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Chase Freedom Flex

The Rich Grad Student

Chase Freedom Flex

Chase Freedom Flex

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Secure Application

We may earn a commission if approved
Updated July 23, 2026
Signup Bonus
$200+
great
Best Earn Rate
Cash Back
9%
Net Annual Fee
Free!
$0
RGS Wallet
We use this card for
Travel, Groceries, Gas, Dining, Pharmacy

Quick Info

Points Program: Chase Ultimate Rewards

Spend Requirement: $500 in 3 months

Why we opened it!

The Chase Freedom Flex offers 5% cash-back rotating categories** useful to graduate students. Categories often include Grocery Stores, Gas stations, Amazon, Paypal. The card also offers 3% back at pharmacies, and dining. All without an annual fee.

The card offers a $200 sign up bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months, that’s a 41%+ cash back!

Even better, the card does not offer simply cash back, but Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve for outsized value!

RGS Value Table

Signup Bonus

Key Metric
great
Value
$200+

Annual Fee

Value
$0

Annual Credits

Value
$0

Net Annual Fee

Key Metric
great
Value
$0

Travel

Key Metric
rgs wallet
Cash Back
9% (up to on travel portal)
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
18%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
63%

Grocery

rgs wallet
Cash Back
5% (up to)
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
10%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
35%

Gas

rgs wallet
Cash Back
5% (up to)
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
10%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
35%

Dining

Key Metric
rgs wallet
Cash Back
8% (up to)
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
16%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
56%

Pharmacy

rgs wallet
Cash Back
3%
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
6%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
21%

Other Purchases

poor
Cash Back
1%
Value (2cpp)Base travel value
2%
Max Value (7cpp)Optimized redemption
7%

Lounge Benefits

poor
Value
None

Partner Benefits

good
Value
6 months of free Dashpass + $40 off non-restaurant orders + 2% back on Lyft

Misc Benefits

poor
Value
None

Table Key:

Points Value: Average value of points. This applies when points are transferred to a partner hotel or airline for travel
Max Points Value: Our best redemption of points!
RGS Wallet: To indicate why we keep this card in our wallet and what we use it for. It is the highest cash back you can earn across all cards for that specific category.

*Point valuations shown are example redemptions; actual values vary by route, dates, and availability. Results not typical or guaranteed.

Additional Information

Overall, a great card to have!

**On up to $1500 combined per quarter

Personal advice only. We are not a bank, lender, or financial advisor. Offers change, and banks do not endorse this content. Always read your cardmember agreement and fee schedule before applying or using any card. Use these recommendations at your own risk. You must be 21 years or older, and this website is not intended for undergraduate students. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, which may influence how or where these products appear. We only recommend products we genuinely believe benefit graduate students and decline offers that do not align with that goal.