Surprising Facts to Help College Students Shop for Course Materials

OBERLIN, OHIO, August 19, 2015 – Shopping for course materials doesn’t have to be a hassle. College students can save time and get what they need for their classes at the best possible price – and they can do it at the college store.

The following facts will help students and their families to “shop smart” for their textbooks and course materials.

FACT: Campus stores offer much more than just new textbooks. They provide the same options available online and usually at comparable prices. Campus stores offer course materials in a variety of formats, including used and rentals, to help students get what they need at the best possible price. Some stores also help students find low or no-cost digital course content and open education resources (OER). And, campus stores often work with faculty to develop custom content, such as print-on-demand, so students only pay for the material they need.

FACT: Many stores provide price comparison software on their websites to help students make the best choices. When students use the software, 80% of the time they end up acquiring their books from the college store because they find what they need at a competitive price.

FACT: Students can expect to spend approximately $563 on their course materials, not $1,200. Students reported spending an average of $563 on required course materials during the 2014-15 academic year, according to the National Association of College Stores’ (NACS) Student Watch™ spring 2015 survey. The $1,200 figure that’s frequently cited is a financial aid budget estimate for freshmen that include items such as supplies, equipment, software, hardware, lab fees and course fees, which results in a much higher figure than actual student spending on course materials alone.

FACT: Money spent at the college store stays local. A portion of the money spent at the campus store will be returned to the campus through scholarships, paying the salaries of student workers, and supporting student activities.

For more information on ways to save on course materials, contact your local college store to find out what they offer.

About the National Association of College Stores

The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $10 billion collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents nearly 3,000 campus retailers and approximately 1,000 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 academic missions of higher education institutions. NACS is headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio. Additional information can be found online at www.nacs.org.