Looking at this in more detail, I just realized that the greater impact will be on the student's return. Does the STUDENT also have the option of following the IRS tip listed in publication 971 and reporting the tuition-only scholarship awarded in Jan 2025 on their 2025 return instead of 2024? Or does this option only apply to the PARENTS, e.g., for purposes of claiming the AOTC? Since the student worked part-time in 2024, that extra $6K would push them above the threshold for filing both the federal and state taxes.
