Even if the tuition was paid from a Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP/529/ESA) the expenses counts as support, not provided by him, since the parent is the "owner" of the plan.
Furthermore the support value of the home, provided by the parent, is the fair market rental value of the home plus utilities & other expenses divided by the number of occupants.
Sounds like he did not pay for more than half his support.
The IRS has a worksheet that can be used to help with the support calculation. See: http://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf
Students, under 24, claiming them selves are not eligible for the refundable portion (up to $1000) of the American Opportunity Credit. Your question (a common one this year) comes down to the parent giving up a $2500 tuition credit (+ the $500 dependent credit) so the student can claim the $1800 stimulus.
