University textbooks are an expense every student has to think about every semester. For many students it’s a big decision when already balancing tuition, cost of living and other expenses in their lives. Sometimes that’s deciding on which ones they need more and can afford.
Czarina, a second year International studies student, told me that almost her whole savings goes to textbooks each semester.
“$200 to $400,” said Czarina, describing what her textbooks cost on average. She told me that the cheapest one was $60.
For students taking multiple courses, these costs can quickly add up. Another big factor in the price of textbooks is the course they are for, with some courses, such as Biomed, being more.
Cora White a Biomed student, told me how last winter semester she spent $500 on three textbooks. When asked if she was able to afford them she said this, “Yes but I’m lucky I got a scholarship, which I use to pay them off.”
Having a scholarship or financial aid can help with the cost of making textbooks manageable. Though Cora was able to afford her textbooks she still shopped around for cheaper options. Her experience shows how quickly more than one textbook can add up, feeling overwhelming.
There are some students who are lucky about not needing to worry about affording their textbooks but have their own unique experience. Jeffrey Romanyk, a second year pre Social Work, told me how he went from not needing to pay anything one semester to then needing to spend about $400 this semester.
“It has been kind of difficult to budget for,” Jeffrey said when explaining that while he can afford his textbooks it has been a transition. “Especially going through a semester where I’ve needed zero dollars for it. I might go into the next semester assuming that I have a spare $400 around.”
Jeffrey’s experience shows how textbook costs change semester to semester, making it difficult to concretely budget for them. Even students who can afford all their books have to change their budgets around it.
Something in common with every student I asked is that they try finding alternatives then just their campus store. Whether it’s Amazon, a local bookstore, or even online domains. What they can’t get anywhere else is when they finally use the campus store for their books, such as a book that has a special link needed that’s only in the campus store version.
With textbook costs charging from one course to another, students have to consider these added expenses in their lives. For many students buying a textbook is not simply needing a book for class but an added expense to yearly living.
