Verdict · Updated April 2026
Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students for First Credit Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a top choice for first credit card — ranked #2 of 47 eligible cards on our use-case scoring model. If first credit card is your primary need, this card is a strong primary pick.
Rank #2 of 4798th percentileStrong primary pick
Reviewed by CardCompare Editorial Board
|Data-driven ranking|Updated April 2026
Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students
Bank of America · No annual fee
Bank of America's student travel card earns flat 1.5x on everything with no foreign transaction fees — perfect for students who travel internationally or study abroad. The 25,000-point welcome bonus is worth $250 toward travel (flights, hotels, car rentals), providing excellent first-year value with no annual fee.
Full card review
Earn math — First Credit Card profile
Based on typical first credit card spending of $9,720/year across the categories below.
Annual rewards
$146
Annual fee
$0
Net value
$146
Easy approvalZero feeSimple rewardsReports to all 3 bureaus
Where the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students wins for first credit card
- Approvable with no credit history
- Zero annual fee — no fixed cost to worry about
- Simple reward structure — easy to maximize without category tracking
Top 3 alternatives for first credit card
Cards that rank higher than or close to the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students on our first credit card scoring model.
How the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students performs for other use cases
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students a good card for first credit card?⌄
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a top choice for first credit card — ranked #2 of 47 eligible cards on our use-case scoring model. If first credit card is your primary need, this card is a strong primary pick.
How much can I earn with the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students on first credit card spending?⌄
At the typical first credit card spending profile of $9,720/year, this card earns approximately $146 in rewards — net $146 after the $0 annual fee.
What are better alternatives to the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students for first credit card?⌄
Our top 3 alternatives are Chase Freedom Rise, Discover it Student Cash Back, Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa. Each ranks higher on our use-case scoring model for first credit card.
What credit score do I need for the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students?⌄
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students typically requires no-credit credit. Approval also depends on income, existing debt, and application history — a score in the stated range doesn't guarantee approval.
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students's annual fee worth it for this use case?⌄
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students has no annual fee — there's no breakeven to clear, so any rewards earned on first credit card spending are pure profit.
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