New Report: Textbooks, not Tuition, Driving College Costs

While college students are rallying on campuses across the US and UK protesting tuition hikes, a new report by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity finds the rise in college costs over the past decade has more to do with the price of textbooks and room and board than tuition.

"While tuition tends to get most of the attention when it comes to public discussions of college costs," the authors conclude, "perhaps more attention needs to be paid to cost control for these other expenses."

We couldn't agree more.

Some takeaways:

• “Net student price” — how much students pay to attend college, including non-tuition expenses — has increased significantly at both four-year and two-year colleges.
• At four-year colleges, it rose by almost $3,000 from 1999-2000 to the 2008-2009 academic year.
• Almost two-thirds of the increase came from non-tuition sources, such as textbooks and housing.
• Students at two-year colleges paid $1,300 more during the same period; again, mostly due to non-tuition expenses.
• These non-tuition increases are offsetting efforts to keep a lid on “net student tuition” ― how much students actually pay for tuition less grant and scholarship aid.
• While just over 64% of full-time, full-year students receive some form of grant aid, the number drops to 51.7 % for all undergraduates who receive aid.
• From 2000 to 2009, per capita income in the US declined by $1,325.

As I said in my last post, reducing the price of textbooks, often the second highest student expense, is one of the most doable steps to take to control spiraling college costs. Digital textbook programs at Indiana University, Virginia State University, the University of New Hampshire and the University System of Ohio are a few examples of how forward-thinking institutions can significantly reduce costs, increase access and improve learning.

Eric Frank
President and Co-founder
Flat World Knowledge