Information About Courses with the Low Cost and Zero Cost Textbook Designation
Students can look in the Class Schedule for courses using “Zero Cost Textbook” or “Low Cost Textbook” designation. The following icons indicate that the course listed has one of these designations:
FAQs in this document:
- What does “Zero Cost Textbook” mean?
- What does “Low Cost Textbook” mean?
- What does the Low Cost or Zero Cost designation include?
- What is NOT included in the Low Cost or Zero Cost designation?
This designation is available to courses using no textbook or instructor-created materials, or OER content. “OER” is an acronym for “Open Educational Resources” and describes any type of educational materials -- like textbooks! -- that are in the public domain or have an open license. This means that anyone, like professors, can legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share them. It means that there is no textbook for you to purchase.
What does “Low Cost Textbook” mean?
This means these courses have a cost cap of $40* for textbooks used in those courses, in an effort to make those textbooks and courses more affordable for students.
* Note: The $40 cost cap is pre-tax. The cap is based on the price of the textbook at the time the text is selected. Bookstore prices are subject to change without notice.
What does the Low Cost or Zero Cost designation include?
Included in the Free or $40 cost cap:
- textbooks and other text-based materials
- workbooks
- lab manuals
- online homework platforms
- codes for publisher-provided curricular materials
What in NOT included in the Low Cost or Zero Cost designation?
Excluded from the Free or $40 cost cap:
- art supplies
- calculators
- class fees
- equipment
- optional printed copies of the text
