Free Textbooks? NJIT’s Open and Affordable Textbook Initiative – The Vector – NJIT's Student Newspaper

"Among the other stresses associated with a new semester, such as adjusting to new classes and making last minute schedule changes, comes the ubiquitous debate regarding textbook acquisition. Should I buy it or rent it? Can I find it online? Do I even need the textbook for this class? This debate hinges on the central issue regarding textbooks: their cost. A study conducted by the College Board in 2013 found that the average undergraduate student’s budget for books and related supplies exceeds $1,200 per year. In addition, the United States Government Accountability Office, in a 2013 report to Congressional Committees regarding student accessibility to college textbooks, found that between 2002 and 2012, the cost of college textbooks increased by 82%. This is nearly three times the rate of inflation during that same time period."