NACS Report: Student Spending on Course Materials Continues to Decline

2019-20 Academic Year Shows Students Spend Less on Materials Per Course

OBERLIN, OHIO (June 25, 2020) —College student total spending on required course materials declined slightly from the previous academic year while the average spend per course dropped 6%, according to the Student Watch™: Attitudes and Behaviors toward Course Materials: 2020 Report, the National Association of College Stores’ (NACS) annual survey of college students. During the 2019-20 academic year, students spent an average of $413 on required materials, compared to $415 in 2018-19.

Since the 2007-08 academic year, student spending on course materials has dropped about 41%. With the exception of 2015-16, each year showed a significant decline in spending from the previous year.

“The Student Watch data also showed that students enrolled in more courses this year, which likely affected their overall spending on course materials,” said Brittany Conley, research analyst, NACS OnCampus Research. “Averaged out, students spent $47 per course on materials this year, compared to $50 per course last year.”

Funded by the NACS Foundation, Student Watch™ is developed by OnCampus Research™, the research arm of the National Association of College Stores. Other highlights from the report, which compiled responses from approximately 14,200 college students attending 35 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., include:

• Use of digital materials continues to grow. One in every five paid materials was a digital unit this year, compared to one in seven paid materials last year, a sharp increase year over year. The percent of students downloading free materials online also rose, doubling from spring 2019 to 26% in spring 2020.
• Students spent more on technology than course materials. Students spent $100+ more on technology for their courses this year than they did for course materials. Last year students spent about the same between the two categories, and the year before that technology spending was only around $20 higher than course materials spending.
• Students wait to obtain course materials. The percentage of students who have the majority of their materials ready on the first day of class has been declining in recent years. In 2019-20, just 34% had the majority of their materials before classes started. Of those students who did not have most of their materials by the first day, 67% said they delayed in order to find out if the materials were really necessary.
• Some students don’t obtain all materials. About 28% of students say they didn’t obtain at least one of their required materials in 2019-20, up from 25% last year. Although 57% of that group point to price as a reason for not obtaining their materials, they also cited other reasons, including not wanting or thinking the materials were needed (45%), other students said it was unnecessary (35%), or the professor said it was unnecessary (29%).
• Students value course materials. Eighty percent of students say they learn at least a moderate amount from their course materials. The majority (69%) say they’re satisfied with their materials regardless of cost. Only one in 10 students say they’re dissatisfied with the quality of their course materials.
• More than half are satisfied with inclusive access. Fifty-one percent of students participating in at least one inclusive access course indicated satisfaction with the delivery model, while 21% indicated dissatisfaction. The top reason for dissatisfaction among the 21% of students dissatisfied was not liking the digital format. Inclusive access programs deliver course materials, most often in digital formats, by the first day of class at a reduced cost, typically as a fee or included in tuition.

Members of the media interested in a copy of the report should email publicrelations@nacs.org.

About The National Association of College Stores: The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents campus retailers and industry-related companies that supply course materials and other merchandise and services to campus stores. NACS provides education and other resources that help its member stores support student success, the campus experience, and the missions of higher education institutions.

About The NACS Foundation: In operation for almost four decades, the NACS Foundation is the only philanthropic resource for the campus store industry. Since its inception, it has disbursed more than $3 million for industry education and research, and awarded more than 3,000 professional development grants to college store professionals.