Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: Are College Scholarships Really Tax-Free? 2026 Business Mileage Rate Gets a Boost Why You May Want a Roth Account in Your Retirement Plan Are College Scholarships Really Tax-Free? Generally, scholarships received by degree candidates are tax-free to the extent they’re used for qualified tuition and related expenses. These include tuition, mandatory fees and required books, supplies and equipment. Amounts used for nonqualified expenses — such as room and board or travel — are taxable. If a scholarship requires the student to perform services, such as teaching or research, the portion paid for those services must be reported as income and is generally taxable. However, exceptions apply. Any taxable portion of a...








