If your tax-free assistance in 2016 was more than your education expenses paid in 2016, you would not be eligible for an education credit. But check your records.
If the scholarship was more than your tuition, did you get funds back
from the school to use for personal expenses? If you didn't, you
need to check your student account.
Check to see if you were billed last December (2015) for classes you started in January, February or March (2016).
If you were billed in December 2015, and the scholarship posted in January 2016, you can offset the scholarship amount by the amount of those classes. (but that amount might not be on the 1098-T)
Additionally, some scholarships can be used to pay for things other than tuition, like books, supplies, and perhaps room and board. Be sure to take this into account and add them in if you can.
If you still
do not have more education expenses than scholarships/grants, then you
would not be eligible for a credit.
