No, graduate school applications and traveling expenses for interviews, are not Qualified Education Expenses, per Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education - IRS.gov.
Here are examples of what you can and can't deduct:
Generally, you can deduct:
- Tuition
- Enrollment fees
- Expenses paid to school, on condition of enrollment (lab fees, for example)
- Certain books, supplies, and course-related equipment
- Expenses listed above (for the following semester), as long as the semester begins in the first three months of 2017
- Education expenses paid with cash, checks, credit cards and savings accounts
- Education expenses paid with loans, gifts and inheritances
You cannot deduct:
- Room and board
- Fees for non-degree courses (sports, games or hobbies)
- Insurance
- Medical expenses or student fees
- Transportation or mileage
- Fees for maintaining or acquiring a license (broker, CPA, etc.)
- Tutoring expenses
- Private high school or grade school fees
- High school or private school uniforms
- Undergraduate and graduate application fees
- Daycare expenses
- Homeschool expenses
- Contributions to a student's Coverdell Education Savings Account
