Discover it® Student Cash Back vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
Side-by-side comparison
| Discover it® Student Cash Back | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $650 |
| Welcome offer | Cashback Match in year 1 | |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $544 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| Network | Discover | Amex |
*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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® about $544, 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® charges $650, but carries about $335 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Discover it® Student Cash Back delivers more total value, about $230 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® if your spending leans toward dining, travel, everything else.