'My students make twice my salary'

Hiring new teachers -- or any other school employees -- is extremely difficult, because of the housing crisis.

"We've had people offered faculty positions turn them down because of the cost of living," Stout said. "I'm one rent raise away from having to leave."

Some of Stout's students have been trying to convince him to work for one of the oil companies -- the last offer was to drive a truck 12 to 18 hours a day and get paid nearly $100,000 to start. Stout admits he's been tempted to make the switch: The lure of doubling his $56,000 a year salary is hard to resist.

Locals to big oil: We want our town back!

Yet, Stout said his "call is to teach," and that's what he'll do -- whether it's in Williston or somewhere where it's more affordable to live.

And as hard as Stout tries to stick it out in North Dakota and change students' lives with his teaching, he may be forced to give up on college, too.

"I love the people and I love the job ... And those of us that leave have to go back into the rest of the world where the economy is not booming, and that's a challenge," he said. "But I'm reaching the breaking point."

Correction: An earlier version of this story implied that students could spend $100,000 on tuition at Williston State. Tuition at the school is much more affordable.