College Stores Offer Choices to Save Students Money on Course Materials

Renting, E-books, and More

OBERLIN, Ohio, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the students expecting to spend an average of $667 annually on required course materials, students are continually looking for ways to get their textbooks cheaper.  

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College stores work to keep the cost of textbooks as affordable as possible by offering their students a variety of choices including new or used textbooks, rentals, or downloadable electronic textbooks for computers and e-readers. To help students save even more, many college stores also offer special promotions and rewards.

Used Textbooks

Affordable used textbooks can save students significant money off the new book price.  Used textbooks are typically priced at 75 percent of the retail price of a new book. College stores report that, on average, used books make up 35 percent of their course materials inventory and the percentage is increasing annually.

Textbook Rental

Stores offering test rentals are on the rise. Approximately 2,200 college stores offered textbook rental programs of some kind in fall 2010, up from only 300 the previous year, and students can expect even more options this fall – both in the number of schools and titles – according to the latest calculations of OnCampus Research, a division of the National Association of College Stores (NACS).  

E-books

According to the 2011 survey of college student adoption of e-textbooks and e-readers conducted by OnCampus Research, 75 percent of college students still prefer a printed textbook over an e-book. In addition, digital textbooks make up an average of only 2.8 percent of total textbook sales and about 15 percent of the courses last year offered a digital textbook.  However, this is changing rapidly. NACS predicts that by 2012 digital textbooks will make up from 10 percent to 15 percent of textbook sales.

Store Savings

Many college stores have reward and rebate programs.  Also, college stores will offer discounts on textbooks as special promotions.  To take advantage of these savings, be sure to visit your local college store often and follow them on Twitter and become fans of their Facebook page.  Some college stores may only offer promotions via Facebook and Twitter.

College stores also work with faculty to educate them about the role they can play in keeping textbook costs more affordable, and in some cases partner with faculty to produce custom course packs that can save students significant dollars by eliminating the purchase of materials that are never used.

About NACS

Headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $10 billion collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents more than 3,100 collegiate retailers and approximately 1,000 associate members who supply books and other products to college stores. NACS member stores serve America's college students while supporting the academic missions of higher education institutions everywhere. Additional information on NACS can be found online at www.nacs.org.

About OnCampus Research

OnCampus Research is a consultative research group with one mission: to help companies better understand the college market. With more than 75 years of experience in the college industry, we offer full-service quantitative and qualitative research literally 'OnCampus,' through our online panel of over 18,000 students at 1,100 campuses nationwide. Specializing in online surveys, focus groups, omnibus surveys, syndicated studies, and in-depth interviews, OnCampus works with clients to create a strategy that best fits their needs and positions them as the brand of choice among college students.

SOURCE National Association of College Stores