Odyssey's approach to determining eligible expenses is to err on the side of supporting parents and students while applying standards consistently. When evaluating an expense, Odyssey applies a simple distinction: whether an item is inherently educational versus a general-purpose item that may be used in an educational context. The ability to use an item for learning does not, by itself, make it an eligible educational expense.
Services
Tickets to view sporting events (professional or college sports)
Movie and theater tickets
Recreational facilities unless for physical education of the student *
Ski passes or lift tickets *
Snow sports *
Residential Treatment Facilities *
Summer camps where the primary purpose is not academic or skill-based instruction (general day camps, recreational camps)
Overnight/sleepaway camps, regardless of educational content
Subscription/Membership Services
Lifetime and family memberships (one adult chaperone membership per household is allowed when purchased in the same transaction as the student's membership)
Entertainment streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime, etc.)
Maintenance/protection/storage plans for devices (Apple Care, Amazon warranty, cloud storage) unless they come with the product
Magazine subscriptions without an educational focus (e.g., People, Vogue — but Highlights and Scholastic are eligible)
Theme/Amusement Park memberships, passes, and annual subscriptions
Season tickets or subscriptions to entertainment venues *
Insurance plans of any kind
General Goods
Games and board games without a purely educational focus (video games, playing cards, trading cards — but educational games are eligible)
Food, meal plans, and meal kits unless explicitly included in a class by an instructor
Furniture including desks, computer stands, TV mounts, lighting, and gaming chairs *
Apparel including uniforms, costumes, clothing, and shoes *
Musical instrument purchases (rentals are eligible for the majority of the current scholarship year) *
Power tools and general purpose hand tools
Playground equipment and playsets *
Toys without an explicit educational purpose
Firearms and firearm accessories (firearm safety courses from legitimate providers are allowed)
Animals, livestock, insects, or pets
Wholesale-quantity and bulk purchases
Items purchased with the intention of being resold
Electronics
Smartphones
Smart Watches
Speakers
CD/Cassette players
Record Players
Digital picture frames or calendars
Computer parts and components used to build servers
Accessories, cases, and general electronics unless explicitly included with approved products (e.g., phone/tablet cases are ineligible; power cords and HDMI cables are eligible)
Physical Education Equipment
Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards
Weights, weight lifting, and general gym equipment (dumbbells, barbells, benches, resistance bands, pullup bars)
Nets and basketball hoops
Trampolines
Golf clubs and bags
Punching bags
Rollerblades, roller-skates, and ice-skates
Pads (football and lacrosse)
Transportation
Plane, train, or bus passes not used for transportation to/from a qualifying provider
Fuel or gas cards for a vehicle
Tourism tours and passes unless part of an organized educational event such as a field trip
* Indicates Utah state code explicitly forbids eligibility.
Disclaimer: Any eligibility guidance or pre-approval provided by our Smart Assistant or support team is conditional. Final eligibility determinations are made only after an expense is submitted with a valid receipt and reviewed for compliance.