| The ever rising cost of college textbooks is an issue | | | | these extras; however, they are forced to give more |
| with almost every university student. At the beginning | | | | money because of these extras. |
| of each semester, students have to spend hundreds | | | | Most publishers do not do anything about the high cost |
| to dollars to buy books. The question here is - Is there | | | | of college textbooks. Why would they? College books |
| any way that students can buy cheap books? | | | | are one of the most profitable sectors for the |
| A report by State Public Interest Research Groups in | | | | publishing industry. |
| 2005 found that an average student spent around | | | | Considering the fact that an average cost of a new |
| $900 every year on textbooks. The prices of books | | | | textbook is around $53 (some books can cost as high |
| have risen since then. | | | | as $200), what should a student do? There are |
| Overpriced | | | | several ways for a student to save on textbooks. |
| One of the main reasons why college textbooks are | | | | Saving On Books |
| so expensive is because they are overpriced. The | | | | Online books stores are growing popular, because |
| main culprits for this are the publishers, who quote high | | | | they offer cheap college textbooks. However, in order |
| prices. In fact, the US Department of Education's | | | | to save, you need to plan. The first thing you need to |
| Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance | | | | do is to get your hands on the syllabus. Professors are |
| admitted in 2007 that prices of college books were | | | | required to select their textbooks before the semester |
| kept artificially high even though there was a huge | | | | begins. If you have already planned to take a particular |
| demand from the buyers. | | | | class in the next semester, you can get in touch with |
| Market Controlled By Publishers | | | | the professor and find out which textbooks would be |
| Today, the market of college books is controlled by | | | | required. |
| suppliers. The publishers set the prices. Your college | | | | When you know which college textbooks would be |
| bookstore has no control. The publishers of college | | | | used, you can start searching for the books online. So, |
| textbooks are in the habit of bringing new editions quite | | | | when you shop before the semester starts, you can |
| frequently. Most students hesitate to buy old editions | | | | find good discounts and used copies. If there is not |
| fearing that they will miss out on something. In fact, | | | | much difference in the new and older edition, buy the |
| many professors list a new edition in their book list | | | | old edition. |
| every semester. Therefore, most students end up | | | | Another great way to save on college books is to buy |
| buying new books and thus pay more for college | | | | from friends. You can also borrow from the library or |
| books. | | | | share books with your friends. But remember to keep |
| Most textbooks are overpriced, because they come in | | | | your books in good condition, because you can resell |
| packages, which might include CDs and other | | | | them and invest that money in books for the next |
| supplementary materials. Most students do not require | | | | semester. |