CourseSmart Saves Students More than $100 Million On Textbooks and Course Materials

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CourseSmart®, the world's largest provider of eTextbooks and digital course materials, today announced that it has saved students more than $100M on eTextbooks and digital course materials since it was founded in 2007.  CourseSmart has the most comprehensive library of higher education content available, offering over 90% of the core textbooks in use today, or 30,000 titles from over 33 publishers, for a guaranteed, upfront savings of up to 60% less than the cost of a new print textbook.

"CourseSmart was founded on the principal of expanding access to higher education by offering students significant savings on their required course materials, and as the cost of earning a degree continues to rise, it is essential that students have digital options. We could not be more proud of reaching this significant milestone of saving students more than $100 million dollars," said Sean Devine, CEO of CourseSmart.  "CourseSmart's savings go beyond the textbook sticker price, because students can access their digital course materials without having to purchase a dedicated device or specific eReader." 

Students who use CourseSmart eTextbooks and digital course materials find greater convenience and guaranteed up-front savings as compared to the popular technique of reselling textbooks back to student bookstores.  Many students who say they plan to save money through reselling textbooks at the end of the semester never follow-through due to the time, complexity and frustration of the process.  According to a survey from the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), close to 35% of students considering bookstore exchange or buyback programs say that it is not worth the effort or believe that the bookstore would likely not accept their textbooks. Further, even if a student attempts to exchange their textbooks for money, many believe that only a small portion of their required materials would qualify for money back.

"Textbooks and materials required for my courses can be an overwhelming expense each semester. Since I discovered CourseSmart, I have saved well over a thousand dollars," said Sara Redman, a student at Colorado State University. "I also enjoy being able to access my textbooks on the go on my iPad and study anywhere, whether it is on the train or at my desk. I couldn't ask for a better textbook experience."

For more information, please visit www.coursesmart.com.

About CourseSmart®
As the world's largest provider of digital course materials, CourseSmart® connects education publishers to consumers by providing an efficient distribution platform for their best-selling content in digital form. Founded in 2007, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company provides services to four business segments: Online direct retail for students; Indirect distribution of course materials to students through bookstores; Online faculty textbook evaluation services; and Institutional solutions for faculty and students that are integrated within campus technology ecosystems. CourseSmart improves the educational process and experience by offering all users anywhere, any-time access to the course content they need, including those with vision- and print-related disabilities. With more than 90% of the same core titles offered by major print publishers, the company's eTextbooks can be purchased for up to 60% less than the cost of new print textbooks. For more information about CourseSmart, visit the company's Web site at www.coursesmart.com.

Media Contact:
Emily Peck
Kwittken & Company
(646) 747-7149
[email protected]

SOURCE CourseSmart