14 Ways to Cut Your Textbook Costs

Students can spend hundreds of dollars on books.

Tuition isn't the only higher education expense that makes paying for college challenging -- the price of books and supplies can add up quickly. According to survey data from the College Board, the average full-time, on-campus undergraduate at a four-year school is estimated to have spent $1,240 on books and supplies during the 2020-2021 academic year. Though textbook costs have fluctuated over the years, prices are trending down thanks to more digital options in the marketplace, says Raj Kaji, CEO of Akademos, an online bookstore and platform for course materials. Despite that trend, textbooks still remain a major expense for many students. Here are 14 tips to help make college textbooks more affordable.

Buy digital or loose-leaf formats.

The cost difference between a digital and print version of a textbook can be dramatic. "Most students do not know this, but textbook companies usually sell their text in many forms, including digital and sometimes in loose-leaf binders -- both (of) which are less expensive than traditional versions," says Julie Gurner, founder of Gurner Consulting, an executive consulting firm, and a former community college professor. A new copy of the 11th edition of "Campbell Biology," for example, can cost more than $200. A digital version, or e-book, of the same edition can be substantially less, starting around $55; a new loose-leaf version ranges around $90 and up on Amazon.

Consider older versions of texts.

Publishers often release new editions every few years, but the newest version can cost slightly more than the previous edition. Gurner's tip: "Although the newest textbook is usually the one recommended for the course, updates to college textbooks are not always major revisions. Most professors know if the content in the newer textbook varies dramatically from the previous version they've used, and this can save students significantly." When in doubt, check with the professor to ensure an older edition won't cause confusion for assignments due to varying page numbers.

Use open educational resources if available.

Open educational resources, known as OER, are teaching materials like textbooks that are available for free online. Public interest advocacy organizations say schools that invest in open educational or low-cost resources in course curricula generate significant savings for students. A few colleges and universities encourage their faculty members to use openly licensed textbooks as primary resources. Pennsylvania State University--University Park, for example, provides grant money to faculty members to convert their courses to rely on open educational resources. Additionally, numerous states have passed legislation to support the expansion of OER within public universities.

Find a student textbook exchange.

Given the high cost of many textbooks, some students have set up exchange programs to trade or sell course materials. Some colleges even hold textbook exchange events where students can meet to swap books, trading old titles away for needed course materials for the upcoming semester. In addition to such physical events, textbook exchange groups have also popped up on social media platforms, allowing students to buy from and sell to their peers -- often buying at much lower prices than bookstores charge. Beyond student-led initiatives, some colleges operate book exchange programs to help keep costs down.

Purchase used books.

Textbook prices may come with a little sticker shock for students. Research indicates that students often avoid buying course materials when they can and that such costs sometimes influence which courses they select. Students looking to save money on textbooks should look at used options in the campus bookstore or online marketplaces. Take the 14th edition of a popular introduction to microbiology textbook, for example. A new version fetches upward of $180 on Amazon, whereas a used edition can be found on the same website for around $90. Considering that some textbooks come with access codes that provide additional online materials, students should check to see if that is included with the purchase, if needed.

Check to see if your school has a bookseller discount.

Colleges often partner with companies that offer price reductions to their students. The University of Missouri, for example, has an agreement with McGraw Hill that allows students to purchase the publisher's electronic textbooks for up to 38% off the retail price. Students have access to the purchased content for five years.

Apply for textbook scholarships.

Some institutions offer scholarships to cover the cost of books and supplies. The University of Dayton in Ohio, for example, offers a textbook scholarship to eligible students who visit the school's campus during their college selection process. For the award, the school grants students up to $500 per semester for textbooks, as long as the purchases are made through the campus bookstore. At Indiana State University, in-state students who qualify can receive the renewable 21st Century Scholars Textbook Scholarship, which grants $250 for books per semester.

Use library materials.

