I can say that International Students would recieve NO FINANCIAL AID AT ALL if they are applying to a college in US. (I do not know the rule about other countries). This has been an experince with many of my friends who are studying here with me in the US and paying full tuition. However, if you are an exceptional student, you might be awarded scholarships, which is not counted towards financial aid (i.e need based ).
However, if you are permanent resident/Citizen of the states, the first thing that you do is file the FAFSA in the senior year of your high school. The forms are available in your high school counsellors office and they will announce it well in advance. After filling out the FAFSA, the govt. mails you a student aid report and what they are ready to award you. Its a mixture of loans and grants. The SAR or the Student Aid Report gives you the EFC or expected Family Contribution - the amount that they expect you to pay. Dont be fooled by it. Its normally very low like $300-$900, but that does not mean that the govt. will pay the rest for u.
It means that the amount left after that will be paid by you either in loans (90% in SAR) or grants (%10). Be wise to choose the right loan for you like the Fed. PLUS loan etc etc.
That was FinAid 101 for the ones heading for college.
Best of luck.