In a Nutshell
Bank of America’s student credit cards might be a great option for college students looking for their first credit card. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students stands out for offering decent and flexible cash back opportunities with no annual fee. This combination of features allows you to keep the card for the long term so you can use it to build your credit history, too.Compare Bank of America student credit cards
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students | Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rewards rate | 3% cash back in one category of choice | 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases |
| Rewards categories | Complex to manage | Easy to understand |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Intro APR for purchases and/or balance transfers | Good | Good |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening | 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening |
| Foreign transaction fees | 3% | $0 |
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students
What you need to know about each card
Bank of America offers multiple student-focused credit cards for you to choose from. Each card has benefits that could help you in different ways depending on your current needs and circumstances.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students
If you’re looking to earn cash back, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students could be a good choice. This card gives you the flexibility to choose your top cash back earning category at a rate of 3% cash back. You can choose from the following categories:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings
You can also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Unfortunately, your cash back for the 3% and 2% bonus categories is limited to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. After that, you’ll earn 1% cash back on the rest of your purchases in those bonus categories.
Other helpful features of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students include …
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
- $0 annual fee
- Free FICO® credit score
- An introductory 0% purchase and balance transfer APR for 15 billing cycles from account opening (then a variable 18.74% - 28.74% APR for both)
- Balance transfers must be made within 60 days of opening the account to qualify for the intro balance transfer APR
- There’s a balance transfer fee: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%
Unfortunately, this card does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. That means it may not be the best choice if you plan to use the card while studying abroad.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students offers a simple way to earn rewards. You’ll earn 1.5 points for every $1 of purchases you make.
One nice thing about this card is that you don’t have to worry about bonus categories or reward caps. There are also no foreign transaction fees, which could make it a great card to use while you’re traveling or studying abroad.
Where things get complicated is in redeeming your points. To get a value of 1 cent per point, you can only redeem your points for a travel or dining statement credit.
This card also offers some other features you may find helpful.
- 25,000 bonus points (worth $250 as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases) for spending at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days after opening your account
- $0 annual fee
- Free FICO credit score
- An introductory 0% purchase and balance transfer APR for 15 billing cycles from account opening (then a variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74% on purchases and balance transfers)
- Balance transfers must be made within 60 days of opening the account to qualify for the intro balance transfer APR
- There’s a balance transfer fee: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%
How to pick the right card for you
Picking the right Bank of America student credit card ultimately depends on your circumstances and your goals for your new credit card. Either of these cards could be a solid choice to add to your wallet depending on your needs.
If you’re looking for the best credit card rewards, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students offers the highest earning rates. But credit card rewards shouldn’t be the only thing you consider.
For instance, someone studying abroad may be more focused on avoiding foreign transaction fees. In that case, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students may be a better choice, since it doesn’t charge these fees.
Take a close look at your specific situation to figure out which card features are most important to you. Then, pick the card that offers the best combination of features for your situation.
Not sure any of these cards are for you? Consider these alternatives.
If these Bank of America student credit cards don’t fit your specific needs, consider these cards as an alternative.
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: This card is an option if you want to earn a lot of cash back each quarter.
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card: This card might be a good fit if you have damaged credit that makes it hard to get an unsecured credit card.