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Book It: How to Find Cheaper Textbooks

Talk to Your Professors

Still stuck? Go to the person who chose the textbook: your professor. “Communicate [your] concern about cost with [your] professors so that the professors know that it’s something that could potentially present a barrier,” says Ava Hegedus, a coordinator for the Affordable Textbooks Public Interest Research Group. Knowing what books you’ll need ahead of time will give you a head start on finding a better deal.

“[Professors] know what they’re using before the bookstore does, and they’re more than happy to tell you. Don’t be afraid to do it; it makes you look like a diligent student,” says Hirsch. Your professor may recommend less expensive alternatives or lend you a complimentary copy they received from the publisher.

Other Strategies

• Your local or school library: While you may be able to check out a free copy, there may be a limit on how long you can keep it. Most likely, these copies will also be scarce.
• Publishing companies: “There are lower cost textbooks available through the major publishers,” says Hegedus. “They’re a stripped down version.” Your campus bookstore or professor may have these editions.
• Public domain: Search for older literature for free online that is now public domain. These versions won’t include annotations and background commentary.
• Installments: Your school may allow you to pay for books in a series of monthly payments.
• Avoid bundled books: Explore purchasing the book without CD-ROMs or unnecessary workbooks. Find out if these add-ons will be used in class first.
• Older editions: “If you compare the 7th and 8th editions, oftentimes you’re not going to see a difference,” says Love. “I bought a book that was published in 1997 when the teacher requested the 2005 version. I took it into my [teacher] and I was like, ‘I bought this on Amazon for $20, is this book any different?’ He said it was the exact same book.”

Reducing your textbook costs using a single method won’t be as effective as using resources in concert. “Combine services, get the job done using all the tools that are available,” says Hirsch. “It all depends on your particular needs, but it all starts with doing it early.”

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