How to Get Your Textbooks Cheap or Free
Even if you have a full scholarship to cover your tuition, you could still end up spending hundreds of dollars each semester on your required textbooks. According to Hartford Community College, textbooks are so expensive because of the valuable information they provide and the fact that authors, publishers, distributors and booksellers must all make money off of a textbook sale. While you probably won't be able to completely avoid spending money on textbooks while in college, you can save money on your textbooks by following a few simple steps.
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Instructions
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Rent, borrow or share textbooks instead of purchasing them. Rent textbooks for a fraction of the sale cost at your college bookstore or an online rental agency like Chegg or TextbookRentals.Com. You can also borrow textbooks for free at your university's library or academic support center, or you can share with a friend. However, if you do not buy your book, you may suffer from restrictions, such as library and rental agency due dates and strict policies on writing or highlighting in books.
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Shop early and often. Do not wait until you get to campus or the day before classes start to purchase your textbook. Unless your book is a custom edition published by your university, you will likely find a better deal online. Start shopping as soon as you know what books you will need for the school year, and shop around. Compare prices from different online bookstores and your campus store before purchasing.
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Use an e-book or an older edition. Although some e-textbooks are still very expensive, they are generally cheaper than their printed counterparts. Some e-books, like classic novels, may be free in e-editions from websites like Amazon Kindle Store and Project Gutenberg. If you can't find an e-book edition, CBS Money Watch suggests using older editions of the textbooks your professor is requiring. However, if you use e-books or older versions of the textbook, you may not have the same page numbers as your instructor and the other students.
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Get a textbook scholarship. Each semester, organizations give scholarships to a few students for textbooks and supplies. For example, Black Greek Books and the Community College of Beaver County both offer scholarships that can be used for books. If you cannot get a scholarship, you may also be able to use a portion of your financial aid--federal, state and school grants and loans--to pay for your books.
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Tips & Warnings
The further you plan in advance, the better chance you have for getting your textbooks for cheap or free. As soon as you register, start the textbook search process.
Do not risk taking a class without access to a textbook, as this is a recipe for failure. However, always keep your textbooks shrink wrapped and the receipt intact until after you have attended the class once, as you will want to ensure the professor is using the same kind of textbook.
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