Lori Meadows
Textbooks are a necessity for students, but they can be costly and inaccessible. In the United States, the responsibility for providing and paying for textbooks varies across states and educational levels. While some states and schools cover the cost of textbooks as part of public education, others pass the expense on to students and their families. This disparity has sparked debates about the accessibility and quality of education, with some arguing that the high cost of textbooks creates a financial burden and hinders equal opportunities for learning. The average college student in the US spends between $628 and $1,471 per year on textbooks, and prices continue to rise due to a lack of competition among publishers. This has led to a rise in textbook piracy, with 22% of students downloading free textbooks in 2019. The issue of textbook affordability is complex and multifaceted, and it remains a challenge for students, educators, and policymakers alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of States that require students to pay for textbooks | 8 out of 50 |
| States that require students to pay for textbooks | Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| Average textbook cost | $80 to $150 |
| Average annual spending on textbooks | $628 to $1,471 |
| Average college tuition fees | $103,000 for four years for in-state students and $180,000 for out-of-state students |
| Percentage of students who downloaded textbooks from a free website | 22% |
| Percentage of students who opted out of purchasing textbooks due to the price | 65% |
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What You'll Learn
Textbook rental fees in Indiana
Indiana has been one of the eight states that charged parents for their child's textbooks in public schools. Textbook rental fees in Indiana cost parents on average about $100 per child. However, fees at some schools escalated into the hundreds of dollars per student as course materials transitioned from traditional books to technology-centered resources like iPads and Chromebooks.
In 2014, Indiana's state superintendent Glenda Ritz proposed a budget of $70 million to pay for textbooks for every Indiana student. In 2020, Charles A. Beard Memorial Schools, a small district of 1,100 students east of Indianapolis, eliminated textbook and material fees.
In 2023, Indiana passed a law banning schools from charging families for curricular materials, including textbooks, iPads, and Chromebooks. The state allocated $160 million in the new state budget to eliminate textbook and curriculum fees, starting with the 2023-24 academic year. While the new law was celebrated by state officials, school districts are still unsure about what they need to cover.
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Free textbooks in 42 states
In the United States, public school students in 42 states are not charged for textbooks in public K-12 schools. However, eight states, including Indiana, do charge students for textbooks. In these states, students or their parents may be faced with bills of hundreds of dollars to cover the cost of textbooks.
While public school students in most states are provided with free textbooks, the same cannot be said for college students. The cost of textbooks for a single academic year can be thousands of dollars, and students have to bear this cost every semester as courses change. However, several colleges have recognized the financial burden this places on students and have introduced programs to cover the cost of textbooks for their students. For example, Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, charges a flat fee each semester for textbook rentals, while Fayetteville State in North Carolina covers the cost of required books over $25. Similarly, Illinois College incorporates textbook expenses into tuition fees, and Maryville University in Missouri boasts that its textbook and laptop rental program saves students $7300 over four years.
In addition to colleges, several websites offer free textbooks for college students. These include the Open Textbook Library, which offers textbooks in subjects such as humanities, computer science, journalism, and medicine; Bookboon, which provides textbooks written by top lecturers from leading universities; and ScholarWorks, which offers a wide range of free college textbooks published by scholars.
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$68.95 $120
Tax exemption on textbooks
In the United States, K-12 students do not typically pay for textbooks directly. While some states and districts charge students for textbooks, they are not the norm. Textbooks are generally provided for free as part of the public education system, though this can result in books being reused and falling into disrepair.
At the college level, textbooks can cost thousands of dollars per year, and students usually must purchase them themselves. However, some colleges cover the cost of textbooks by including them in tuition fees or offering rental programs.
To alleviate the financial burden on students, 36 states and Puerto Rico have implemented some form of sales tax exemption for college textbooks and course materials. These exemptions vary by state and may depend on factors such as the seller, the format of the textbook, and the type of educational institution. For example, in some states, textbooks are exempt from sales tax when sold by educational institutions or designated bookstores, while other states exempt only digital textbooks or those below a certain price point.
Organizations like the National Association of College Stores (NACS) advocate for sales tax exemptions on college textbooks and equitable tax collection practices. They argue that sales tax on textbooks is an unnecessary burden on students already struggling with education costs and that exemptions can make course materials more affordable.
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High school textbook costs
In the United States, public school students are generally not required to pay for textbooks. While some states and districts may charge students for textbooks, they are not the norm. Out of 50 states, 42 states do not charge students for textbooks in public schools, while 8 states do. Indiana, for instance, charges textbook rent in public schools.
The cost of textbooks for high school students varies depending on the subject and grade level. Estimates suggest that the average high school student needs around 19.9 textbooks per semester or 39.8 books for a full school year. The cost of new textbooks for a high school student for a year can range from $2,639.26 to $3,533.84. However, it is estimated that the average student spends between $910 and $1,300 on textbooks, indicating that a significant portion of textbooks are purchased second-hand.
The cost of textbooks can be a significant financial burden for students and their families. Textbooks for certain subjects tend to be more expensive than others. For example, math and social studies textbooks are among the most expensive, with high school-level books costing around $86.14 and $88.79, respectively. On the other hand, reading and science textbooks are relatively less expensive, with high school-level books costing approximately $66.31 and $77.64, respectively.
To address the financial burden of textbook costs, some colleges and universities are taking steps to cover the cost of textbooks for their students. This can be in the form of inclusive access programs, where the cost of textbooks is included in the tuition fees, or through textbook rental programs where students can borrow the required textbooks for free. Additionally, the increased use of ebooks and open educational resources (OERs) has helped to reduce the cost of textbooks for students.
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College textbook costs
In the United States, K-12 students generally do not pay for textbooks, although there are some states and districts that charge for them. Indiana, for instance, charges textbook rent in public K-12 schools. However, students typically start paying for textbooks once they enter college.
The cost of college textbooks has been increasing over the years, and they can take up a significant portion of a college student's budget. Textbooks can sometimes be more expensive than college tuition, particularly at community colleges. The average college student spends $174 on new, printed textbooks for the year, with the average cost of course materials for an academic year being $285. The average postsecondary student spends $1,212 annually on books and supplies. Hard copy books can cost as much as $400, with an average price range of $100 to $150.
However, there has been a continuous decline in the amount spent on textbooks in recent years, attributed to the growing use of digital materials and higher spending on technology. The use of ebooks, for instance, has reduced the cost to the consumer, as an ebook can be up to 50% less expensive than its hard copy counterpart. Students have also been downloading free materials online, with the percentage of students doing so doubling in one year to 26% in Spring 2020. Additionally, some colleges are helping to reduce the financial burden by covering the costs of textbooks. Certain colleges include course materials with tuition, while others charge a separate fee.
Students have several options to reduce their spending on textbooks. They can purchase new or used printed textbooks, rent books, or buy limited or unlimited access to e-books. Subscription-based programs also offer textbook discounts, with fixed prices allowing unlimited access to course materials. Students can also look for free online textbooks, which often do not have an expiration date.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the state and the school district. 42 states don't charge students for textbooks in public K-12 schools, but 8 others do. In some states, such as Indiana, students are charged textbook rental fees in public K-12 schools.
College textbooks are often not included in tuition fees and can cost students between $628 and $1,471 per year. However, some colleges cover textbook costs for their students, and scholarships may also be available for this purpose.
While I cannot find information on states that provide free textbooks for college students, some states, such as Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, have programs or colleges that cover the cost of textbooks for their students.
Students can sometimes obtain their textbooks for free through piracy, although this is illegal. Scholarships may also cover the cost of textbooks.
This depends on the state and the type of institution. For example, in Arizona, most textbooks are taxable, but textbooks required by any state university or community college are exempt from sales tax. In contrast, California and Texas consider textbooks taxable without any specified exemptions.
