Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +2% cash back for first year, then 1.5% unlimited
• +No annual fee
• +$200 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• +No category tracking required

• +25,000 point welcome bonus after $1,000 spend ($250 travel value)
• +Flat 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
• +No foreign transaction fee (ideal for study abroad)
• +No annual fee
• +0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −3% foreign transaction fee
• −Rate drops to 1.5% after first year
• −Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
• −No premium perks or travel benefits

• −Requires Bank of America relationship for best value (Preferred Rewards)
• −Points less flexible than cash back
• −Lower earn rate than category-specific cards
• −Higher credit requirement (Good/Excellent) than other student cards
• −Missing good grades reward that Discover offers

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +2% cash back for first year, then 1.5% unlimited
• +No annual fee
• +$200 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• +No category tracking required

• +25,000 point welcome bonus after $1,000 spend ($250 travel value)
• +Flat 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
• +No foreign transaction fee (ideal for study abroad)
• +No annual fee
• +0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −3% foreign transaction fee
• −Rate drops to 1.5% after first year
• −Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
• −No premium perks or travel benefits

• −Requires Bank of America relationship for best value (Preferred Rewards)
• −Points less flexible than cash back
• −Lower earn rate than category-specific cards
• −Higher credit requirement (Good/Excellent) than other student cards
• −Missing good grades reward that Discover offers

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +2% cash back for first year, then 1.5% unlimited
• +No annual fee
• +$200 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• +No category tracking required

• +25,000 point welcome bonus after $1,000 spend ($250 travel value)
• +Flat 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
• +No foreign transaction fee (ideal for study abroad)
• +No annual fee
• +0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

• −3% foreign transaction fee
• −Rate drops to 1.5% after first year
• −Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
• −No premium perks or travel benefits

• −Requires Bank of America relationship for best value (Preferred Rewards)
• −Points less flexible than cash back
• −Lower earn rate than category-specific cards
• −Higher credit requirement (Good/Excellent) than other student cards
• −Missing good grades reward that Discover offers