Finding Affordable Textbooks

College is already expensive enough--and high textbook prices can add to the cost. A few actions can help you save hundreds.

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REGISTERING FOR CLASS

  • Look for class sections that have no books, free resources, or low-cost (under $40). there are several states that have mandated price transparency at registration, and Congress recommended it in 2008.
  • Avoid class sections that require the use of access codes, which force you to buy expiring access to a platform to submit homework.

BEFORE BUYING A BOOK

  • Look to see if your school’s library has a copy on reserve that you can use for free.
  • Join any Facebook groups or other “for-sale” pages at your school, and compare sites like Amazon to your school’s bookstore. Spend an hour shopping around for the best deal if you want your own copy to keep.
  • Consider using a digital etext or a rental book from a site like Chegg, and compare the rental cost to how expensive the book would be if you were able to resell it for 50% of its value.

HELP MAKE ALL TEXTBOOKS MORE AFFORDABLE

  • Ask your professors to switch to open textbooks – which are available for free online or under $40 in print. 

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