Buying textbooks is no small expense. College students spent about $560 on average on college textbooks and course materials last year, according to the National Association of College Stores. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released an analysis that shows print textbook prices have risen 82 percent in the last decade alone. If you need college textbooks, here are some simple tips that will help you reduce your costs.
Rent Your College Textbooks
Instead of buying your college textbooks, consider renting them and returning them once you have completed the class. Most brick-and-mortar college bookstores rent out college textbooks these days and the price of renting them is way lower than the cost of buying them. For example, the 10th edition of Campbell Biology one of the most popular textbooks on the University Network website, was available for $22.40 for a rental versus $244.59 to buy the textbook in print.
See If The College Textbooks Are Available As E-book
As demand for new hardcover college textbooks wanes, publishers are producing less expensive digital versions of their textbooks for college students. These books can be viewed using a laptop, smartphone or e-reader. A McGraw Hill biology title that sells for $190 at a college bookstore is available for $85 as an e-book from the company, cutting the cost of the textbook by more than 50 percent.
Find Open Source College Textbooks
Open-source textbooks are created under an open license and students can download or print them for free or for a few dollars. The Student Public Interest Research Groups recently released a study that showed students could save$128 a course on average if school changed from print textbooks to open-source books. OpenStax College one of the largest providers of open-source books said that the 260,000 students using its textbooks this school year will save an estimated $25 million in college textbook costs.
Order College Textbooks Online
There are many online sources available that can help you find deep discounts on college textbooks. The University Network website finds the lowest price on textbooks for college students and lists them in an easy to follow format. The Slugbooks website provides a list of textbook purchasing options from booksellers, including Amazon, AbeBooks, ValoreBooks and Chegg. Sometimes, you can get lucky and find the college textbooks you need for $20 or less.