<p>As long as you are not classified as a permanent resident, you are considered an international student and are not able to apply for federal financial aid. Very few colleges award institutional aid to international students.</p>
<p>I am not sure at which point in the AOS process you would become eligible for financial aid, but my college told me that they cannot give me any fin aid before physically seeing my permanent resident card.</p>
<p>Please be aware that as long as you are not a permanent resident, you cannot establish residency in your state and thus you would have to pay out-of-state tuition at your in-state public universities.</p>