Citi Strata Elite℠ vs Discover it® Student Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Elite℠ | Discover it® Student Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 ThankYou® Points | Cashback Match in year 1 |
| Dining | 3x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 12x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $628 | $292 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Mastercard | Discover |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns about $628 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Student Cash Back about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $735 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Citi Strata Elite℠ delivers more total value, about $108 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel and everything else. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Discover it® Student Cash Back pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Discover it® Student Cash Back if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward dining, travel, everything else.