Hi Jillian,

You don't have to be 18 to fill out the FASFA and apply for federal aid. It's best to apply for federal aid as early as possible, even if you don't think you'll qualify. You can find out more about eligibility requirements here.

If you're applying for a private loan then you should check in with your potential lender and see what their rules are. Every financial institution has a different set of eligibility rules. Many of them require applicants to be at least 18 years old. (But make sure you tap out federal aid resources first - they usually offer better interest rates.)

I'd check out our student loan guide. It's full of helpful information.