# BofA Student Leaders vs Congressional Award: Which Program Is Right for You?

One is selective, the other is earned: Bank of America Student Leaders is a competitive award that places ~5 students per market into paid nonprofit internships plus a DC summit; the Congressional Award has no selection at all — any student who logs the service, fitness, development, and expedition hours earns Bronze through Gold. Student Leaders signals selection; the Congressional Award Gold Medal signals four years of documented follow-through.

Side-by-side comparison of [Bank of America Student Leaders Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/bank-of-america-student-leaders-program) and [The Congressional Award Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/the-congressional-award-program), built from ExtracurricularHub's verified catalog.

## At a glance

| | BofA Student Leaders | Congressional Award |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cost | Free | $25 |
| Application deadline | March 16, 2027 (verified July 4, 2026) | Rolling / not listed |
| Grade eligibility | Grades 11–12 | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In-person | Virtual / online |
| Time commitment | Varies | ~2 hrs/week |
| Organizer | Bank of America | The Congressional Award Foundation |

## Bank of America Student Leaders Program

Paid 8-week summer internship at local nonprofits plus DC leadership summit. Highly competitive.

Full profile: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/bank-of-america-student-leaders-program (markdown: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/bank-of-america-student-leaders-program.md)

## The Congressional Award Program

Earn U.S. Congress's youth achievement award by completing service, fitness, and personal development goals. Build leadership skills and boost college applications.

Full profile: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/the-congressional-award-program (markdown: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/the-congressional-award-program.md)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is cheaper, BofA Student Leaders or Congressional Award?

BofA Student Leaders costs Free and Congressional Award costs $25, so BofA Student Leaders is the cheaper option this cycle. Check each program's site for financial aid — many paid programs offer need-based waivers.

### Can I apply to both BofA Student Leaders and Congressional Award?

Yes — applying to both is common and there's no penalty. Selective programs reject strong applicants routinely, so treating BofA Student Leaders and Congressional Award as one combined chance is the smart strategy. Track both deadlines and reuse essay material where the prompts overlap.

### Which is better for college applications, BofA Student Leaders or Congressional Award?

Neither is automatically "better" — admissions readers care about what you did there, not the logo. One is selective, the other is earned: Bank of America Student Leaders is a competitive award that places ~5 students per market into paid nonprofit internships plus a DC summit; the Congressional Award has no selection at all — any student who logs the service, fitness, development, and expedition hours earns Bronze through Gold. Student Leaders signals selection; the Congressional Award Gold Medal signals four years of documented follow-through. Pick the one whose work you'd actually finish, and go deep.

### What grades can apply to BofA Student Leaders and Congressional Award?

BofA Student Leaders: grades 11–12. Congressional Award: grades 9–12. Eligibility can shift between cycles — confirm on each program's official page before planning your year around it.

---

Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/compare/bofa-student-leaders-vs-congressional-award
Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,719 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on each program's official site.