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Families planning for college might be worried about tuition "sticker shock" following decades of higher education cost hikes but analysts believe affordability is more realistic these days than people might think, and a North Dakota leader agrees.

A new report published by the Brookings Institution found households with college-age students focus too much on the total tuition cost and not the net price, which is lowered by many forms of financial aid. Over the past 10 years, the analysis showed net prices have declined.

Lisa Johnson, deputy commissioner of academic and student affairs for the North Dakota University System, said despite the state's best efforts to promote financial assistance, affordability doubts are still out there.

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"You still encounter families that were unaware of a scholarship that their son or daughter might be eligible for," Johnson noted.

She pointed to the ND Career Builders scholarship as an example. She explained until they got an injection of marketing money from the Legislature, the program languished and many students did not take advantage of it. She added it finally took off after they were able to promote the aid to larger audiences.

Johnson argued a possible solution is to work more with high school counselors in advising students about available financial aid. She acknowledged counselors have a lot more on their plates these days, shifting some attention away from conversations about college needs but there has already been some action, with hopes of ensuring high schoolers do not lose sight of their future goals.

"The percentage of high school students who do not persist on to a college or university, not only in North Dakota but anywhere in the U.S., is definitely a concern," Johnson emphasized.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 40 percent of recent high school graduates are not enrolled in college. Meanwhile, the national analysis found even without financial aid, there has been moderation when it comes to the total cost of tuition for schools around the country.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.