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Cumberlands Students Saved $6.3M Through Free Textbook Program
University of the Cumberlands, 1/14/26: Through its One Price Promise initiative, University of the Cumberlands provides free required textbooks to 100% of students, eliminating course material costs and ensuring day-one access. During the 2024–2025 academic year alone, students saved an estimated $6.3 million.
Ohio State libraries leading charge for affordable textbooks
Ohio State University, 11/12/25: Through its CarmenBooks program, Ohio State University Libraries is helping ensure students receive their required course materials on day one at significantly reduced pricing. Program participation increased by 80% this year, with more than 142,000 titles delivered and over $7 million in student savings. By partnering with faculty to secure lower-cost digital materials and publisher tools, Ohio State is strengthening affordability and improving access from the start of the semester.
UT Libraries and VolBooks Partner to Save Students Money and Time
University of Tennessee, 10/28/25: VolBooks’ Total Access program offers undergraduates one flat fee per term for all required course materials. VolBooks and the UT Libraries have created a partnership to help make course materials more affordable to our students. UT Libraries and VolBooks have further streamlined the process through which students access free and low-cost course materials — saving students time, as well as money.
The SDSU Library and Textbooks: Still Saving After All These Years
San Diego State University, 9/23/25: Through sustained collaboration among the SDSU Library, bookstore, ITS, and faculty, the estimated average cost of textbooks and course materials for undergraduates has fallen from $1,746 in 2016/17 to $970 in 2025/26 — a 45% savings. Since 2022, these efforts have saved students more than $28 million.
UT Co-op Reaffirms Commitment to Student Affordability With Course Materials Scholarship Extension
University of Texas, 8/29/25: The University Co-op is expanding its Course Materials Scholarship to further support affordability and student success at UT Austin. The scholarship complements UT’s affordability initiatives — including the Texas Advance Commitment, UT for Me – Powered by Dell Scholars, and the Longhorn Textbook Access (LTA) program — which offers discounted digital textbooks on or before the first day of class. Combined with Co-op scholarships, many students can cover the full cost of required materials. Since launch, LTA has saved students nearly $5 million, with 1,238 courses participating in 2024–25.
The Textbook Affordability at Ball State (TABS) program continues to make textbooks more affordable for students
Ball State University, 8/22/25: Ball State’s Textbook Affordability at Ball State (TABS) initiative and new First Day Course Access program are helping ensure students receive required materials at significantly reduced costs. Through First Day, students are billed $22.75 per credit hour for access to all required textbooks and digital materials, with the ability to opt out each semester. By pairing course-level affordability through TABS with institution-wide Course Access, Ball State is lowering barriers, improving day-one readiness, and strengthening student success.
Montana State University library, bookstore saving students millions in textbook costs
Montana State University, 8/12/25: Thanks to years of hard work to keep costs down, Montana State University students are paying less for textbooks than their peers at many other universities. Efforts led by the MSU Library and Bookstore have saved Bobcat students millions of dollars in textbook costs over the last six years, according to Christina Trunnell, assistant dean of the MSU Library.
Colorado State University Documents Course Material Affordability Savings
Colorado State University, 7/25: Colorado State University bookstore course materials affordability efforts to keep textbook prices as low as possible. are paying off according to new data. Thanks to their affordability programs, CSU students save nearly $3 million every academic year! Textbook prices at the CSU Bookstore have steadily dropped over the past decade.
Warhawk Bundle continues to save money for ULM students
University of Louisiana Monroe, 6/27/25: Now in its third academic year, ULM’s Warhawk Bundle Total Access program continues to deliver significant savings and day-one access to required course materials. Students saved an estimated $1.39 million in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 alone — an average savings of 35% — bringing total savings since launch to nearly $3 million.
New U of U textbook program aims to save students money
KSL NewsRadio, 6/2/25: With the Day 1 Book Access Program, undergraduate students will only have to pay $259 per semester for all their textbooks. Danny Rosas-Salas, a U of U student, said it would keep him on track during the semester because he won’t need to order his books online and wait for them to arrive in the mail. Rosas-Salas also said this new program would save him time and money in the long run.
Crafting solutions: CSU Bookstore course materials whiz leverages expertise for students
Colorado State University, 6/2/25: According to Kaiser, the CSU Bookstore saves students more than $1 million each semester on course materials. The Day One Access program, which provides students with digital course materials on or before the first day of class each semester, is largely responsible for this advantage.
UHV to launch textbook affordability program
University of Houston–Victoria, 5/28/25: Beginning Fall 2025, UHV will implement its Campus Textbook Access Program, a Course Access model designed to provide all enrolled students with required materials by the first day of class at a flat-rate, tuition-billed cost. University leaders project the program will save students more than $1 million in the upcoming academic year, building on early pilot savings of more than $226,000.
Bronco Shop recognized for success of its digital course materials program
Boise State University, 4/29/25: The Boise State Bronco Shop at Boise State University was recently awarded the Excellence in Course Materials Award at the Independent College Bookstore Association conference. The award recognizes the Bronco Shop's affordable access course materials programs, which have saved students over $6 million on course materials since 2019.
Report: Inclusive-Access Models as a Lever for Student Success
Inside Higher Ed, 4/28/25: Tyton Partners researchers advocate for colleges and universities to adopt affordable access programs for course materials to reduce students’ cost of attendance. Opt-out models are particularly effective, according to the data, resulting in better student participation and outcomes, especially for first-generation and underrepresented students.
A textbook case on how one university is saving students $10 million
University Business: 8/6/24: The University of Houston enters the second year of its textbook access program following the huge fanfare it gained last fall. The Cougar Textbook Access Program provides student with a $299 flat rate for all course materials well before the first day of class.
College Community Rallies Against DOE Effort that Would Upend Inclusive Access Programs
Publishers Weekly, 6/10/24: The college instructional materials community is in the finals stages of trying to fight off a plan by the Department of Education to change rules that have made it easier, and cheaper, for students to buy course materials.
As Course Materials Prices Drop, Dept. of Ed Proposes a Risky Rule Change
The Illusion of More, 4/16/24: Today, more than 1,900 schools participate in access programs whereby Title IV funds (grants and loans) are used to pay for required course materials as part of a student’s tuition.
NC State considers equitable access program for course materials
Technician, 2/20/2024: As digital coursework has become increasingly popular in universities, the course materials transition group at NC State, consisting of student representatives, faculty representatives, business representatives and administrative representatives, has been exploring inclusive versus equitable access digital course material models.
Biden Administration's Shift In Textbook Procurement Policies Sparks Debate And Divergent Perspectives
University Herald, 1/30/2024: The landscape of higher education has long been intertwined with the challenges of textbook affordability.
Biden Administration Looks to Clamp Down on Inclusive Access
Inside Higher Ed, 1/29/2024: For nearly a decade, universities have been able to automatically charge students for books and supplies, creating a system the Education Department says lacks transparency.
Course material accessibility leads to different levels of success
The Minnesota Daily, 1/26/2024: Some students say online course materials make learning content easier, while others say it creates an unfair advantage.