Get the facts about Affordable Access programs.

Affordable Access is also known as Inclusive Access, a sales model that adds the cost of textbooks into students’ tuition and fees.

 

While Affordable Access programs were intended to address high textbook costs, they have created challenges for students and faculty. The higher education community deserves the facts.

 
College students raising hands in class

What is Affordble Access?

Affordable Access, also known as Inclusive Access or automatic textbook billing, is a sales model for college textbooks that is promoted by major publishers and bookstore companies. Affordable Access programs automatically add the cost of course materials to students’ tuition and fees, typically through an arrangement with one or more vendor. Students receive their materials by the first day of class, often in a digital format, then typically lose access after the end of the course. Under federal regulations, institutions must provide an “opt out” policy. Learn more.

Student With Backpack

Does Affordable Access save students money?

Despite the names Affordable Access or Inclusive Access, the advertised benefits of these programs are not always what they seem. Automatically adding course material costs to tuition and fees makes it harder for students to shop for better deals on used books, print rentals, or borrowed copies. Also, the fine print of vendor arrangements commonly allows the price of materials to increase at any time, so the advertised discounts may not add up to actual savings for students. Learn more.

 

Decide for yourself.

  • Savings or Spin?

    Inclusive access content is discounted compared to print prices, but not always by much, and prices can rise.

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  • Solution or Status Quo?

    Peer-reviewed research found that Inclusive Access did not improve academic outcomes.

    Learn More

  • Opt-Out or Drop Out?

    Students can opt out of Inclusive Access, but doing so can block them from required coursework.

    Read More

  • Convenient or Confined?

    Inclusive access can provide first-day access to content, but it constrains students’ choices as consumers.

    Read More

  • Inclusive or Exclusive?

    No matter what the price of Inclusive Access content is, it is still unaffordable for some students.

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  • Retain or Just Rent?

    Students never own Inclusive Access content—they usually rent it, sometimes for a higher price than a print rental.

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  • Supported or Stymied?

    Inclusive access can limit faculty’s freedom to choose materials that meet their students’ needs.

    Read More

  • Deal or Data Grab?

    Inclusive Access content can capture vast amounts of data on students and faculty.

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  • Digital or Divided?

    Broadband access and digital devices are a hidden cost of Inclusive Access, which can widen the digital divide.

    Learn More

Raising awareness of the facts.

The cost of college textbooks has increased sharply over the last several decades, which has harmed student access and success. Everyone agrees that this is a problem. As higher education leaders consider new textbook sales models that advertise lower costs, the campus community deserves to fully understand how these models impact students and faculty. InclusiveAccess.org is a community-driven initiative to raise awareness about the facts about automatic textbook billing. Learn more by selecting your role below.

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Administrators

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Faculty

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Students

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Policymakers

Is automatic textbook billing inclusive? Decide for yourself.

 

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  • "I know they say it's cheaper, but that's not been my case. I pay more for inclusive access, and it's that one-time use that you don't have access to later."

    — Barbara Gooch, Student, Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, TN)

  • "The most pressing issue for students is cost and choice. Each student should have the choice to buy the textbooks that work best for them, and each student should be able to learn in a way that benefits them the most."

    — Winni Zhang, Student, Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA)