If you or someone you know has recently thought about attending college then you may already know a little bit about the high costs of textbooks. College and university textbooks are one of the staples of a higher education – without them and similar materials, you won’t be learning much. So why do they cost so much if they’re such a necessity, and is there anything that can be done about it by the schools, the government, and the students themselves?
The growing cost of attending college overall is steadily increasing, and textbooks are no different. Few people know or understand the process behind creating university textbooks, only the ramifications of the extra expense and the burden it adds to higher education.
Students Pay High Price for College Textbooks
On average, a student attending a four year college or university now pays roughly 0 just for their textbooks. Multiplied by all four years, this expense quickly adds up, especially since this average cost increased 0 over the last five years, in addition to increases in all of the other costs associated with higher learning. Just looking at the cost of college textbooks for sale can cause anxiety for many students. The increases in tuition, fees and textbook prices mean they must earn more money at a summer job, or seek additional financial aid.
The Growing Cost of College Textbooks
Over the past two decades, the cost of textbooks has been on the rise with an average increase of six percent each and every year. In comparison to inflation in general around the country, for example, in the years 1986 to 2004 the increase rate for college textbooks was a whopping 240 percent compared to the nation’s 72 percent inflation rate.
Looking at the breakdown of textbook costs puts into perspective who is benefiting the most from high textbook costs and who could exercise some control over the rising expense.
The National Association of College Stores’ industry report says costs are allocated as follows: one percent for freight costs, four percent for the store’s income, seven percent for the publisher, twelve percent for the author of the book, seventeen percent for the store’s expenses, and the remaining fifty-nine percent for publishing expenses. Publishing expenses make up the greatest portion of a college textbook’s final price and without some positive change in the industry, prices are only sure to keep rising.
Dealing with the Expense of University Textbooks
The United States government’s accounting office (The GAO), has been delving into the incredibly high cost of college textbooks and why prices have been on the rise at such an alarming rate. They have discovered that much of the increase lies with product development. Adding supplemental learning materials like CD ROMs, which are frequently requested by professors, along with countless revisions contribute greatly toward the often unaffordable prices of textbooks.
Some state governments have helped by exempting textbooks from sales tax. There is also work to stop bundling of textbooks with supplements. Many times those supplements are not really needed, but the bundling increases the cost to students. There is current on-going work on what can be done at a government level to decrease textbook expense.
To ensure the cost of textbooks stay at a manageable level, both professors and students should be willing to do their respective parts. It’s a fact that a large part of rising textbook costs can be attributed to professors and instructors making frequent requests for revisions and additions, both of which contribute to higher costs. Making it a point to think of the costs for students first, professors should plan their course materials accordingly.Students should look into the growing number of companies that can offer access to a textbook online. As more books become available, this could help keep down costs.
Some universities place copies of textbooks in the library so they can be used there instead of being purchased. Some schools and businesses are offering a rental system for textbooks. This allows students to rent instead of buying the books and can saves a significant amount of money.
Students can also be resourceful. They can find university textbooks for sale in a variety of places, other than the campus store. They can share or borrow books from friends, or look online for used texts.
The increasing price of textbooks is definitely a real problem that needs a viable solution. But, if everyone works together, each doing their part, more people would be able to afford a higher education without needlessly worrying about how they will pay for their textbooks.
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