The average annual tuition, plus expenses, at a private nonprofit four-year college is about $35,000. At the University of New Haven, annual tuition is closer to $50,000.

That tuition amount includes the classes students take, their room and board, an activity fee for their residence hall, student activity fee, lab fees, and various other expenses. This general price does not include what students have to spend on books for their many classes.

The average full-time student takes 15 credits (five classes) each of which require textbooks. Their teacher isn’t walking them to the bookstore and watching over them as they purchase these books, but in order to succeed in their class, they highly advise students buy the books they suggest.

To make it worse, sometimes teachers make it part of a student’s participation grade to bring the books to class, so now students have no way of maneuvering around these high costs if they don’t want to loose partial points each day. Aren’t we supposed to be encouraging students to go to class, not avoid it? It is even more frustrating when teachers don’t adamantly use the books they require their students to buy, and the students are left with $400 dusty coasters.

Prices of textbooks and materials vary drastically, but sometimes it seems as though teachers overlook the fact that students have to buy more than just the books for class. Generally, the campus store is the priciest option for students to purchase their books; however, unless it is a school-specified package, they can purchase books from cheaper places. Students can go to textbook rental sites such as Amazon or Chegg to avoid the high priced bookstore.

Whether they are able to find an alternative or not, teachers should still consider the demand they are putting on students living on a college-budget. This budget is new to many students after living and depending on their parents for support. They have to manage how they spend their money, and after one visit to their campus bookstore, all the money they made at their summer job could be blown.

UNH is known for its experiential education. Many of the classes that have an emphasis on the experiential part are science classes. One of the core required classes for science majors is biology. Biology for science majors requires students to purchase a UNH specified lab and textbook package. This package costs about $250. For students who choose to take biology to fill their science requirement, they take biology for non-science majors. Their textbook costs roughly $80. The textbook for science majors is three times more expensive.

Science teachers try to justify that when their students have to purchase this package, that it will be used for Biology I and II. What about the students that are considered to be science students because their minor is environmental science? They only have to take Biology I. They will be left with half a lab manual and a textbook they can’t sell back because it was a loose-leaf version only available with the UNH special package.

In an introduction to world music class, the music department instructed that the professor not require that their students buy the textbook, because all the versions were too expensive. Instead, a cheaper book was required. This was beneficial for students who were trying to simply fill one of their free electives.

Forrest Edelman, junior fire science major, was required to take a phycology class as a requirement. This is not his major, and while he needs the textbook to write papers and study for tests, it was going to cost him $100. Instead of buying this book by himself, he and a friend in his class chose to split the cost of the book and share it when they needed to each do various assignments or study.

With today’s technology, you would think there is more that we can do to reduce these costs for students who should be saving every penny they can to pay off their loans when they get out of college.

eTextbooks, while not very common, can save students up 65 percent compared to print textbooks. Students have technological devices—computers, tablets, and smartphones—that allow them to carry all their textbooks with them at one time. That’s definitely convenient and easy to use.

Textbooks are generally used one time for one class, and soon become too outdated to sell back. Even when renting is an option, students get nothing out of that and see no return while the prices aren’t even that much cheaper.

The prices of textbooks are not the teachers’ fault, and it is understandable that a textbook corresponds and enhances what is taught in the class. But what is not understandable is why students have to pay to learn on top of what they are already paying to attend college.