If I understand correctly, the college hope credit is only available for the first 2 years of college. If my child attended a regular university for 3 years then continued her education at a culinary school for another 2 years, can we take the hope credit twice? Also, as far as deduction for interest on college loans, even when our child gradutates, we'll still be paying a long while on the loans, which means interest. Can we still claim the interest on our income tax or only when the child is in college?

Negative. You can only claim the Hope Tax Credit twice, period!

You can claim the interest on the student loans as long as YOU are legally obligated to make the loan payments.