Key Takeaways
- With college costs adding up quickly, finding ways to save on textbooks can help you save money and make your college experience more affordable.
- Renting, buying used, or opting for eBooks can significantly cut down costs while still giving you access to exactly what you need.
- You may be able to find some books for free through your campus library or sites like Project Gutenberg.
- Plan ahead by comparing prices across sites or waiting until it is confirmed if you will need the textbook in class.
After covering tuition, housing, and boarding, college textbooks can feel like yet another overwhelming expense on an already tight budget. On average, students are spending between $1,212 and $1,463 a year on textbooks—an expense that really adds up over four years. It’s no wonder one in five students say textbook costs influence which classes they take, and 65% admit they’ve skipped buying books altogether because of the price.
Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank (or skip a class) to keep up with your studies. With a little planning, you can save on textbooks and still get what you need. Here are 12 smart ways to save money on textbooks and keep a little extra cash in your pocket each semester.
12 Ways to Save Money on College Textbooks
While textbooks are essential, their price tags don’t often scream budget-friendly. The good news is that there are ways you can avoid paying full price and save a little money. Here are 12 ways to help.
1. If Possible, Avoid the Campus Bookstore
While your campus bookstore might be the most convenient option, it’s often the priciest. Colleges typically sell books at the recommended full retail price—which can add up quickly. Unless it’s been specified that you can only get a certain book at the bookstore, try looking elsewhere first.
2. Rent Books
Once you’re finished with your college course, you most likely won’t find yourself using that pricey textbook ever again. Renting textbooks is a smart way to save money without the hassle of reselling them later or letting them clutter up your space. Plus, most rental sites make the process easy and stress-free.
Sites like Amazon and Knetbooks are great options for renting college textbooks. All you need is the book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number) to ensure you’re getting the correct edition. Rentals typically come in good condition and you’ll get a return date—so once the semester wraps up, you’re free to return the book and move on.
3. Buy an Older Edition
Sometimes, an older edition of the textbook will do just fine! However, before you decide to look for an older edition of the textbook you need, check to make sure the newest edition isn’t necessary. Some professors won’t mind you using an older edition because most of the information is there, while other professors will require the latest edition.
4. Buy Used Books
If you still want to own your book but don’t want to pay top dollar, you can always purchase a used textbook—sure, they might have a few signs of wear, but they get the job done! Not only are they cheaper, but you may even get the unexpected bonus of past students having highlighted important sections or jotting down helpful notes in the margins.
You might find that other students at your school are selling their used textbooks, so ask around—they may even offer a discount just to help out a fellow student. Once you’re finished using them, you can resell them at the end of the semester to make some money back.
5. Purchase an E-book
They say technology is the future and in this case, it certainly is. With so many books available in an online format, e-books are often cheaper than a traditional hard copy and come with added perks—like saving you from carrying around a heavy book or taking up space in your already cramped dorm room. Not to mention, many digital textbooks allow for easy searching, highlighting, and note-taking; hello, better studying sessions! While you won’t be able to sell an e-book back at the end of the semester, the upfront savings and convenience often make it worth the switch.
6. Check Your School Library
Many colleges have their textbooks available in the campus library, but the downside is that someone may already have checked out the book you need. However, it’s still smart to start your search at the library and see if any of your books are available. Most university libraries will have an online catalog to make your search even easier.
7. Share Books
If you have a friend taking the same class with the same professor as you, why not team up and share the cost of a textbook? Splitting the expense can save you both money, and it works even better if your schedules don’t overlap, so you can easily swap the book when needed. After you’re done with the course, you can sell your textbook and split the profit. After all, sharing is caring—and helps save you money!
8. Apply for Scholarships
Scholarships are the best way to get money to help cover college expenses—and they don’t always have to be just for tuition. You can often use scholarship money to cover textbooks, even brand-new ones if you prefer. When you buy textbooks with scholarship money, you can even sell them at the end of the semester to make money back! Try using College Raptor’s free scholarship search tool to find all the scholarships you’re eligible for.
9. Compare Websites
A simple online search will leave you with many results for where to buy or rent college textbooks from. So, it’s important to compare them all. There are cheap college textbooks available online, you just have to look—choose from a few trustworthy sites like Chegg, Knetbooks, or Amazon to check their prices. Don’t forget to consider the shipping cost when comparing the websites so you can save on all parts of the purchase.
10. Wait To Buy
Almost all college classes have an assigned textbook but they won’t all be required by your professor. Your course will usually publish what books you’ll be using a few weeks in advance, if not a few months in advance, of school starting. However, before you pre-order those texts, wait until you’ve had your first class and a chance to view the syllabus. Sometimes professors won’t even use the books they assigned. They may only use it for one or two chapters—in which case it might be better to borrow from a friend or find a copy online.
11. Check out PROJECT GUTENBERG
A free college textbook? Sign us up! If your school library doesn’t have the textbook you need, try checking out Project Gutenberg—an online library with over 70,000 free e-books available to the public. Just search for your textbook in the domain to see if it’s featured on the site. Think of it this way: even if only one of your textbooks is available per semester on this free site, that could save you hundreds of dollars each year.
12. Sell Back Your Textbooks
At the end of the semester when you’re finished with your textbooks, you can usually sell them back—either to the store you bought them from, fellow peers, or a campus buy-back store. The newer and better the condition of your book, the more money you’re likely to get. And as long as you don’t soak your book in coffee or rip out whole chapters, they’ll usually take it back—even if there’s minor damage or writing in it.
When it comes to college costs, most people focus on tuition and living expenses, while textbooks are often an overlooked expense that adds up quickly. Learning how to save money on textbooks will allow you to save hundreds—and potentially even thousands—of dollars throughout your college career. Every penny you save is one that you can put towards other college expenses, or save for the future!
