This is one of the things that’s going to implode when the higher-ed bubble pops.
4 thoughts on “The College Textbook Racket”
Something’s wrong here.
I was in college in 1978.
If “the average college student reports paying about $655 for textbooks and supplies annually,” and that’s increased by 812% since ’78, I should have paid about $72 a year.
I clearly remember some books costing over $40. I would be surprised if I paid less than $300 a year, and I don’t think I was that far from average.
Is that because they are teaching new and improved calculus and english? Have these subjects really changed in the last 30 years requiring new books? I’m willing to bet you could teach modern students from these old books (assuming they just left out the ‘modern’ pictures they always seem to need to date the subjects.)
Is that because they are teaching new and improved calculus and english? Have these subjects really changed in the last 30 years requiring new books?
Yes. When I was in college, Calculus was mostly focused on doing proofs — which most people never used once they graduated (unless they became math professors).
Today, I understand, they’ve finally decided that is nonsense and concentrate how to *use* Calculus instead. One of the few areas in which education has actually improved.
$70.00 for a used math 092, and two others costing $54.00. I rented my com100 for $34.00, and the total was $204.00. Yes, I beleve that the cost of textbooks are too high.
Something’s wrong here.
I was in college in 1978.
If “the average college student reports paying about $655 for textbooks and supplies annually,” and that’s increased by 812% since ’78, I should have paid about $72 a year.
I clearly remember some books costing over $40. I would be surprised if I paid less than $300 a year, and I don’t think I was that far from average.
Is that because they are teaching new and improved calculus and english? Have these subjects really changed in the last 30 years requiring new books? I’m willing to bet you could teach modern students from these old books (assuming they just left out the ‘modern’ pictures they always seem to need to date the subjects.)
Is that because they are teaching new and improved calculus and english? Have these subjects really changed in the last 30 years requiring new books?
Yes. When I was in college, Calculus was mostly focused on doing proofs — which most people never used once they graduated (unless they became math professors).
Today, I understand, they’ve finally decided that is nonsense and concentrate how to *use* Calculus instead. One of the few areas in which education has actually improved.
$70.00 for a used math 092, and two others costing $54.00. I rented my com100 for $34.00, and the total was $204.00. Yes, I beleve that the cost of textbooks are too high.