Best Credit Card for Academy Sports in 2026
Academy Sports is classified under MCC 5941 (Sporting Goods Stores). The best card for Academy Sports purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on sporting goods stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
Academy Sports is perfect for fitness enthusiasts and sports fans looking to stock up on gear. It's covered by the Travel & Shopping category in many credit card reward programs.
Maximize rewards by timing your purchases during card promotions or bonus category windows.
Spending Math
If you drop $200 monthly at Academy, a standard 2% cash back card nets you $4/mo ($48/year), whereas a basic 1% card only gets you $2/mo ($24/year).
Academy Sports purchases are classified under MCC 5941 (Sporting Goods Stores).
MCC Details for Academy Sports
Best Credit Cards for Academy Sports (2026)
How Academy Sports Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Academy Sports at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5941 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a sporting goods stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "sporting goods stores" purchases, Academy Sports transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Academy Sports specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Academy Sports transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5941 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Academy Sports
About MCC 5941: Sporting Goods Stores
Merchant Category Code 5941 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Sporting Goods Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5941, all qualifying card programs that include sporting goods stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Sporting Goods industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Sporting Goods Stores merchants: Bass Pro Shops, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Cabela's.
What You Could Earn at Academy Sports
Spending $200/month at Academy Sports with the Active Cash (2x on sporting goods stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Academy Sports merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.