New York college students in the state university (SUNY) and city university (CUNY) systems could save nearly 40 percent on their textbook costs if they made the purchases online instead of at their campus bookstores, according to a reportissued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“The rising cost of tuition is putting college out of reach for many students,” DiNapoli said. “And SUNY has just announced a $600 tuition increase. Students could save close to $500 a year on textbooks if they had the right information available to buy their books online. SUNY and CUNY and every private college in the state should be doing everything possible to help students save money, including giving them the opportunity to shop around for books. For some students, $500 could mean the difference between staying in school or dropping out because they can’t afford college.”
DiNapoli’s report found that students at four SUNY and two CUNY campuses would save an average of $245 a semester if they made all of their new textbook purchases through an online retailer. For example, a freshman sociology major at SUNY Binghamton would have spent $690.65 on textbooks at the campus bookstore for the current fall semester’s texts, but only $413.85 online. Other academic majors could save even more.
The report also found many students couldn’t shop online for books because of late posting of course listings and the lack of accurate book identification information. Many courses require the newest editions of textbooks be used, even if only minor revisions were made to the book.
“High textbook costs add an unnecessary burden to students and their parents, but there is a light at the end of this tunnel,” said Mindy A. Bockstein, chairperson and executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB). “Within the next two years bookstores, publishers, distributors and academia will be required to expand options, provide more transparent information and lower textbook costs for students, thanks to Governor Paterson’s Textbook Access Act of 2008 and the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act which takes effect in 2010. In the meantime, the CPB continues to urge faculty to submit their book orders early to increase student access to used textbooks. I congratulate Comptroller DiNapoli for this report, and advise consumers to follow his and other tips available online from the CPB.”
“These days, many students and families are trying to save money on college costs anyway they can. The earlier they know the ISBN numbers of their required texts, the more time students will have to shop around for the best prices,” said Fran Clark, program coordinator for the New York Public Interest Research Group.
A typical undergraduate can expect to pay as much as $4,000 for textbooks over the course of a four-year degree program.
colleges post a full course listing with required textbooks on their Web sites at least six weeks before classes start;
posted textbook lists should include the specific ISBN of each textbook, along with the title, author edition and publisher and the campus bookstore price;
colleges provide the same information for acceptable alternatives to the required textbook version; and
professors should limit textbook edition changes to allow for the purchase of used books.
“Students are struggling to afford their education as the state and the nation face unprecedented financial challenges,” said Jacob Crawford, president of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York. “These recommendations will hopefully relieve some of that stress. I look forward to the SUNY Student Assembly partnering with the Comptroller’s office to help make these recommendations a reality.”
Copyright 2006-2009 The Hudson Valley Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Reader Response
green
January 1st, 2009
I would suggest using GreenTextbooks.org
Save Money, Save The Planet
GreenTextbooks.org specializes in the recycling of textbooks, DVDs, CDs. Buying used textbooks not only saves you money, but cuts down on greenhouse gases caused by the manufacturing of new textbooks.
With GreenTextbooks.org you're not only saving trees, you are saving some green.
Reader Response
Wes
December 31st, 2008
I agree that the best way to purchase college textbooks is at the campus, but not the college bookstore. StudentBookTrades was created so students can trade textbooks with each other on campus, if students find textbooks somewhere else, then using a vendor such as PayPal to send money will fight to get the money returned if anything happens between the transactions between students.
Someone should have let me know about only saving $2.15, because I saved well over $50 each time I bought used books or traded textbooks with my friends. If you are talking about brand spanking new textbooks that, then yes, they would be hard to find used because there aren't any and vendors have the retail price on their websites that are not that much different in price.
I think colleges earn enough from my tuition payments that I am still paying student loans off for. The main problem is paying the amount of money that is fair for textbooks. Dishing out $150 for a new textbook because the previous edition is obsolete is unfair. Who really pays the price and who get the use the benefits?
Reader Response
Wes - www.StudentBookTrades.com
December 25th, 2008
As a former student myself, I know how much the price of college textbooks have gone up every semester. That is why I created StudentBookTrades.com. It allows college students to trade, buy, and sell college books at their home campus or nationwide. Students are automatically matched with other students who need their textbook and you need theirs. When a match if found, you can simply trade the textbook. There is also a contest each month for $100 giveaway.
Reader Response
Joe
December 24th, 2008
I noticed there is a new site that sorts Binghamton's books by class but using Amazon products and prices - TextbookU.com
Reader Response
Charles Schmidt
December 22nd, 2008
It is a common misperception that college textbooks are less expensive when purchased online. Contrary to New York’s findings, a recent study by the Florida Office of Program Policy & Analysis and Government Accountability found that students purchasing new college textbooks online saved an average of only $2.15 per item. Online prices were HIGHER for 27% of the textbooks examined by the study.
In addition, buying textbooks online can be dangerous to your wallet. Students face real risks in purchasing course materials from unknown, unidentifiable sellers, such as bait-and-switch tactics, hidden fees, and fraud. Additionally if a student drops a course, many online sources do not have clear return policies
The National Association of College Stores (NACS) agrees that there should be transparency in the textbook selection process, and that students should comparison shop for the best deal. That’s why NACS supported New York’s Textbook Access Act and is working to help its member stores comply with the textbook provisions of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act.
However, the simple fact is that the local college bookstore is the only place where students can be completely assured that they are purchasing the exact edition of their textbook that their professor requires.
There’s also no lengthy wait for the books to be shipped, and at term’s end, it’s easier to sell them back for cash.
Besides safety and reliability, other benefits to patronizing the college bookstore include: Convenience – The college store is a one-stop-shop located on or close to campus. A Sense of Community – A portion of what little profit a college store makes on textbooks sales goes back to the institution and students in the form of scholarships, student employment, and contributions to campus activities.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schmidt
Director of Public Relations
National Assn. Of College Stores
Let Your Voice Be Heard ... Fill Out the Reader Response Form Below
