Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students worth it in the first year?

Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending), the first year comes out around $430 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $250. Year two drops to about $180 before credits.

What credit do I need for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students?

Our record lists "Fair" credit as the typical target for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. It's built for students, so a limited credit history is expected. Bank of America makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Bank of America

No Annual Fee

Annual Fee

visaFairno-annual-feestudenttravel5 months ago

Welcome Offer

25,000 pts(≈ $250)Spend $1,000 within 3 months

Check issuer terms ↗

OpenCard analysis

Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students right for you?

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a no-annual-fee student rewards card from Bank of America. It earns a flat 1.5x on purchases. With no fee, it only needs to beat the flat rate your current card already pays.

Who it's for

✓ Students starting a credit history
✓ Anyone who wants flat-rate rewards without paying an annual fee
✓ People who want one rate (1.5x) everywhere without tracking categories

Who should skip it

— Travelers who prefer booking directly rather than through the issuer's travel portal

First-year value estimate

Welcome bonus

$250

Rewards on spending

$180

Annual fee (year 1)

−$0

Year 1, before credits

$430

Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $180 before credits ($180 in rewards minus the $0 fee).

Assumptions

$12,000 a year of purchases at 1.5x, about $1,000 a month.
Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
Welcome bonus: 25,000 Bank of America Travel Points at 1¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $250.
No annual fee in any year.

An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-04-27.

How it compares

Capital One Journey Student →

Capital One, same $0 annual fee; earns 1.25x on everything.

Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard →

Bank of America, same $0 annual fee; earns 1.5x on everything.

Amex Cash Magnet →

American Express, same $0 annual fee; earns 1.5x on everything.

Compare side by side →

Rules and gotchas

The welcome bonus requires $1,000 in 3 months — roughly $333 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students have an annual fee?: No. Our record lists a $0 annual fee for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students.
What does the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students earn?: A flat 1.5x on purchases.
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students worth it in the first year?: Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending), the first year comes out around $430 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $250. Year two drops to about $180 before credits.
What credit do I need for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students?: Our record lists "Fair" credit as the typical target for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. It's built for students, so a limited credit history is expected. Bank of America makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Earning Rates

3×BofA Travel Center3x points on travel booked through Bank of America Travel Center

1.5×All other purchasesUnlimited 1.5x points on all other purchases

Other Benefits

No Foreign Transaction Fees

No foreign transaction fees - ideal for students studying abroad

Points Never Expire

Points don't expire as long as account is open

Insurance

Rental InsuranceSecondary

Sources

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2026