American Opportunity Tax Credit

[harrypotter]

I just searched Google, and it says that you can't claim a tax credit for anything you didn't pay.  So if your tuition is $5000, but you get a Pell grant for $4000, then you could claim $1000.  If your tuition is less than the Pell grant, then you can't claim the tax credit.

That's my understanding, but just search for "can I claim a tax credit if I get a Pell grant?"

Not everyone who's eligible for financial aid gets a pell grant.. in this case i'm expecting no pell grant & just wondering if it's possible with a federal student loan.