Should college be free? This question sparks much debate among students of all ages. One of the main obstacles students face when searching for a college education is the cost of attendance. With tuition prices rising, it’s no wonder we see many students take the community college route or opt out completely.
However, when we consider how much effort these universities put into making our campus of choice our home away from home, it becomes obvious why we pay such prices. I’m not one to say that the tuition we are paying really adds up to the benefits we are receiving, but our frustration should be refocused on the items we are paying for rather than the college experience we are funding. A new question to consider: Shouldn’t textbooks be included in our tuition?
As youngsters, our education was paid for through tax dollars, unless you chose private education. Our parents didn’t need to worry about our middle school grades being high enough for scholarships or need to pay a monthly bill to loan companies. They didn’t need to invest in new textbooks every semester either.
So why are we paying for these textbooks now? With prices rising each year, affording required materials can put a strain on students forced to purchase them, as well as parents who might already be overwhelmed by the cost of a promising education for their children.
The National Association of College Stores kept track of textbook prices from 2007 to 2015. Their data shows that the average cost of a new textbook rose from $57 in 2007-2008 to $82 in 2014-2015. Similarly, the average cost of a used textbook rose from $49 in 2007-2008 to $59 in 2014-2015. Most of us can attest to spending a whopping hundred or more on just one textbook.
These rising costs mean that students attending a private nonprofit four-year institution are spending, on average, $1,249 a year on textbooks, according to The College Board. This is a large number to factor into other expenses like food, toiletries and clothing, not to mention other school supplies.
Think about it. We were educated at a lower or nonexistent price in elementary school, middle school and high school and never had to purchase a textbook. They were given to us as a supplement to the course we were taking. Now, we are forced to pay steep prices for a solid, accredited education and, in addition, required to purchase costly textbooks to pass our courses. It makes no sense. Textbooks should be included in the tuition we pay.
