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Shoppers at Academy Sports + Outdoors can score a discount on everyday purchases with an Academy credit card. From fitness equipment to outdoor gear and apparel, cardholders will receive a straightforward 5% discount at checkout for purchases made in store and online. They’ll also get free shipping for online purchases.
But the Academy card, issued by Comenity Bank, comes with the same pitfalls as most store cards, including a low sign-up bonus and a sky-high annual percentage rate, or APR. For these reasons, most people will do better with a general cash-back credit card that offers rewards and incentives no matter where they shop.
Here are five things to know about the Academy credit card.
1. There are two versions of the card
Comenity offers two different $0-annual-fee Academy cards:
- The myAcademy Rewards Mastercard Credit Card, which can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted.
- The myAcademy Rewards Credit Card, which can only be only for in-store and online Academy purchases.
When you apply, you’ll be considered for the myAcademy Rewards Mastercard Credit Card first. If you’re not eligible for that card, you’ll then be considered for the myAcademy Rewards Credit Card.
2. Rewards are solid, but limiting
Both versions of the Academy card offer a 5% discount at checkout for purchases made in store and online. That’s remarkably uncomplicated for a store card.
The myAcademy Rewards Mastercard also earns 2% back in rewards on all purchases outside of Academy stores. But “rewards” doesn’t mean “cash back” — for every $250 you spend outside of Academy, you’ll get a $5 reward certificate you can use for Academy purchases later on. Reward certificates expire one year from the date they’re issued.
Although a straightforward 5% discount on all Academy purchases and 2% back everywhere else is solid for store loyalists, most people will probably do better with a general cash-back credit card, which offers more straightforward redemption opportunities, with no "certificates" or expiration dates to worry about.
For example, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card offers (among other things) 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter in two categories you choose, including sporting goods stores. While this card requires active management and selection of your bonus categories each quarter, it will provide significantly more flexibility than the Academy store card.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Gift cards, hunting and fishing licenses and in-store services are excluded from the 5% discount. Additionally, if you use more than one form of payment for an online purchase, you will not receive 5% off. » MORE: Best credit cards for wellness
3. The sign-up offer is lackluster
New holders of either version of the card will receive a one-time $30 discount off their first purchase of more than $30 at Academy, but that discount can’t be combined with the everyday 5% discount. If you apply online, your first purchase must be made in the same shopping session as your card approval to receive the $30 discount.
The myAcademy Rewards Mastercard Credit Card also offers $50 in rewards after you spend $500 outside of Academy in the first 90 days.
This welcome offer is significantly poorer than offers available from other credit cards with no annual fee. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, for instance, has this welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. It also earns 2% back on all eligible purchases, but it’s in the form of cash back, not rewards that are only useful in one place.
4. The APR for purchases is sky-high
If you’re looking to finance your purchase at Academy, you’ll want to look elsewhere. As of March 2026, the APR on purchases for the Academy sports card can range past 32%. If you know you’ll be carrying a balance, you’d be better served with a card that offers an introductory 0% APR offer.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, for example, features a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49%-27.49% will apply. Additionally, cardholders will be eligible for the following welcome offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
5. You get free shipping on Academy.com
Academy is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world. Whether you're ordering new fishing gear or hiking boots, if you're a cardholder you'll receive free shipping on all online purchases.
Academy also offers free returns for online purchases, but there are some restrictions on what types of items can be returned and which sales are final.
