Can't Afford Textbooks? Rent Them
Rentals aim to make college textbooks more affordable
By STACY MORROW
Updated 5:31 PM CST, Thu, Jul 16, 2009
As any student can testify, the cost of college books almost rivals the cost of tuition, so now a national bookstore provider is offering a little relief at two North Texas colleges.
The University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas in Denton are among eight to 12 colleges nationwide that will offer a rental option to save more than half the cost of buying new books.
Textbooks typically cost $600 to $1,000 per year, according to the universities.
The Follett Higher Education Group, which runs 860 bookstores at colleges in the United States and Canada, said it will expand the program if it is successful. Right now, only about 20 percent of the bookstores' titles are available for rental.
The program will allow students to rent a book for $42.50 for the semester, instead of buying it for about $100 new or $75 used, Follett officials said. Underlining passages or using a highlighter is allowed, but students must return the book at the end of the semester in good condition.
Texas Christian University, Texas Woman's University and Texas Wesleyan University's bookstores are also managed by Follett, but are not expected to participate in the book rental program.
First Published: Jul 16, 2009 5:00 PM CST
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