Student Spending on Course Materials Plummets - Lindsay McKenzie, Inside Higher Ed

A decade ago, students spent an average of $701 per year on required course materials. Now, according to the latest data from the National Association of College Stores, they are spending under $500. The reason for the spending drop is the “increased use of free and lower-cost digital and rental materials,” according to Estella McCollum, vice president of research and consulting at NACS. In its latest annual report on course material spending, published Wednesday, NACS said students were still more likely to buy course materials than not, but that the number of students using free course materials is increasing. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/08/16/students-are-spending-less-ever-course-materials