Every year the U.S. Department of Education helps connect nearly 15 million incoming college students with over $150 billion in education funding, and it all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At first glance, the FAFSA can be quite complex to navigate, yet the consequences of an incomplete or inaccurate application can be devastating. To help combat this hurdle, the education experts at BestColleges.com  have created a guide to the  Understanding the FAFSA process that includes information on:

• What you need before you get started

• A page by page guide on the FAFSA forms

• What to do once you fill out the forms

The following web sites have all the information you need to get started with applying for federal student aid.

First, apply for your FAFSA ID here, it is required to go further.

Then, visit the FAFSA page to apply for the free aid.

Other Sites:
http://finaid.org
http://www.collegegoalwi.org/
http://heab.state.wi.us/ (a listing of WI financial aid programs as well as Minnesota reciprocity)
http://www.smartscholar.com/fafsa-guide/ (excellent FAFSA resource guide)