Inclusive Access — Savings or Spin?

"Since Inclusive Access content is digital and and access is usually temporary, the price is typically lower than a new print textbook. However, the discount is much smaller when compared to digital textbook prices. Plus, Inclusive Access can be more expensive than used books or print rentals, and there’s no way to share or borrow copies. Inclusive Access may save money for students who normally buy new print textbooks, but it can cost other students more.

Institutions negotiate the price of Inclusive Access content with publishers, so students at some schools will pay more than others for the same exact content. Many institutional discounts are also based on a national list price, which can increase at any time. A 20% discount means a lot less if prices are going to double...."