Savvy Shopping for College Textbooks

Four ways to comparison shop and save on the high cost of college textbooks

Highlights:

• Comparison shop for college books online
• Save big with textbook rentals
• Electronic versions gaining popularity

(Albany, NY: July 22, 2011) Students heading to college this fall may find it easier to shop and compare pricing for textbooks now that colleges and universities provide book lists for courses upon registration.

The New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the State’s financial aid agency that helps people pay for college, advises college students to comparison shop early for the best prices on textbooks.

“Textbooks are a significant part of college costs,” said Kathy Crowder, Senior Vice President of Communications at HESC. “The average college student spends $1,000 a year on books, so it’s imperative for students to use all available resources to save money on this expense.”

Here are four strategies to help save money on this year’s books.

1. Shop early
Get the book list as soon as you can and note the ISBN (the book’s unique identifying number) and the edition required by the professor. Campus bookstores often have used books available at reduced prices, but supplies dwindle as the start of classes gets closer. Some college towns have independent bookstores near campus that carry used textbooks, so check them out, too.

2. Consider online shopping
Most of the large online booksellers carry new and used textbooks at competitive prices that could save you money over purchases made at a traditional bricks-and-mortar store. Remember to add in any shipping costs when doing comparison shopping and be sure to give yourself enough time to receive your shipment before classes start.

3. Electronic textbooks
Not all textbooks have electronic versions, but the fast-growing popularity of e-readers and other electronic devices has led publishers to produce electronic versions of many popular textbooks with significant savings to the consumer. A few caveats to remember: Review the software requirements carefully before buying or renting electronically. Some textbooks may be formatted for reading on a personal computer only and may be incompatible with e-readers. The e-texts may not include CD content or other companion materials that come with the physical book. E-Textbooks may be purchased or rented, but usually restrict the number of devices on which it may be used, as well as copy and print limits. If you drop a class and no longer need the e-book, you may be able to get a refund within the first week of classes if you have not already downloaded the book or used your access code.

While electronic textbooks are a good option for some students, keep in mind that after you’ve downloaded an e-book, it is not returnable, so it may be more cost-effective to purchase a hard-copy textbook and resell it after the class is over.

4. Textbook Rentals
Renting books online can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of purchasing and may be a good idea if you don’t plan to keep the book after the end of the class. Online companies such as Chegg, Campus Book Rentals, BookRenter and others advertise savings up to 90 percent over the retail cost of books. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions of the rental agreement: some companies allow limited highlighting, some pay for shipping, and each may have different return policies.

Many campus bookstores offer book rentals, too. Some stores allow note taking and highlighting in books and offer the option of converting the rental to a standard sale. Returning books is also faster – simply return to the campus bookstore. Be sure to understand the terms of the rental agreement, whether renting from an online store or your campus bookstore, before you use the book.

A typical biology book, which lists for $166, can be found new and used from a campus bookstore; from online retailers in both hard cover and e-edition; and textbook rental companies. Here is an example:

Book	List price	Campus Bookstore	Campus Bookstore-Used	Online Retailer #1	Online retailer #2	E-text version	Online rental store
Biology Book	$166	$165	$124.50	$143	$141	$107	$72

You may lower your textbook costs even further by checking websites like CraigsList, EBay and Freecycle, or by purchasing used books directly from other students. Getting the book list early and doing a little comparison shopping before the start of classes can reap big rewards and savings on college textbooks this term.

About HESC: HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency, helping people pay for college and is a national leader in providing need-based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2009-10, HESC helped more than 605,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing $4.4 billion in grants, scholarships and loan guarantees, including $901 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).