Is This Your First Year of College? Let us know if this is your first year of school at a college or eligible school as of Jan. 1, 2019. does 2 semesters years ago count?

No, since you have already graduated, you have attended 4 years of school. You won't be able to claim the American Opportunity Credit because it will ask you if you already completed 4 years of college at some point. You may however be eligible for the Lifetime Earning Credit.  it is a lesser credit but you may be able to take advantage of it. Here is a great link that explains the difference between the credits and the eligibility requirements for both.

I didn’t graduate when I attended college the first time. I only attended for a semester and a half and stopped going halfway through the second semester. I did pay back all the student loans I took out for both of those semesters, interest included. This is the first time I’ve been in college since the spring of 1999 when I stopped going and didn’t finish or obtain a degree

i am sorry. i was confused by your verbiage when you said, "after only spending a semester and a half back when i graduated in 1998". I mistook this being you graduated from college. You meant when you graduated from high school. 

Two semesters will count as one year so this won't be your first year of college.  Your two semesters do count even though it was 20 years ago. Unfortunately, there is no statue of limitation for this. Promise me you will finish this time though for your sake. 

Oh I do plan to finish this time and I apologize for the confusion. I graduated in 1998, went for one full semester and quit not even half way through the second semester, so I technically didn't even complete two full semesters. All of my classes for the second semester were either graded as F or I (incomplete). Now that I am older and finally found what I want to earn a degree in I plan to do it come hell or high water no matter what I have to do to earn the degree that I want. Thanks for all your help!!

Nick Carter