topic American opp credit- Foriegn university in Education

American opp credit- Foriegn university

kartheeksrm — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:29:00 GMT

Hello,

I got my bachelors at a foreign university outside USA. Will that make me ineligible for American opportunity tax credit?

Re: American opp credit- Foriegn university

ee-ea — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 04:04:06 GMT

No

Who is an eligible student for AOTC?

To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:

Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period^* beginning in the tax year
Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

From https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/aotc

Re: American opp credit- Foriegn university

kartheeksrm — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 04:08:10 GMT

Do you mean to say i am eligible?

Also, the eligibility requirements dont say if it has to be inside USA or do outside US also count as if received the bachelors?

Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax yea

Re: American opp credit- Foriegn university

ee-ea — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 04:18:59 GMT

I an sorry for the wwrong answer I gave. I meant you are not elgible since you have a degree.

Re: American opp credit- Foriegn university

rjs — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 04:22:41 GMT

It doesn't matter whether you got your degree in the U.S. or in another country. If you have a bachelors degree you are not eligible for the American Opportunity Credit.

You might be eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit.