REPORT: Open Textbooks: The Billion-Dollar Solution | Student PIRGs

"Today, a report released by the Student PIRGs shows that open textbooks – an alternative to the traditional textbook – have the potential to save students more than a billion dollars each year in textbook costs. Over the past few decades, college textbook prices have increased 812% - that’s more than three times the rate of inflation. The College Board suggests students budget more than $1200 for textbooks and supplies each year. 'For students and families already struggling to afford a higher education, that’s simply too much,' said Ethan Senack, Higher Education Advocate for the Student PIRGs. The increase in used textbook markets, rental programs, and e-textbooks has saved students some money up front, but the price of these options is determined by the ever-increasing cost of a new print edition – meaning they will never be enough to solve the problem ..."