The average college student in the United States spends over $1,200 per year on textbooks. For many students, this cost is a barrier to academic success. Open educational resources (OER) are changing that equation.
The Problem with Traditional Textbooks
Commercial textbooks are updated every few years with minimal changes, forcing students to buy new editions. Digital access codes expire after one semester. And prices have risen 1,041% since 1977 -- three times faster than inflation.
How OER Changes Everything
- Free or low-cost access for all students
- Faculty can customize content for their courses
- Content is updated continuously by the community
- Digital by default with accessibility features built in
Quality Concerns Addressed
The biggest criticism of OER is quality. But peer-reviewed open textbooks consistently perform as well as commercial alternatives in student outcome studies. A 2025 meta-analysis of 48 studies found no significant difference in learning outcomes between OER and commercial textbooks.