; (3) the decline described in paragraph (2) was most notable among Hispanic and male high school graduates, who faced 12 percentage point and 6 percentage point declines, respectively, from 2012 in immediate matriculation to an institution of higher education; and (4) the unemployment rate of adults with a bachelor’s degree is nearly half that of the unemployment rate of adults whose highest credential is a high school degree; Whereas the National Student Clearinghouse reports that overall undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities continues to decline; Whereas the complexity of financial aid systems and rising college costs can serve as additional deterrents or barriers for students and families as they assess the viability of higher education programs as a postsecondary option; Whereas many students struggle to identify and compare postsecondary options due to— (1) difficulties accessing school counseling services, which is evidenced by an estimation of the American School Counselor Association that the average student-to-counselor ratio in the United States is 408 to 1; (2) an absence of reliable programmatic and institutional outcome data; and (3) a lack of comparable and understandable college financial aid offers; Whereas, in addition to expanding outreach and support to recent high school graduates, colleges and universities must also expand outreach and support to all undergraduate students; Whereas applications for State-based financial aid are available in many States for students who do not qualify for Federal student aid; and Whereas the data on the benefits of higher education underscores and reinforces the value of ensuring that all individuals, including students enrolled in high school and working adults— (1) understand their postsecondary options; (2) understand college financing opportunities; and (3) have support to navigate the college application and financial aid processes: Now, therefore, be it