Bad idea to apply for financial aid?

“If your parents have an annual college budget, please listen to them.”

Exactly. You need to understand what your budget is, and you need to plan to stick with it. Money does not appear by magic out of thin air, and university in the US can be very expensive.

If you tell us your stats and your budget someone here might be able to suggest some schools. Knowing your likely major(s) and university preferences would also be helpful.