It’s no secret that the cost of college has gone up a lot in the past few years, but that’s not the only thing that’s changed. After you’ve paid for tuition and moved onto campus, you’ll also have to pay for your books. Even though this may seem like a small cost, some books can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Let’s start with Why Do University Books Cost So Much.
Students spend $662 a year on school supplies according to the National Association of College Stores. A few volumes for this much money? You’re not the only one who thinks so. These exorbitant fees may be avoided in a variety of ways.
Why do books for college cost so much?
There are many reasons why books cost so much:
1. A semester of college uses a lot more books than a year of high school. You’ll be given longer reading lists, and in many classes, you’ll have to read from more than one book.
2. Copyright: When putting together big collections of recent writings, publishers have to pay copyright fees to each author in the book. In the context of a literary course, compiling a poetry anthology, for instance, may need the clearance of hundreds of copyrights.
3. Very specific content: A lot of college textbooks are very specific, and the content can’t be found in any other book. Because there aren’t many books on the market and there isn’t much competition, publishers have to raise prices.
4. Book publishers only make money when college professors use their books in their classes. Usually, this means that they send free review copies to people who might be interested in teaching. The cost of the books are realized from the high prices students pay to buy them.
How to Save Money on Textbooks for College;
Textbooks for college can easily cost more than $1,000 a year, which can be a big problem for students who don’t have the money to pay for them and want to do well in school. If you want to do well in college, you can’t avoid buying books, but it may seem impossible to pay for them. There are many reasons why books are so expensive, but there are also many ways to make them cheaper:
1. Purchase used books:
When they have them, most college bookstores sell used books. Most of the time, savings are around 25%. You can learn just as much from a used book as from a new one, and sometimes you can even learn from someone else’s notes. Get to the store early, because used books often sell out fast.
2. Online book shopping:
Online bookstores like Amazon and Barnes and Noble often offer discounts of up to 20% off the regular price of a book. Online, you can sometimes get a used copy for even less. But be careful. Make sure you’re getting the right edition and that shipping won’t cost more than what you’ll save. Many textbooks are available as e-books, which are often cheaper because there are no costs for materials, printing, or shipping. Make sure that using a laptop or Kindle in class won’t bother your teachers.
3. Check out the Library:
Some books might be in the college or public library, or your professor might have put a copy on reserve. Just don’t write in someone else’s book.
4. Photocopy:
Some teachers only use a small part of a book. If so, you might be able to copy the reading from a classmate’s book instead of buying your own. But keep in mind that copying large parts of a book is often against the law.
What else are schools doing to lower textbook costs;
Some college libraries let students borrow books or use free electronic resources. “Inclusive access” is one of the most important things being done right now.
On the first day of class, institutions charge students for digital access to course materials at a discounted rate.
As a result of their cooperation with publishers or book retailers, several institutions provide digital textbook subscriptions. Students pay a monthly or yearly price to access all of a publisher’s resources for a semester or year long period of time. Purchasing a large number of books from this publisher may be worthwhile for students. There’s a strong chance that just one or two books from this publisher might be beneficial to students.
Conclusion
Numerous college textbooks include content that cannot be found in any other book. The limited number of books released and the absence of market competition force publishers to raise prices.
FAQS
1. Are physical textbooks outdated?
The debate about digital vs. print is still going on, but some students will always choose paper. Publishers are moving toward digital options, but if students want to print or buy a print copy, they may have to pay more. Students who don’t learn well from digital books can benefit from OER licenses that let them print as much information as they want.
2. Why do textbooks cost so much?
Because teachers assign certain versions and a few number of publishers have a monopoly on the market, textbooks are so costly. As a result, they are able to boost prices without having to worry about competition.
Some courses’ content changes, but not nearly enough to justify the high prices of brand new print editions every year or two.
3. What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
Cheap textbooks, like OER, are promoted and made by colleges and other institutions. Open Instructional Resources are digital tools that anyone can use to help them learn.
The most money was saved by students in the U.S. and Canada when they used OER. Students who use OER do as well as or better than those who use traditional course materials, and students who are less well off do even better.
