Mastodon

Swelling Textbook Costs Have College Students Saying ‘Pass’

Anybody who’s been in college over the last couple of years is well aware of the insane textbook prices, and it’s no surprise to me (since I was one of them) that many students just don’t buy books anymore. I’m sorry, but $120 for a used Econ. textbook that served more to confuse me than enlighten me? Please.

Adding insult to injury was that the other textbook for that Econ. class—a bargain at $60—stayed in its shrinkwrap for the entire semester. No readings in it were ever assigned.

After that fateful semester, I never bought more than a handful of books at a time. My grades stayed high (I made dean’s list in one semester after having bought maybe two of the 20 ‘required’ books) and I had more money for the important things. But not everybody can get by without them, so somebody makes a killing on textbook price gouging, and college gets one step further out of reach for low-income Americans.

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.