% cash back on all other purchases | 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day |
| Welcome bonus | Unlimited Cashback Match: Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. | Earn a one-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. |
| Credits counted | $0/yr | $0/yr |
| Intro APR | 0% for the first 6 months | Not listed |
| Regular APR | 16.74% to 25.74% variable | 18.74% to 28.74% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Credit needed | Not specified | Not specified |
Yearly rewards by category
| Category (monthly spend) | Discover it Student Cash Back Card | Quicksilver Rewards for Students |
|---|---|---|
| groceries ($500) | $60 | $90 |
| dining ($400) | $48 | $72 |
| gas ($200) | $24 | $36 |
| travel ($300) | $36 | $54 |
| everything else ($1,200) | $144 | $216 |
Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending
Questions people ask
Which is better, the Discover it Student Cash Back Card or the Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students?
On typical spending the Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students is worth more: about $468 a year after its fee, against $312 for the Discover it Student Cash Back Card. Which is better for you depends on where you spend most; see the category answers below.
Which is better for groceries?
The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students. On $500 a month of groceries it earns about $90 a year, against $60 with the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
Which is better for dining?
The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students. On $400 a month of dining it earns about $72 a year, against $48 with the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
Which is better for travel?
The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students. On $300 a month of travel it earns about $54 a year, against $36 with the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
Which is better for gas?
The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students. On $200 a month of gas it earns about $36 a year, against $24 with the Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
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Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.