The average college student spends $285 on course materials each academic year, with some individual textbooks costing as much as $400. While the textbook publishing industry remains lucrative, with a value of $3.18 billion, books are a financial hurdle for students struggling with rising tuition, housing costs and other fees. The Education Data Initiative found that 65% of college students reported skipping buying textbooks because of high prices, and 25% said they’ve taken on extra work shifts or skipped meals to afford these materials.
As textbook prices increase at nearly three times the national rate of inflation, we need to ask if these costs are necessary in today’s digitized world. With eBooks becoming more widely available — and often 50% cheaper than printed versions — and open educational resources providing high-quality, free content, it is time for professors to rethink how much they rely on traditional printed textbooks.
The spike in textbook prices is not just a minor inconvenience — it’s forcing students to make difficult choices about their education and well-being. The release of new editions, often with only superficial changes, is driving up costs unnecessarily. According to a study done by the College Board, updated versions of books are 58% more expensive than older versions and typically don’t exhibit changes that are large enough to justify this increase. Yet, professors may require students to buy the latest editions.
What’s worse is that these materials often aren’t used consistently in class. Speaking from personal experience, I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on textbooks that were assigned as supplemental readings or only referenced occasionally in lectures. Like many students, I’m left wondering whether these purchases are really necessary or if they are just another reason to spend money without any justifiable benefit.
Looking at these conditions, it becomes clear: Relying on printed textbooks is not only a cumbersome financial burden, but also an unnecessary one. The rise of technology has drastically changed the landscape of learning. There are dozens of new methods for how information can be delivered to students. Traditional textbooks are no longer the only way for students to engage with course material.
One of the most promising solutions to the textbook affordability crisis is the adoption of open educational resources. The site offers free or low-cost learning and research materials. The information is available to the public under an open license, allowing anyone to use and redistribute its sources. They also provided free access to an online textbook library with materials covering a wide variety of topics. The platform makes it possible for professors to put together a set of course materials that is both comprehensive and up-to-date.
As an economics major, I’ve often scraped together more than $100 for a large textbook that my professors told me was essential. Throughout the semester, I rarely used it, and when I did, it was only for supplemental reading that I chose to do of my own accord. After exploring the OER website, I found that for the majority of the economics courses that I’ve taken here, there’s a related textbook available for free. The fundamentals of economics don’t change from one book to another — they’re universal. So why should I be forced to buy overpriced books when there are free resources available elsewhere?
In addition to OER, other online resources can supplement or even replace traditional textbooks. For certain subjects, academic papers, news articles and even some multimedia content can be more timely and relevant than chapters from a textbook. They give students a more dynamic way to work with course material. Professors can incorporate these free resources into their syllabi to create a teaching environment that reflects current events and the latest research without placing any additional costs on their students.
A Virginia Tidewater Community College study proves that these new open models of learning can work. In 2013, the school launched what they call their “Z-Degree Program,” where “Z” stands for zero textbooks. The program uses OER rather than traditional textbook learning. Linda Williams, professor of business administration at TCC and leader of the project, claims that since starting the program, they’ve seen noticeable improvements in student success and retention rates.
“What we have found from the data from two years in pilot is that we have a reduction in the number of students who drop the course, we find that they withdraw at a lower percentage than the non-Z counterparts, and they have succeeded at a rate equal to or slightly better than the non-Z counterpart classes,” Williams said in response to the results.
Some argue that textbooks give students a leg up in the classroom because they provide additional information beyond what’s covered during lectures. Professors often claim that while textbooks might not be mandatory, they offer valuable insights for those who want a more in-depth understanding of a subject. When framed in this way, books don’t sound very optional. Students who can afford them get extra insights, while those who can’t are left behind, creating an unfair divide in the classroom.
This division is a reason to explore other, attainable solutions. If textbooks are no longer required or are replaced by free alternatives — either from OER or sources like news and academic journals — the financial dissonance between those who can afford them and those who can’t will disappear. In the classroom, students should be focused on learning, not on whether or not they can afford the extra materials. By shifting their teaching platforms to use more accessible digital content, professors can still offer in-depth resources while ensuring students will be free of financial burdens.
The transition to OER and online sources comes with challenges. Professors who have relied on traditional textbooks for years may feel uncertain about how to access or incorporate digital resources into their curriculum. Others might resist this change, questioning whether free materials can match the quality or depth of the textbooks they’ve used throughout their careers.
While these concerns are valid, this is not a call to abandon printed books altogether. I love to sit down and read a physical book — but not a textbook that I was forced to pay for that I only open a couple of times per semester. The transition to OER will take time, especially for niche topics where an effective free resource may not be available yet. However, professors should still explore other options. After all, aren’t schools designed to serve students?
By embracing open educational resources and other online content, educators can create a more inclusive and affordable academic environment without sacrificing quality. It’s time for universities to prioritize student needs and implement solutions that can make higher education more accessible to everyone.
Téa Santoro is an Opinion Analyst studying economics. She writes about how financial trends impact students’ experiences and can be reached at aristea@umich.edu.
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