The hidden cost of education: Textbook inflation poses financial burden for students - thecrite.com

" ... According to a report published by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) early this year, “Over the past decade, college textbook prices have increased by 82%, or at three times the rate of inflation. Textbooks are one of the largest out-of-pocket expenses for students and families trying to afford college every year.” The report estimates that students, on average, spend $1,200 on books a year, which cumulatively amounts to 14 percent of tuition in a four-year degree program ... For some students, finding alternative sources still remains an unavailable option. According to the report, 65 percent of students surveyed claimed they have opted out of buying textbooks due to the price. Of the 65 percent of students going without textbooks, 94 percent of them claimed they suffered academically due to the lack of resources available to them otherwise.  The report issued by PIRG goes on to advocate for the implementation of open-textbooks, books written by faculty and peer-reviewed. These books are open license, making them free online for download and significantly cheaper in print.  Unfortunately, the publishing industry still controls the market place, which the report admits makes the transition particularly difficult.  Other options are still available, including websites like SlugBooks. The site compiles prices of textbooks into one search engine, allowing students to find the cheapest available option, cross referencing both university bookstores and major retail sites like Amazon and e-Bay ..."