College Students can Save Money on Course Materials with These Top 10 Tips

College stores offer many cost-saving options; still the top choice among students for in-person and online purchases, rentals, and end-of-term returns

OBERLIN, OHIO, July 21, 2015 – Even though the cost of a year’s worth of required course materials has dropped 20% over the past seven years to roughly $563*, college students still want to save money when it comes to their academic needs.

In addition to offering less expensive used and rental versions of print and electronic materials, many college stores provide students with money-saving offers such as price-matching with other online retailers via price comparison software on their websites, free shipping in most cases, guaranteed buyback, and sales on course materials the day before classes begin.

As a service to students everywhere, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) offers the following tips on how students can save on their course material purchases, while enjoying the ease and convenience of purchasing from the campus store.

1) Rent, buy used or acquire electronic course materials. Almost all college stores offer these options, giving cost-conscious students access to course materials for about one-third to half the price of buying new.

2) Shop early . Students should shop early as soon as possible in order to beat the beginning-of-semester rush. The sooner you shop, the more options you have, particularly with used and rental course materials.

3) Check for customized options – they could be less expensive. If multiple materials are required for a course, the store will know if there are customized options that are less-expensive and contain only the content the professor requires.

4) Be cautious when purchasing course materials online from outside/unknown sources. Items might not arrive on time, be the wrong edition, or not include required access codes. Your local campus store guarantees the correct title and edition chosen by your instructor. Don’t forget to factor in shipping expenses, and check refund and return policies. If it’s the wrong edition, you may have to pay to send it back and/or not receive a full refund.

5) Know your store’s refund policy, especially deadlines . If you drop a class or if the professor decides not to use the required course materials, you want to get it back to the store on time so you can get your money back.

6) Don’t write in or unwrap course materials until you’re certain you’ll be keeping them . Most sellers won’t give full credit for course materials that have been marked or opened.

7) Become a fan of your campus store’s Facebook page and follow them on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Stores often give advance notice of money-saving specials to followers or fans.

8) Keep receipts . Most stores require them for returns. Also, textbook receipts are helpful during tax season when filing for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. For details on how to apply for the credit, go to www.textbookaid.org.

9) If you don’t see what you need, ask . Many college stores participate in exchange programs and can have the course materials you need sent to the store.

10) If you have questions, ask. Your college store professional is the course material expert on campus and is there to help you find the materials you need – at the best price – to support your academic success.

The college store is a reliable source for course materials, providing the most value for a student’s dollar. NACS’ latest survey on student attitudes and behaviors toward course materials found that not only do more students choose to shop at the campus store than any other retailer – 66% purchased at least one course material there – they also obtain the largest portion of their course materials at the campus store than from any other source.*

*From Student Watch™: Attitudes & Behaviors toward Course Materials , Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 survey of nearly 11,000 students (Fall 2014) and more than 9,600 (Spring 2015).