Generally, student loan interest is the interest paid during the year on a loan for qualified higher education expenses that were:

• For the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse (if filing a joint return), or a person who was the taxpayer's dependent when the loan was obtained, and
  
  
• Paid within a reasonable period of time before or after obtaining the loan, and
  
  
• For an eligible student

Generally, qualified higher education expenses include tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, equipment, and other necessary expenses, such as transportation.

	An eligible student is one enrolled in and carrying at least one-half the normal load for a qualified program.