The financial aid application process begins with the FAFSA. Although a paper FAFSA is available for sending in by mail, the fastest and most accurate way to file a FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov .
To go to the FAFSA website click here:

To fill out a FAFSA online, you will need a PIN number (and another one for one of your parents if you are a dependent student) and an email address. If you do not yet have a PIN number, you can apply for one at http://pin.ed.gov/.
To apply for a PIN, click here:

The results from the FAFSA are typically received by the Financial Aid Office within a week. The following links (also on the left side of the page) may be useful:
Dates and Deadlines
The Financial Aid Process