{"id":130,"date":"2023-01-13T03:12:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T08:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bsblog.wpengine.com\/?p=130"},"modified":"2024-06-26T04:22:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T09:22:09","slug":"the-rising-cost-of-textbooks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/the-rising-cost-of-textbooks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rising Cost of College Textbooks"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>It\u2019s time to buy books for next semester! College students reach deeper into their pockets each year to foot the bill for textbooks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics made us aware of the rising cost of college textbooks: the prices have risen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/freshman-year\/college-textbook-prices-have-risen-812-percent-1978-n399926\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">1,041% since 1977.<\/a> Even factoring in inflation, the sale of used books, and non-market transactions, it\u2019s a huge number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong><a href=\"#1\">How Much Do College Textbooks Cost?<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#2\">How Much Do Online Textbooks Cost?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><strong><a href=\"#3\">Reasons for The Increase in The Cost of College Textbooks<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#4\">Short Usage Cycle Contribute to the Increase in Cost of College Textbooks<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#5\">Professors Disregard The Rising Cost of Textbooks<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#6\">Useless Attachments Increase College Textbook Prices<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li><strong><a href=\"#7\">Beware of Statistics<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong><a href=\"#8\">How to Lower the Cost of Textbooks<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"1\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Do College Textbooks Cost?<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>According to the most recent <a href=\"https:\/\/research.collegeboard.org\/pdf\/trends-college-pricing-student-aid-2020.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">survey<\/a> from the <strong>College Board<\/strong>:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>The average full-time on-campus undergraduate student at a four-year university spent approximately <strong>$1,240 on books and supplies in 2021<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Students of two-year colleges spent <strong>$1,420<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Students at private four-year colleges\u2014<strong>$1,220<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2077\" src=\"https:\/\/bsblog.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/college-borard-textbooks.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/college-borard-textbooks.png 969w, https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/college-borard-textbooks-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/college-borard-textbooks-768x335.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/research.collegeboard.org\/pdf\/trends-college-pricing-student-aid-2020.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">College Board<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>This averages to $450-$625 per semester for books and supplies for an average student. Not a trifling amount.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The most recent <a href=\"https:\/\/uspirg.org\/sites\/pirg\/files\/reports\/Fixing-the-Broken-Textbook-Market_June-2020_v2.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">report<\/a> from the <strong>U.S. Public Interest Research Group<\/strong> has shown that <strong>66%<\/strong> of students tend to skip buying or renting course materials altogether in college, with <strong>63%<\/strong> skipping textbook purchasing specifically because of the high cost of textbooks. The previous 2014 report&#8217;s data was not much different: <strong>65%<\/strong> of students admitted skipping textbook purchasing then, so the tendency remains.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"2\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Do Online Textbooks Cost?<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>All in all, online textbooks are more affordable than <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/blog\/why-are-textbooks-so-expensive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expensive college textbooks<\/a>. Sometimes students can acquire <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/blog\/pros-cons-of-etextbooks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital textbook<\/a> copies 40-50% cheaper than physical copies; however, taking into consideration the overall college textbook prices, you don&#8217;t save that much. Besides, many students prefer physical copies. Alternatively, you can find a number of web resources with <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/blog\/free-textbooks-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free textbooks<\/a> that are available for students online under an open license.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"3\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reasons for The Increase in The Cost of College Textbooks<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"4\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short Usage Cycle Contribute to the Increase in Cost of College Textbooks<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>In recent years, publishers have issued textbooks in a two-to-four-year cycle. Basically, your used books are losing value quickly, and you\u2019re more likely to drop money on a new one.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"5\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professors Disregard The Rising Cost of Textbooks<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Professors often disregard already high textbook prices when assigning the latest versions of course materials. The updated versions feature small changes, like rephrased copy and newer photos, not to mention the insertion of outdated pop-culture references.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"6\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useless Attachments Increase College Textbook Prices<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Publishers attach E-text and supplemental material to textbooks that raise the price. Like a CD in the back of a textbook you never used but somehow managed to lose by the end of the semester. A study found that 64% of professors rarely or never used the extra material. Those supplemental materials can make the textbook cost twice as much.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"7\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beware of Statistics<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Getting back to where we started, you may be thinking, \u201cWow! 1,041% is a huge number.\u201d In fact, several organizations dispute this number, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The Association of American Publishers claims that viewing the increase <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/freshman-year\/college-textbook-prices-have-risen-812-percent-1978-n399926\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">as a pe<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/freshman-year\/college-textbook-prices-have-risen-812-percent-1978-n399926\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">rcentage misrepresents the cost.<\/a> If a textbook is $50 and then $100, its price increases by 100%. True, the price change can seem small compared to larger numbers, but the costs add up.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The National Association of College Stores reprimanded the College Board for estimating textbook costs rather than using collected data. NACS calculated textbook costs as <a href=\"https:\/\/eliterate.us\/bad-data-can-lead-to-bad-policy-college-students-dont-spend-1200-on-textbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">half of the College Board\u2019s predicted $1,200.<\/a> Yet, the prediction about the <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/blog\/average-cost-of-college-textbooks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">average cost of college textbooks<\/a> in 2020 doesn&#8217;t seem to be so far-fetched now, as this year&#8217;s textbook prices statistics prove.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Needless to say, the rising cost of college textbooks is a problem. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bsa.ca.gov\/pdfs\/reports\/2007-116.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The NACS itself recognized the issue<\/a> of higher education costs and partnered with a Congressional committee to address higher education expenses in the United States.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a name=\"8\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Lower the Cost of Textbooks<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Though prices are increasing and your textbooks lose value, they still have value. Trust <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BookScouter<\/a> to find the best price to sell your books. Take those <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/buy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cheap textbooks<\/a> out of the closet and check out our site to find the best price for your textbooks, sell them in bulk, and make extra cash.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.campusbooks.com\/rental\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Renting textbooks<\/a> is another good strategy that can help you optimize your college textbook costs and <a href=\"https:\/\/bookscouter.com\/blog\/9-college-must-haves-for-a-scholar-that-help-save-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lower your college expenses<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul><\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size:16px\">Does buying textbooks for each semester make you want to pull your hair out?&nbsp;How can a textbook cost so much money? We&#8217;ve done a lot of research, and to simplify it all, textbook costs are rising. See how much textbook costs have changed and why the costs grow every year.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[209],"tags":[288],"class_list":["post-130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-using_your_textbook","tag-college-textbooks","post_format-post-format-image"],"modified_by":"Abigail White","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookscouter.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}