Two federal education credits exist: the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) for the first four years of post-secondary education, and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) for any year of qualified education. They cannot be claimed for the same student in the same year. The AOTC is significantly more valuable - partially refundable, larger, and available to more taxpayers. The student loan interest deduction is separate and available above the line.
AOTC: Up to $2,500 per student per year. 100% of first $2,000 in qualified expenses + 25% of next $2,000. 40% refundable ($1,000 maximum refundable). First 4 years only. Phase-out: $80,000-$90,000 single / $160,000-$180,000 MFJ.
Lifetime Learning Credit: Up to $2,000 per return (not per student). 20% of up to $10,000 qualified expenses. Not refundable. No year limit. Phase-out: $80,000-$90,000 single / $160,000-$180,000 MFJ.
Student loan interest deduction: Up to $2,500 above-the-line deduction. Phase-out: $75,000-$90,000 single / $155,000-$185,000 MFJ (2026 - verify Rev. Proc. for exact amounts).
The AOTC is the stronger credit for first-degree undergraduate students. Qualified expenses include tuition, fees, and course materials (including books and supplies required for enrollment). Room and board, transportation, and insurance do not qualify. The student must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. The credit is available for four tax years per student - and the years do not need to be consecutive.
The 40% refundable feature means a student or family with little or no tax liability can still receive up to $1,000 as a refund. This makes it meaningful even in low-income years.
The LLC covers tuition and required enrollment fees for any courses at an eligible educational institution - graduate school, professional school, continuing education, a single course to improve job skills. Unlike the AOTC, there is no year limit and no half-time requirement. But the $2,000 maximum is per return - not per student - so a household with two graduate students still caps at $2,000 total.
Qualified expenses used to claim the AOTC or LLC cannot also be used to exclude 529 distributions from income. If you pay $10,000 of tuition and want to claim the $2,500 AOTC, the $4,000 of expenses underlying the AOTC cannot be funded by tax-free 529 distributions - only the remaining $6,000 can be. Coordinate the 529 withdrawal to cover room, board, and expenses above the credit base. Do not double-count.