I had to enter an advertising contest for my university and I also had to take a trip to New York for a class I took at the University. Is this deductible?

Please explain expenses paid for "enter an advertising contest". A fee paid to college?

The fee was paid to the advertising company in charge of the contest my University class required me to enter.  Also, the flight was to do a Advertising Campaign with an advertiser as part of a class requirement for me to graduate from the University.

You may be able to deduct the course-related fee, but NOT the travel ...

Do you know the publication number so I can feel more secure about what to do?

Here are two links I found for publication 970:  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch06.html">https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch06.html</a>  and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch02.html">https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch02.html</a>  Can I use these expenses for the American Opportunity Credit?

AOC is the least restrictive education tax benefit. Note that it allows including 'course related materials' without much constraint. Also check the definition of 'fees' for the various education benefits. That's why I suggest you may be able to deduct "contest fee" as a course related fee, and that might work for AOC - which also does Not require payment to school, as does tuition and fees deduction. But the travel expenses are definitely Out ...

Thank you for all your help!!  I will do that then...

Travel expenses for Education are Not deductible.