Savings or Spin?
Inclusive Access content may appear discounted, but not always by much, and prices can rise.
Since Inclusive Access content is digital and and access is usually temporary, the price is typically lower than a new print textbook. However, the discount is much smaller when compared to regular digital textbook prices. Compared to used books and print rentals, Inclusive Access can actually cost more, and there’s no way to share or borrow copies. Inclusive Access may save money for students who normally buy new print textbooks, but it can cost other students more.
Institutions negotiate the price of Inclusive Access content with publishers, so students at some schools will pay more than others for the same exact content. Many institutional discounts are also based on a national list price, which can increase at any time. A 20% discount means a lot less if prices are going to skyrocket in the future.
College Textbook Prices vs. Inflation, 2003-2023
The cost of college textbooks has increased sharply over the last several decades, more than doubling since 2001. While Inclusive Access is intended to address high textbook prices in the short term, questions remain about whether prices will rise again in the long term.
Do students believe Inclusive Access saves them money?
While marketing materials tell one story, independent research tells another. A large-scale student survey found that the majority of students who participated in an Inclusive Access program did not think it saved them money. More than 2 in 5 students opted not to participate in the program in the first place.
Further Reading
“Savings” Under Inclusive Access Programs (Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Members, 2024)
Student Textbook and Instructional Materials Survey (Florida Virtual Campus, 2022)
Automatic Textbook Billing: An offer students can’t refuse? (Student PIRGs, 2020)
The high cost of college textbooks, explained (Vox, 2019)