Thanks dcandmc, This is complicated. I would have thought that there would be clear guidelines from the IRS and others about these mandatory fees. In my IRS link above, I just notice it says these are not qualified expenses:
Room and board
Insurance
Medical expenses (including student health fees)
Transportation
Similar personal, living or family expenses
This appears to support what you say. BUT, now this list includes room and board which I understood to be a qualified expense? So I really need to know about that as I just paid a big housing and food bill!!!
Perhaps I need to retain an advisor...why is this so unclear? Help!