Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
3% back in 1 of 6 categories you choose — 6% your first year
Earn 3% cash back in a category you pick each month (6% in your first year), plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, with no annual fee. The $200 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend and 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles make this one of the strongest student cards available — and BofA Rewards members can boost earnings up to 5.25%.
- Annual Fee
- $0
- cash back · Welcome Bonus
- $200
- Top Rate
- 3%
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- 3%
- Network
- Visa Signature
- Rewards Currency
- Cash
- Point Valuation
- 1¢ (cash back)
- Credit Required
- Fair
Welcome Offer
Bonus: $200 cash back
Spend: $1,000
Period: 3 months
Earning Rates
- 3%
Dining
Choose which category you want to earn 6% cash back in for the first year from account opening (3% after first year): gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Drugstores
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Gas Stations
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Electric Vehicle Charging
EV charging row: same tier and same cap as gas, per the issuer's wording: "gas and EV charging stations" (TASK-0714).
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Home Improvement
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Online Shopping
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Streaming
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Telecom
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Cable Tv
3% cash back if online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming, is the chosen category
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 3%
Travel
Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 2%
Grocery Stores
Automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 2%
Wholesale Clubs
Automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
Cap: $2,500/quarterly
- 1%
All Other
Earning Scenarios
6% Back in Your Choice Category (First Year)
Spend $200/month on gas → earn $144/year in your first year (6%), then $72/year ongoing (3%)
2% Back at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs
Spend $300/month on groceries → earn $72/year in cash back automatically
1% Back on Everything Else
Spend $500/month on other purchases → earn $60/year in unlimited cash back
Benefits & Perks
Annual Credits & Statement Credits
1 creditsFICO score monitoring
You can access your FICO® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. Opt-in to receive your score, the ke...
—
Annual
Insurance & Protections
3 protections$0 liability for unauthorized transactions
You're never responsible for unauthorized charges on your card, with proactive fraud monitoring.
Free overdraft protection for your checking
Link your BofA checking account to avoid declined purchases — no transfer fees.
FICO score monitoring
You can access your FICO® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. Opt-in to receive your score, the ke...
Dining Out
3% cash back at restaurants
if dining is your chosen category · On up to $2,500 a quarter in dining, then the base rate
$3 back on a $100 dinner
No annual fee
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 3%, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 17.74%–27.74% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
5 sourcesHow It Compares
With $0 annual fee, this student card delivers 3% in a category you choose each month (6% first year), 2% on groceries, and 1% on everything else — capped at $2,500/quarter combined. The $200 welcome bonus and 15-cycle 0% intro APR are among the strongest for student cards.
The Math: Is $0 Worth It?
First-year value includes $200 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$0
Net Annual Value
+$0
Media & Resources
Video Reviews
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Third-Party Articles & Reviews
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards for Students Review
NerdWallet's review covering the card's bonus cash-back categories, credit requirements, and suitability for students.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students — Product Page
Official issuer product page with current rates, rewards structure, security features, and application link.
Credit Cards for College Students from Bank of America
Bank of America's student credit card overview page comparing their student card offerings.
Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students Review: A Top Choice for Students
Comprehensive review covering the 6% first-year bonus, intro APR, welcome offer, and comparison to other student cards. Bankrate score: 3.7/5.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
Credit Karma review with cardholder data and user reviews showing real-world approval and usage experiences.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
U.S. News review with detailed card features, rewards structure, and comparison to competing student cards.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
WalletHub review with user ratings and detailed breakdown of the rewards structure, including the Preferred Rewards bonus.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards for Students Review
Yahoo Finance review noting the impressive rewards structure but highlighting that many students may struggle to qualify.
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Bank of America | Bank of America | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Earn rates | |
| Bank of America | Bank of America |
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