A new Student PIRGs report (just posted February 3, 2016) looks at the financial impact of textbook costs on students ability to attain a post-secondary education. From Covering the Cost, key findings from a sample size of 4, 704 students from 132 schools in 26 states, include:
- Almost one-third (30%) of students replied that they had used financial aid to pay for their textbooks.
- For those that used financial aid, the amount of financial aid dollars they put toward purchasing textbooks was more than $300 on average per semester.
- Textbook prices disproportionately impact community college students: 50% of students report using financial aid for books at community colleges, compared to 28% at 4 year public schools. And, on average, community college students use more financial aid than their peers at 4 year schools.
