Education Tax Credit Calculator United States

What the education tax credit calculator does

The education tax credit calculator estimates the federal credit you may claim for tuition and other qualified education costs. It covers the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, takes your qualified expenses, modified adjusted gross income and filing status, and returns the credit and how much of it is refundable.

The two credits are built differently and phase out at different incomes, so the better choice is not always obvious. Estimate each one before you file.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit

The AOTC is for students in their first four years of higher education who are pursuing a degree and enrolled at least half-time, and it is the larger of the two for those who qualify. The first tier of qualified expenses is credited in full and the next tier at a quarter of its value, up to a fixed maximum per student.

Part of the AOTC is refundable, so it can be paid to you even if you owe no tax, which helps students and families with little tax liability. The calculator shows the refundable portion separately.

The Lifetime Learning Credit

The LLC covers undergraduate, graduate and professional degree courses, as well as courses taken to gain or improve job skills. There is no half-time enrollment requirement and no limit on the number of years, so it suits part-time students, people returning to education and those taking single courses.

It is smaller and fully nonrefundable: a flat percentage of qualified expenses up to an annual cap, which can only reduce the tax you owe. Once a student has used four years of AOTC eligibility, or if they are not in a degree program, the LLC is often the credit that still applies.

How the phaseout works

Both credits phase out over a range of modified adjusted gross income that depends on filing status. Below the range you get the full credit; within it the credit falls in proportion to how far your income is into the range; at the top it reaches zero. Married couples filing jointly have a wider range than single filers and heads of household. The calculator applies the range for your status.

What counts as a qualified expense

Qualified expenses generally include tuition and fees required for enrollment. For the AOTC, course materials such as books and supplies can also count even if not bought from the school; the LLC is generally limited to tuition and required fees.

Room and board, transportation, insurance and other living costs do not qualify. Subtract expenses paid with tax-free assistance, such as scholarships, grants or the tax-free part of a 529 distribution, because you cannot claim a credit for costs already covered tax-free.

What you need to enter

• Your qualified education expenses after any tax-free assistance.
• Which credit you want to estimate, the AOTC or the LLC.
• Your modified adjusted gross income.
• Your filing status.

With more than one student, note that the AOTC is calculated per student while the LLC is calculated per return across all students. Run the AOTC for each student separately and compare the total with a single LLC estimate.

Reading your result

The output shows the total education credit, the refundable and nonrefundable portions, and the maximum credit before the phaseout. Whether a particular student and course qualify, and which credit is best, can depend on facts the tool does not capture, so confirm the details before you file. The maximums, rates and phaseout thresholds are set by the IRS and can change, so recheck each tax year or when your income changes.

This is general information only and not financial advice, and figures are estimates rather than a filing calculation.

About This Education Tax Credit Calculator

Use this education tax credit calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official IRS guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.