The majority of U.S. college students are concerned about whether they can cover the cost of their study materials
BayView Analytics
71% of students are concerned about whether they will be able to cover the costs of their study materials for the semester
A comprehensive national survey reports on the impact of course material costs on college students and shows the significant impact these costs have on them.
— Dr. Julia Seaman, lead project researcher
OAKLAND, CA, USA, August 26, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — In a recent national survey, 71% of students in the U.S. said they were concerned about paying for course materials for the current academic semester; 30% said they were “moderately” or “extremely” concerned about covering costs. Over half of the students who responded to the survey reported that their course material costs are over $200 per semester.
These findings come from Bay View Analytics’ recent national survey on the affordability of course materials for U.S. college students. This national research project, supported by Affordable Learning PA (ALPA) and the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI), was conducted in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Comprehensive Course Materials Affordability Survey. The goal was to increase understanding of the impact of course materials choices on students’ academic and general lives. This project builds on the foundations of the Virginia Course Materials Survey and the Florida Student Textbook and Course Materials Survey.
“The high cost of course materials has a huge impact on student success,” said Dr. Julia Seaman, lead researcher on the project. “The results of this survey clearly show that purchasing required textbooks, printing fees, software licenses, and more is a huge burden on the nation’s students. Their academic careers are impacted, and these costs also limit their ability to afford rent, food, and essentials. These results demonstrate that this is a national problem and extend previously published state-level findings.”
Other important findings of the study are:
– While 60% of students report receiving financial aid, only one in three students say their financial aid helps cover more than 50% of the cost of course materials.
– The cost of course materials affects community college students differently, as they report higher levels of “extreme” concern about covering their costs.
– 4 out of 5 students report numerous negative effects of the cost of course materials on their academic horizons, including reduced course load, poor grades, and failing courses.
– Students’ preferences for their materials vary, both in terms of print and digital formats and in terms of access codes, but the vast majority find the features of the digital format “helpful”.
The national report is available for download here: https://www.bayviewanalytics.com/reports/2023_student_course_material_affordability.pdf
For more details on the project, Pennsylvania’s results, and course affordability, visit the Bay View Analytics website: https://www.bayviewanalytics.com/reports/StudentCourseMaterialAffordability
About Affordable Learning PA (ALPA):
Affordable Learning PA (ALPA) is a statewide, library-led initiative dedicated to providing resources and strategies to reduce the cost of educational materials for Pennsylvania students. ALPA community members train librarians to work with institutions, faculty, students, bookstores, and other stakeholders to make higher education more affordable, equitable, and accessible. ALPA grew out of an LSTA-funded grant to PALCI and was administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries in the Pennsylvania Department of Education. ALPA has since grown into a volunteer-based community of practice among librarians and faculty addressing affordability issues at Pennsylvania postsecondary educational institutions.
About the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI):
The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization founded in 1996 and officially became the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. in 1998. Today, PALCI’s membership includes over 70 academic and research libraries in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. PALCI’s primary goal is to provide cost-effective and sustainable access to information resources and services. PALCI is known for its highly regarded interlibrary loan service, EZBorrow (ILL). PALCI members work together to support a diverse community of over 800,000 students, faculty, and staff. Their efforts focus on shared collection initiatives, resource sharing services, and developing innovative technology projects and approaches to improve library services.
About Bay View Analytics
Bay View Analytics is a statistical research firm focused on survey design, implementation, and analysis. The scope of Bay View Analytics’ consulting engagements includes scientific statistical analysis, clinical trial statistics, and survey designs on a range of topics, with a particular focus on online education. Bay View Analytics has been conducting research and publishing annual reports on the state of online education in U.S. higher education for thirteen years. For more information, visit www.bayviewanalytics.com or contact us at [email protected].
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