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Can a 17-year-old get a student loan, even though they’re under 18?

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Written by Eleanna Garcia
Updated over a month ago

Yes, for federal student loans--and depending on your state, possibly for non-federal student loans too.

Normally, a minor cannot be held liable for a contract that they sign. However, in 1992 the Higher Education Act was amended to permit students to sign promissory notes for their own Federal student loans. Several states have also passed similar laws that consider minors to be competent to enter into a contract for an education loan. This extends similar protection to private and non-federal loans.

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