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

Day-one access to course materials is one of the main advertised benefits for Inclusive Access textbook billing programs. Many students delay or skip buying textbooks due to the high cost, so enforcing day-one access should improve their chances of success. Right?

While case studies tell one story, the facts tell another. The first large-scale, peer-reviewed study to look specifically at Inclusive Access and academic outcomes did not find any improved results. In fact, it found that students performed largely the same, even among underserved groups more likely to be affected by cost or access barriers.

The Facts: Inclusive Access and Academic Outcomes

A 2021 study published in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice evaluated the academic outcomes of a Fall 2019 Inclusive Access pilot versus the previous two Fall semesters. The data includes 47,462 student cases of Inclusive Access use across 141 courses at 13 community colleges. The analysis found no statistically significant difference in the success rate (grade of C- or better) for students overall, nor for students classified as non-White, Pell eligible, or adult learners over the age of 25.

How do Open Educational Resources compare?

In contrast to Inclusive Access, the use of OER has been extensively studied in the research literature. While many studies do show improved academic outcomes, neutral results for OER are generally viewed as positive. Why? OER replaces traditional paid materials with sustainably free and open ones. In contrast, Inclusive Access only changes how students access and pay for the same traditional materials. If Inclusive Access doesn’t deliver better student outcomes, campus leaders should question whether this model offers a solution, when all it delivers is the status quo.

Further Reading

Does Inclusive Access Affect Academic Outcomes? Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Spica. (InclusiveAccess.org, 2022)

Inclusive Access: A multi-institutional study of academic outcomes from a statewide community college automatic billing eTextbook pilot. (Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 2021)

The Impact of Open Educational Resources on Various Student Success Metrics. (International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2018)