A large portion of University of Oregon students have the burden of paying for not only tuition, room and board and other miscellaneous university fees, but on top of that, textbooks. Even if some of these costs are covered by financial aid, some of the books we are paying for are borderline unaffordable. And even worse, once that class is over, we will never pick them up again.
I have spent a large sum of money on textbooks, ranging from $15 to over $250 for a single book. Some of these have been physical copies while others have been online purchases. Some classes I have taken required up to four books just for that one course. Many of these books I’ve bought I never used again after that class, and some of them I never even had to read.
I can understand the need for books for some courses, such as ones for your major, making it obligatory to purchase a textbook, however, I believe that if professors can provide required readings for students rather than forcing them to pay outrageous prices on books, that is the better option financially for students.
Melanie Hanson, a research analyst for the Education Data Initiative, explained the real cost of attending public universities in the U.S. She writes, “The average postsecondary student (any student attending school after high school) spends between $1,212 annually for books and supplies as of the 2022-2023 academic year… Hard copy books can cost as much as $400, with an average price between $100 and $150.”
This same study shows us that there is an average of 6% increase in cost every year for textbooks, which doubles the price of a textbook every 11 years.
UO second-year Kaitlin McDaid agreed that textbooks are overpriced and, depending on the class, might rarely be used.
“My textbooks have never seemed outrageously expensive, but for how much I end up using them, they’re not worth it. None of them have been related to my major either, so buying them seems pointless,” McDaid said.
“I never use them after the class is over,” McDaid said. “I barely even use them during the course. They just end up sitting on a shelf in my parents’ house and collecting dust.”
I had a similar experience to McDaid. I purchased ten books/textbooks for my prerequisite classes that I haven’t opened since. It felt like a major waste of my money that could’ve been saved for other school expenses.
Nicholas Stepp, a UO second-year, explained that many of his textbook purchases have left him stressed and frustrated, stressing the negative effects our current reading system may have on low-income students
Stepp said, “Everyone knows American colleges aren’t cheap and prioritize profit. Because of this, why aren’t there more discounts or resources to get low-income students the materials they need?”
“In the case of materials needed for class, I would want classes/professors to provide free readings, sections from textbooks or tools instead of making the student pay for those resources,” Stepp said.
There is a lot of truth in how stressful obligatory class purchases can be; buying textbooks is an inconvenience to some but can also be a major burden for others. Many students coming from low-income households and those who did not receive financial aid tend to struggle more with these high textbook prices.
The price of textbooks not only keeps college students from buying these materials and gaining their educational benefits but is another contributing factor to college debt and financial insecurity. Another issue is that not only are the prices of textbooks rising, but their resale value is dropping.
To ease the financial burden, students can resell old textbooks to stores like The Duck Store or wherever else they purchased them from, try to find cheaper options on Amazon or buy books that other students are reselling.
Another resource worth mentioning, is the Basic Needs Program’s textbook subsidy. This subsidy supports students at the University of Oregon with textbook purchases along with other academic materials needed for their classes during each academic term. This program can cover up to about $150 in textbook costs.
Also, the Women’s Center Aid Program, which is open to every student on campus, offers book aid up to $50, as long as they are returned by the end of the term. Students can also check the UO library before making any textbook purchases.
At the end of the day, the best option is for professors to post sections of required readings on Canvas. This in itself would make a major difference for students who are struggling to pay these high prices. Some textbooks must be bought, but instructors should prioritize offering free resources for students.
