Do I Really Need the Latest Edition of a Textbook?
The high price of college textbooks is well known. The commonly cited statistic claims that their prices have risen over 186% (about twice the rate of inflation) between 1986 and 2004, and there are a number of reasons for this substantial price hike. For example, until recent legislation changed circumstances, most professors were unaware of how much students were paying for the textbooks they were assigned. Time Magazine accurately described this phenomenon, in which professors require students to purchase textbooks for their classes while … Continue
Could Adopting An Open Source Textbook System Save Students Money?
The average college student will spend upwards of $900 this year on textbooks. For a community college student, this $900 may equal half of their tuition. For a public four year institution student, this may equal 20% of their tuition. With no end in sight for the continual rise of textbook prices, the U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) has taken a strong stand to find cheaper alternatives for struggling college students. … Continue
To Buy or To Rent, That is the Question…
With the astronomical price of buying new textbooks, thousands of college students are looking for alternative sources to either buy used or to rent textbooks on sites such as Amazon.com and Chegg.com. My first semester of college, I ended up buying some of my books used from the bookstore and some from online sites. Although I ended up getting my books for much less than I had planned to spend, at the end of the semester, I was stuck with about a dozen books that I knew I would never read again. Having little to no online auction … Continue
Do I Really Need the Latest Edition of a Textbook?
The high price of college textbooks is well known. The commonly cited statistic claims that their prices have risen over 186% (about twice the rate of inflation) between 1986 and 2004, and there are a number of reasons for this substantial price hike. For example, until recent legislation changed circumstances, most professors were unaware of how much students were paying for the textbooks they were assigned. Time Magazine accurately described this phenomenon, in which professors require students to purchase textbooks for their classes while … Continue
Find Cheap Textbooks
Try our BookWatch price comparison search engine to compare textbook prices from Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles, Half.com and Textbooks.com. Find the best deals on new, used or rental textbooks. Give our BookWatch tool at the bottom of this page a spin and … Continue
Recent Articles
Do I Really Need the Latest Edition of a Textbook?
The high price of college textbooks is well known. The commonly cited statistic claims that their prices have risen over 186% (about twice the rate of inflation) between 1986 and 2004, and there are a number of reasons for this substantial price … Continue
To Buy or To Rent, That is the Question…
With the astronomical price of buying new textbooks, thousands of college students are looking for alternative sources to either buy used or to rent textbooks on sites such as Amazon.com and Chegg.com. My first semester of college, I ended up buying … Continue
Know Your University’s Textbook Refund Policy
You’ve just spent $160 on a Biology textbook for the upcoming Spring semester. However, two weeks into the semester, you realize Biology is not the course for you and you immediately fill out a “drop” form. You head on over to the bookstore to … Continue
The Story Behind the High Cost of Textbooks
Here’s a question any college student could probably answer: What category of items have increased in price at nearly quadruple the rate of most finished goods? If you guessed “textbooks,” you’re right! Averaging $900 per year and adding 20% … Continue
Returning Your Rented Textbooks? Be Sure to Follow These Guidelines
Renting textbooks is becoming a booming industry for college students looking to save money at the beginning of each semester. Buying textbooks for classes often leaves students paying hundreds of dollars for overpriced books they may crack only once … Continue
Tired of Paying for a Book You Will Barely Use? Buy per Chapter
Any college student can adamantly describe their frustration to learn that they’ve just paid $90 for a textbook in which they will only be using chapters 5, 6, and 7. While there are many professors that do use material from every chapter in a … Continue
Pros and Cons of Purchasing Digital Copies of College Textbooks
With the technological advancements of Kindles, iPads, and other e-readers, many foreshadow that textbooks will eventually be offered mainly as digital copies. With the invention of such devices, students can simply download a digital copy of their … Continue
Could Adopting An Open Source Textbook System Save Students Money?
The average college student will spend upwards of $900 this year on textbooks. For a community college student, this $900 may equal half of their tuition. For a public four year institution student, this may equal 20% of their tuition. With no end in … Continue
Recent Comments