Understanding the process of financial aid and scholarships can be overwhelming, to say the least.
Check out this amazing resource to help you understand the financial aid process:
http://www.navigatingyourfinancialfuture.org/Audio_Presentation.aspx

College Cost Calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/costprojector.phtml

What is financial aid? How do I get it?
Financial aid is defined as all money that is used toward college costs.  In order of most likely to least likely awards:
1. Institutional Aid – Awarded directly from the college or university based on strong academics and/or financial need
2. Federal Aid – www.fafsa.gov Generally based on need in the form of grants, loans, and work study
Federal Financial Aid Forecaster – https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1
United States Department of Education: Student Aid on the Web:            http://studentaid.ed.gov/
3.  State Aid – State of FL Scholarships and Grants (INCLUDING Bright Futures): www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
4.  Private Scholarships – ongoing with variety of eligibility requirements, deadlines, etc.  See the  Scholarships tab above for some links to scholarship search websites.