Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
No annual fee
vs
$550
Base Rewards
1.5x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$250
vs
$900
Editor Score
7/10
vs
9/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 3/6 | 3/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | No annual fee★ Lowest | $550✗ Highest |
| Purchase APR | 19.24% – 29.24% | 22.49% – 29.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | 0% · 15 mo | |
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1.5x★ Highest | 1x✗ Lowest |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining | |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $250 value✗ Lowest | $900 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | No Credit History | Excellent (750+) |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Students who travel internationally | Frequent luxury travelers |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.1 / 5✗ Lowest | 4.5 / 5★ Highest |
| Editor Score | 7 / 10✗ Lowest | 9 / 10★ Highest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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Our verdict: Too close to call
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students (no annual fee) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) compete on different axes. The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students uses a flat 1.5x base rate, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve leads with 10x on Hotels (Chase). The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 more per year, so you need at least $550 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $16,500 and $33,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our model scores these cards effectively even (3-3). Pick the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students if you prefer its base earning structure; pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you spend heavily on hotels (chase).
Too close to call — pick based on your primary spending category
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | no annual fee | $550/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 1.5x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | None | 10x on Hotels (Chase) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months |
| Lounge Access | No | Yes |
| Credit Score Required | no credit | excellent |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
It depends on your spending habits. The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students has no annual fee and earns 1.5x base rewards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students has no annual fee while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Bank of America and Chase), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.