Study says students spend less per year on textbooks
Students are spending less annually on textbooks, according to a Jan. 13 Student Watch study conducted by OnCampus Research.
Ashley Winslow, a junior public health major, said she saw this trend while purchasing her textbooks at Syracuse University during the last few years.
‘I haven’t spent more than probably $300 per semester, compared to freshmen year when I spent $800 on just one semester,’ she said.
Students currently spend an estimated $655 annually on textbooks. This marks a decrease from an estimated $667 two years ago and $702 four years ago, according to the study.
Kathleen Bradley, the text and general book division manager at the SU Bookstore in the Schine Student Center, said professors are acknowledging high textbook prices.
‘More and more faculty members are becoming aware of the cost of textbooks,’ she said. ‘In the past, faculty members didn’t pay attention to how expensive textbooks were.’
In addition to cost-effective choices in terms of required materials, professors are using copyright readers, or internally printed textbooks that are custom edited for SU. These custom editions generally curb textbook costs because one edited book may replace several other textbooks, Bradley said.
Lindsey Damberg, a sophomore public health major, found the decrease in estimated textbook costs surprising because she continuously spends a great deal on books.
‘Either way, it’s expensive for books, especially when you’re paying to go to school,’ Damberg said.
However, Bradley said that to address high textbook costs, the SU bookstore has increased rental options.
In addition, guaranteed buyback options, which are available when faculty members commit to using the same texts during the following semester, are effective for curbing costs, Bradley said.
‘That’s the best deal for students,’ said Bradley, who added that students can also make money if they sell previously used textbooks back.
SUB also offers electronic texts, but Bradley said the option has not yet gained popularity. Students’ efforts to minimize textbook costs are varied.
‘I haven’t rented a book yet, but I always try to buy used over new,’ Winslow said. ‘It’s probably bad, but I think once I didn’t buy a textbook for a class because I figured I wouldn’t use it. I would use the notes more. And I actually didn’t need the book.’
Other students choose to trade textbooks or sell textbooks to friends.
‘You’re probably not going to get the most money doing it that way, but it’s easier,’ said Jared Schapiro, an undecided sophomore in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
OnCampus Research is a division of the National Association of College Stores, which represents more than 3,100 college retailers.
Published on January 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm
