Resources
Case Studies
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University of Colorado Boulder
In fall 2023, CU Boulder launched the Cascading Access model that provides students a choice of a low cost Equitable Access program or Inclusive Access program. CU Boulder reported a combined 96% student participation rate in both programs and a cost savings of 16% compared to fall 2022 .
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Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville reported more than $350,000 in student savings during the first year of their Inclusive Access program. The savings breakdown was $14,045 in Spring 2021 (260 students), $91,068 in Summer 2021 (3,279 students), and $252,884 in Fall 2021 (5,501 students).
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Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Copiah-Lincoln Community College launched their Inclusive Access program in 2012. The program launched with 14 courses and has since grown to include 144 courses. Students save between 51% to 82% off traditional print/packaged materials through the IA program.
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San Diego State University
SDSU scaled up from Inclusive Access to Equitable Access in fall 2022. Since then, students have saved an estimated $11 million (savings accumulated between the fall 2022 to fall 2023 time period). Students saved $4 million in fall 2023 alone. An estimated 78% of students opt to remain in the program (70% in fall 2022, 74% in spring 2023). SDSU has worked to further lower the cost of its EA program by encouraging use of OER and digital materials, as well as promoting library efforts to purchase unlimited use licenses.
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
In Spring 2020, The University of Nevada, Las Vegas piloted their Inclusive Access program with 1 section. The program has since grown, saving students over $2 million since its launch (an average of 30% on the cost of course materials). In Fall 2023 alone, the program saved UNLV students $451,419, and a student satisfaction survey found 80% of students agreed that having access to their materials on the first day of class helped their performance in class and 68% said that the program provided them more affordable course materials. Students report convenience and affordability as the primary benefits of the program.
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Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly reported an estimated savings of $2.2 million ($112.80 per student) in a single term (fall 2023) based on the previous year’s average cost of all required materials per student. Their affordable access program allows undergraduate students taking 7 or more credits pay a flat rate of $250 per term to receive all required materials for all classes they are enrolled in. The fee is $150 for graduate students and undergraduates taking 6 or fewer credits.
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California State University Northridge
CSUN already has in place an existing program dating to 2017 (known as MCDA) that leverages an Inclusive Access model to reduce the cost of digital materials for specific courses. As of 2020-2021, there were 327 sections participating. CSUN is now moving into Equitable Access program dubbed CSUN Ready. A survey of MCDA participants found 70% of students successfully accessed their materials in the first week of class and 70% felt more prepared for the
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CSU-Dominguez Hills
In Fall 2019, CSU-Dominguez Hills offered an Inclusive Access program that was available in 8 courses and helped 315 students secure $7,914 in savings on course materials. By Fall 2021, the Inclusive Access program had expanded to 154 courses and helped 4,230 students secure $763,192 in savings on course materials.
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CSU Fresno
In Spring 2018, CSU-Fresno offered an Inclusive Access program that was available in 36 course sections and helped students secure $110,000 in savings on course materials. By Fall 2020, the Inclusive Access program had expanded to 992 course sections and helped students secure more than $1.2 million in savings on course materials to date.
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Florida International University
In Fall 2021, FIU launched the Panther Book Pack on campus, and the program saved students nearly $3.3 million in just the first term. Participating students gave overwhelmingly positive feedback about the program, and 80% said they were likely to recommend the program to fellow students.
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Youngstown State University, Muskingum University, and Other Ohio Institutions
15 Ohio institutions work with one course materials provider to offer an affordable access program. In the 2022-2023 school year, students at just these 15 Ohio institutions saved almost $10 million (an average of 30%) on course materials through these affordable access programs. In fall 2023, 70% of the Ohio students that participate in these access programs said the course materials were more affordable and 73% said that having access to their course materials on the first day of class helped their performance in class.
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Eastern Kentucky University
Following the 2021 launch of the equitable access solution EKU BookSmart, the university saw an enrollment increase of 8% among first-time freshmen – the only public four-year institution in the state that saw a year-over-year increase. BookSmart is an important tool for recruitment and retention. “For students to be able to come to EKU and not worry about where they’ll get the money to pay for their textbooks and their resources is a massive impact on their ability to be successful,” said EKU’s Chief Auxiliary Services Officer.
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Kentucky Community & Technical College System
Over the last decade, the First Day inclusive access solution at Kentucky Community and Technical College System has generated a cumulative $42.5M in student savings and saved students an average of $2.7M per term. The program also made it easy and convenient for students, who receive their digital course materials automatically and can access them anytime, anywhere on their devices.
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Onondaga Community College
The inclusive access solution launched in fall 2019 at Onondaga Community College quickly achieved its objectives: students saved an average of 30% on course materials and faculty saw a big increase in preparation. One professor said, “We went from less than half our students having their material by the start of classes to 75 - 80% of students.”
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Campbell University
Since fall 2019, Camel Direct, an inclusive access solution, has helped Campbell students achieve academic success by providing timely access to essential learning materials. In the first semester alone, participating students saved an average of 65% on course materials and 90% were more prepared on the first day of classes.
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University of Houston
The University of Houston rolled out a new program this school year that has saved students more than $10 million on books. The Cougar Textbook Access Program provides all UH undergrads with their books before class begins. UH began piloting CTAP in spring 2022 for select courses. That semester students in those participating classes saved $2.9 million on books and course materials.
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Minneapolis College
The Minnesota State Bookstore Collaborative Services group of stores saved students $11.6 million via Inclusive Access digital course material programs across six of our two-year colleges in a seven-year span of the program.