Experts recommend that students take advantage of their school's library to slash textbook spending. There are often copies of required textbooks for classes held in the course reserves as well as access to many electronic journals and e-books in most schools' digital library collections. Popular books assigned in some courses, such as lower-level English and literature, may have common texts easily found in the library. Savvy students needing a copy of a popular tome -- think the works of Shakespeare and the like -- should see if those books are available from the campus or public library before spending money out of pocket.

Rent digital and physical textbooks.

"Oftentimes, there are digital versions that are cheaper than the physical version," Kaji explains. Online retailers such as Amazon's Textbooks Store, Chegg.com and Google Play offer textbook rentals. For example, a student can rent the ninth edition of "Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics" through Google Play for about $40 -- a fraction of the cost of purchasing the book in its traditional format. Rental periods and terms vary among vendors. Likewise, students may be able to pay less for physical textbooks by renting, rather than buying, from the campus bookstore or online marketplaces.

Subscribe to membership services.

Some textbook discounts are available through subscription-based services. Cengage, a well-known publisher, offers a subscription that costs about $70 to $120 for four months of unlimited access to digital course materials, which includes textbooks. Students paying for the higher tier gain access to all of Cengage's online homework platforms. Fellow publishing giant Pearson recently launched a monthly subscription model for e-books and study tools, which costs $9.99 monthly to access one digital textbook or $14.99 for access to more than 1,500 offerings. Such resources also include the flexibility of accessing textbooks through a mobile device, meaning busy students can read on the move.

Sell your books through buyback offers and e-commerce platforms.

Once the semester ends, students often trek back to the campus bookstore and sell off their used textbooks through buyback programs. While this route is convenient, students should know there are alternative marketplaces for textbooks that may still be in demand at higher prices than what bookstore buybacks tend to fetch. Students can sell textbooks on a variety of platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace, all popular e-commerce platforms. Large bookstores such as Barnes & Noble also offer textbook buyback programs.

Use an inclusive access program.

Some colleges participate in inclusive access programs, which make books available digitally at a reduced price to students on or before the first day of class, if a professor opts in. Students can either keep the digital textbook access at a discounted price, or decline and buy the textbook elsewhere. This program makes it easy for students and can help them cut costs, says Mike Hale, vice president of education for North America for VitalSource, an online textbook and materials provider. "They didn't have to search for it, they didn't have to buy it, it's just there," he says.

Buy and sell at optimal times.

The price of textbooks can vary widely depending on the time of year. Students can often score optimal savings by buying their books before classes begin when these texts are less in demand. "By buying early, the student has an opportunity to buy used course materials, when they're most freely available, and oftentimes are the cheapest," says Kaji, who encourages students to identify what books are needed for their classes early on. Waiting until the last minute to buy books may mean fewer used copies available, forcing students to turn to new products that command higher prices.

Look for colleges where textbook costs are included.

"We're seeing a small but growing number of institutions actually moving down the path of bundling all course materials into the price of tuition or as a separate fee," Kaji says. Adding the cost of textbooks into tuition and fees can help save students money in the long run, Kaji explains, because universities can negotiate better deals when buying such materials en masse. Though this tip may be more useful for prospective than current students, Kaji urges students to "be aware of how an institution is helping keep costs down."

Look for other ways to cut college costs.

Textbooks aren't the only additional college cost that can trip up students. Check out these common mistakes freshmen make to avoid spending unnecessarily and learn more about the different types of financial aid available to cut college costs. Want more tips? Follow U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter for more advice on paying for college.

How to cut college textbook costs

-- Buy digital or loose-leaf formats.

-- Consider older versions of texts.

-- Use open educational resources if available.

-- Find a student textbook exchange.

-- Purchase used books.

-- Check to see if your school has a bookseller discount.

-- Apply for textbook scholarships.

-- Use library materials.

-- Rent digital and physical textbooks.

-- Subscribe to membership services.

-- Sell your books through buyback offers and e-commerce platforms.

-- Use an inclusive access program.

-- Buy and sell at optimal times

-- Look for colleges where textbook costs are included.