Education Expenses

Tuition and related postsecondary education expenses you incur for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents are eligible for the Hope and lifetime learning credits (the "education credit").

Tuition and related expenses paid in 2002 for an academic period beginning in the first three months of 2003 are eligible for the 2002 credit.

In order to estimate your education credit, we need you to enter your education expenses separately for the Hope credit and for the lifetime learning credit. Do not enter the same expenses for both the Hope credit and the lifetime learning credit. Also, do not enter expenses for both the Hope credit and the lifetime learning credit for the same student. If you have a choice, it is probably to your advantage to claim the Hope credit rather than the lifetime learning credit.

The following expenses do not qualify for either credit:

• Fees for books, supplies and equipment unless they are paid to the school and are a condition of enrollment
• Insurance
• Medical expenses (including student health fees)
• Room and board
• Transportation
• Similar personal, family, or living expenses

This table helps explain which expenses are eligible for which credit:

Hope Credit	Lifetime Learning Credit
Up to $1,500 credit per eligible student	Up to $1,000 credit per return
Available ONLY for 2 years of postsecondary education	Available for all years of postsecondary education
Available ONLY for 2 years per eligible student	Available for an unlimited number of years
Student must be pursuing a degree or other recognized educational credential	Student does not need to be pursuing a degree or other recognized educational credential
Student must be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period during the year	Available for one or more courses
No felony drug conviction on student's record	Felony drug conviction rule does not apply

For rules on the dollar limits, income limits, and eligibility tests for the education credit, see the separate help topic for the education credit. We will use the amount of education expenses you enter, together with other information you have already entered in this calculator, to estimate your 2002 education credit.