Digital Shift helps KU students cut textbook costs

Melania Hesterlee | @melaniahesterlee

Over the past decade, prices for student textbooks have been climbing.

According to National Student Watch, textbook list prices are 2.5 to 3 times higher than in 2001, and student spending has fallen by 40% to 60% in the last 10 to 12 years. On average, students spend $350 on textbooks.

“We’re seeing that rise. But what we’re seeing is students are actually spending less,”James Rourke, the assistant director of academic resources at the KU Bookstore  said. “And I think that’s because of the rise of open educational resources, which is like no-cost materials. The rise of digital materials as opposed to print.”

Over the past few years, the KU Bookstore has shifted from print to more digital sales, with digital growing from 27% in 2020 to 69% in 2025. The upcoming semester is projecting digital at 71% and print at 29%.

“In the day and age we live, I feel like there should at least be—even if you have to purchase online—a more cost-effective way than buying a physical book,” said Will Hunt, a KU student.

“I kinda sometimes go to the first week of class, and if it really doesn’t seem like we’re going to use it, I just won’t buy it,” said Ella Hans, a KU student. “I usually won’t buy it until I actually need to use it.”

Access models like KU Auto Access, a digital textbook program available on Canvas that provides a reduced-cost option, have become a major course-material channel, with around 40% of students using it nationally.

“Affordability, though, does start and stop with the faculty and the decisions they make on the selection of their materials,” Rourke said.

As digital options and access programs continue to expand, the KU Bookstore hopes to ease the financial burden that textbook costs place on students.

Since Auto Access launched in 2021, KU’s Auto Access program has served roughly 11,000 students and saved $1.6 million.