what was the hope credit 
the hope credit or the hope scholarship tax credit was a nonrefundable education tax credit offered to eligible american taxpayers qualifying students could claim this tax credit for their first two years of postsecondary education 1the hope and other lifetime learning credits were enacted to encourage higher education and provide a measure of tuition reimbursement for parents or students who are paying college tuition and fees the american opportunity tax credit aotc replaced the hope credit in tax year 2009 the basics of the hope creditthe hope credit was one of two nonrefundable education credits available for taxpayers recipients could take the hope credit for tuition and fees and other expenses such as books room and board medical expenses and insurance do not qualify for the hope credit the student incurring the expenses could have been either the taxpayer spouse or dependent 3the other available credit is the lifetime learning credit which could not have been claimed with the hope credit 4as of 2009 the hope credit became part of the american opportunity tax credit aotc 5as of 2022 the maximum aotc credit is 2 500 any individual who incurs qualifying educational expenses can claim an education credit qualifying educational expenses include tuition and fees parents who pay tuition and fees for their children can claim this type of credit on their tax returns subject to certain income restrictions 6