You are a student. You work hard to achieve the best grades possible in high school. You study and dedicate yourself to having a strong resume of grades and extracurriculars in order to gain admission to the college of your choosing. You get in! You pay thousands of dollars in order to attend this college and receive a higher education. You pay for all your materials, pencils, notebooks, laptops, transportation to and from. You get to class on your first day, and the required textbook has a price way beyond what you were expecting. You’re left with two options: continue in the course and sacrifice your grade, or you drop the class entirely, putting your educational future on the line.

This is a reality for many students. From trade schools to two-year and four-year colleges, every major and minor, they all require some form of learning material at a specific cost to the student.

College tuition and fees have risen over 80% in the past 12 years. While the average eBook may be 31.9% less expensive than its hard copy counterpart, the average college textbook costs an estimated $105.37. Overall, the average undergraduate student pays between $339-$600 for books and supplies in one academic year. For low-income students this can cause deep financial strain, and even push the student deep into debt.

The high cost of college textbooks is more than just a financial burden—it’s a barrier that stands between students and their educational goals. Are students expected to drop out after all the work it took to get them there? What is the solution to this?

The path to a degree of any level should be paved with passion and drive for higher learning, not financial obstacles. When we limit education to only those who can afford it, we deny lower income students the chance to get a foot up in society. A degree can be the deciding factor in helping them qualify for a higher paying job to support themselves or their families. A degree is the most important tool any student can use to mold their future into one of their own choosing, not what society has chosen for them.

Students: It is your right to access knowledge and higher education. It is your right to want to be an informed and educated citizen. It is up to you to demand the change you wish to see in the education you receive. Advocate for affordable learning resources and support initiatives that push for Open Educational Resources (OER). OER’s can help eliminate the exorbitant textbook materials cost and make higher education more achievable for lower income students.

Educators: You have the power to enact the change your students want. Embrace and promote the use of Open Educational Resources in your curriculum. By choosing or supporting OER, you can help ensure that every student has access to the materials they need to succeed. Your mission as educators should nurture the growth of all students and help to create a more educated society. Share your experiences and success stories with your colleagues and encourage them to follow suit.

Lawmakers: Hear the voices of your constituents – the people who put you in office to represent their needs as citizens. Not all college students might be able to vote, but they will remember the candidate or incumbent who made it their duty to support students and enact necessary measures to ensure their right to an equitable education.

It is time to take legislative action to address the textbook affordability crisis. We must support policies that encourage the adoption of OER and provide funding for programs aimed at reducing textbook costs.

Sources:

• Hanson, Melanie. “Average Cost of College Textbooks” EducationData.org, November 3, 2023, https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-textbooks