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

Everyone agrees that making textbooks affordable is important. The challenge is that what is considered affordable depends on the student. Less expensive is not the same thing as affordable.

In some courses, students are still paying $100 or more for the digital Inclusive Access materials. Even though Inclusive Access fees are lumped into a student’s tuition bill, $100 is still a lot of money for many students who face hunger, housing insecurity, or the need to care for family. For these students, having access to completely free materials, instead of Inclusive Access, can mean being able to pay for their family’s next meal.

The cost of course materials has a broad impact on the lives of students.

Surveys have shown that students make difficult choices to afford course materials, from working more hours to choosing different classes to sacrificing meals.

Further Reading

Fixing the Broken Textbook Market, Third Edition. (U.S. PIRG, 2021)

‘Inclusive Access’ Takes Off as a Model for Textbook Sales. (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2017)