Everyone knows that textbook prices are out of control even with new options in recent years like textbook rentals and buying used textbooks online. The average college student spends around $900 per year on textbooks with publishers trying to raise prices with “enhanced” unnecessary features like pass-codes, CDs, and other content not required. Textbook publishers deploying such tactics have caused the prices of textbooks to raise four times faster than inflation. However, what can college students do to reduce the costs of textbooks?
A group of students, faculty and various organizations launched an awareness program called “The Textbook Rebellion”. This movement included two mascots and events planned at 40 campuses in 14 states to raise awareness of high textbook costs and help explore options. The movement hoped to get at least 10,000 signatures on its textbook rebellion petition.
The idea is to no longer have $200 textbooks and promote ways that students can save money on textbooks by finding cheap textbook options like open source textbooks, buying college textbooks online, and finding the best textbook rental web sites. A recent study by the Student PIRGs found that nearly 70% of college students are not purchasing at least one book for class because the cost is too high, despite the fact the nearly 80% of students felt they would do worse in the course without the required textbook.
The Textbook Rebellion visited the following schools promoting ways of finding cheap textbooks:
Wed 8/31 – University of Maryland
Thu 9/1 – Rutgers Camden NJ
Fri 9/2 – Rutgers Newark NJ, Rutgers New Brunswick NJ
Tue 9/6 – UConn Storrs, UConn Hartford, Trinity College
Wed 9/7 – UMASS Amherst, Worcester State College
Thu 9/8 – UMASS Boston, Boston College
Fri 9/9 – UMASS Lowell, Salem State College
Mon 9/12 – UMASS Dartmouth
Wed 9/14 – Indiana University
Thu 9/15 – University of Wisconsin Madison
Fri 9/16 – Truman College, Wilbur Wright College (City Colleges of Chicago)
Mon 9/19 – Colorado University Denver, Colorado University Boulder, Colorado University, Colorado Springs
Tue 9/20 – University of New Mexico
Wed 9/21 – University of Arizona, Arizona State University
Thurs 9/22 – University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California
Fri 9/23 – University of California Irvine, University of California Riverside
Mon 9/26 – University of California San Diego
Tue 9/27 – University of California Santa Barbara
Wed 9/28 – University of California Santa Cruz
Thu 9/29 – University of California Berkeley
Fri 9/30 – De Anza College, City College of San Francisco
Mon 10/3 – University of California Davis
Tue 10/4 – Southern Oregon University
Wed 10/5 – University of Oregon, Lane Community College
Thu 10/6 – University of Washington
Fri 10/7 – Evergreen State College
Numerous colleges are already offering textbook rentals at campus bookstores many of them run by BookRenter or Rent-a-Text.
How to find the best online college textbook rental web sites to get cheap textbooks:
Here at RentScouter, we are constantly searching out the best online college textbook rental web sites for those of you seeking cheap textbooks and might not have a local book rental program. Additionally, you should always get a textbook rental price comparison online to compare to local prices for renting or buying textbooks online.
We compare prices for new, used, ebook, and college book rentals to help you find the cheapest textbooks possible. Hundreds of online textbook web sites are searched, including Amazon, Abebooks, eBay, and many other textbook retailers. A textbook rental can definitely save you money up-front, but remember if you buy a textbook online or at a bookstore you are able to sell back your book for cash.
In a similar manner, if you rent or buy textbooks online make sure to get a textbook buy back price comparison so you do not sell your books to cheaply. Use our book sell back price comparison to learn which online web site will pay you the most for your college textbooks once you are done with finals, or if you have dropped a class after mid-terms. Remember that generally, the earlier you sell back your book the price you will get before the market becomes flooded with copies of your textbook reducing the cash prices buyback companies will pay for your college books.
Search online to find the best college textbook rental web sites compared to buying textbooks online for cheap textbooks.
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