College Books
If you're in college that means you have to buy some textbooks! Read our guide on how to get textbooks at a lower cost (or even for free).
Each semester (or quarter), you will likely need books and other course materials. When purchasing books for class, the cost of textbooks can add up. Each class may require at least one textbook (sometimes two or three). According to the College Board, the yearly cost of books and supplies for an in-state full-time undergraduate student at a four-year public college is estimated to be $1,298!​
Your classes will have a syllabus available before starting classes; begin searching for the required textbooks in advance. On your first day of classes, your instructor will confirm whether they are mandatory to purchase or recommended class materials. You can choose which books you can afford and what your best options , and may even be interested in acquiring the supplemental materials.
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Try to shop early.
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Try to shop online.
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Check that the ISBN and book edition match your instructor’s book when looking for books online.
How to Save Money on Books!
Used Books
One of the best ways to save money on textbooks in college is to buy used books. You can buy used books from sites like Amazon.com, AbeBooks.com, Thriftbooks.com, Ebay.com, Facebook marketplace, etc. Your college bookstore and local libraries may have used books available as well.
E-Books
E-book versions are becoming more and more popular these days and can cost significantly less. These books can be viewed on eBook readers such as the Kindle, Nook, a computer, etc. If you buy an e-book, make sure you download it onto your computer, not from someone else’s computer, or you may not be able to access it.
Book Rentals
Sometimes you may find that renting a textbook can be a lot cheaper than buying the book. Book renter websites such as Amazon.com, Chegg.com, or CampusBookRentals.com are available. You may also check with your college library or bookstore to see if you can rent the book at a discounted rate or for free! You might also want to talk to your professor ahead of time to see if there is an older version of the textbook that you can use for the class.
Reselling Textbooks
Chances are you are not going to keep all your college textbooks, so you can buy books to resell later in order to save money. You can resell your textbooks on these same websites that you buy them from! Likewise, you can find people trying to sell their used books for the classes you need, Facebook marketplace might be a good place to start looking!
College Library Course Reserves
One of the best places to get free books is at your college or university library. It should have most, if not all, of the required books for your courses. If your professor assigns you to read or study some chapters of a textbook, you can make photocopies of the chapters you need or take pictures. Note that course reserves in the library cannot be checked out (you can’t take them home) or make notes/highlight them, so keep that in mind! Nevertheless, the library is your best option if you’re looking to get physical copies of textbooks for free.