Discover it® Student Cash Back vs JetBlue Premier

Discover it® Student Cash Back
VS
JetBlue Premier
The short answer: The Discover it® Student Cash Back delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the JetBlue Premier if you spend more on dining, groceries.

Side-by-side comparison

Discover it® Student Cash BackJetBlue Premier
Annual feeNo annual fee$499
Welcome offerCashback Match in year 160,000 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in 90 days (and paying the annual fee) (limited-time)
Dining1x2x
Groceries1x2x
Gas1x1x
Travel1x1x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$292$382
Points typeCash back onlyLocked to JetBlue TrueBlue
NetworkDiscoverMastercard

*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 Discover it® Student Cash Back earns about $292 a year in rewards and the JetBlue Premier about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The JetBlue Premier charges $499, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Discover it® Student Cash Back delivers more total value, about $409 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the JetBlue Premier currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the JetBlue Premier if your spending leans toward dining, groceries.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the JetBlue Premier better?
On typical household spending, the Discover it® Student Cash Back comes out ahead, by roughly $409 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the JetBlue Premier can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Discover it® Student Cash Back and the JetBlue Premier?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the JetBlue Premier?
As of June 2026, the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers cashback match in year 1 and the JetBlue Premier offers 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in 90 days (and paying the annual fee). Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.