Are student loans considered tuition payments? Since I am not yet repaying them should I still consider them to be like out of pocket payment for the school year?

Q. Should I still consider them (loan payments) to be like out of pocket payment for the school year?

A. Yes. Qualified Higher Educational expenses (QHEE, tuition, fees, books and other course materials) paid with loan money is considered as paid by you for purposes of claiming a tuition credit or deduction. 

Q.  Are student loans considered tuition payments? 

A. Yes, but not exactly.  It does not matter that you are not paying off the loans yet.  The actual loan payments are not QHEE.  It's what you spend the money on that makes them "qualified".  So, tuition payments are QHEE, but payments for room & board are not.