If one is using student loans to pay for school/room/board I can only assume that the total student loan debt number is large. I would complete a calculation of what that number will be when she graduates and do a reality check of weather you will be able to travel versus paying down the student loan. even with free airfare and free hotels travel can be expensive. by the time you are ready to use miles/points they may have been greatly devalued.

miles credit cards will be around later. think of this like housing, dont get fooled by a realtor that you need to buy now or you will be priced out of the market forever. you dont need to rush into getting tons of miles if you wont be able to enjoy them.

I may be in the minority here but i dont think i could take a relaxing vacation knowing that i had 100k plus unsecured student debt outstanding.

Points / Miles lose thier value when you pay interest to get them. If a student loan is use to pay off the credit card then you will be paying interst for a long time on theose points and miles