State Board of Higher Education Chairman Nick Hacker said board members talk about two-year college affordability "frequently." He said those schools have taken "a pretty modest approach" to tuition increases to stay competitive.

"I think for a lot of years, people just didn't really think about tuition and the escalation," Williston State College President John Miller said. "We think about it often now."

Earlier this year, North Dakota lawmakers set aside $6 million for student loan repayment and scholarship programs in an effort to recruit and retain people in high-demand fields. A list of eligible programs released by the university system this week included a diverse group of pursuits, such as accounting, auto body repair and computer science.

Jamestown Republican Rep. Jim Grueneich, the bill's primary sponsor, called the new program a "step in the right direction" that could attract additional funding if it's well-received.

"There's an immediate need right now for skilled labor," he said. "I don't think anybody could probably deny that."

Workforce shortages have consistently attracted the attention of North Dakota officials. Gov. Doug Burgum estimated there are 30,000 open jobs in the state, which he said is the biggest barrier to the state's economic growth.