College textbook prices are on the rise. According to the National Association of College Stores, textbook prices rose at twice the rate of annual inflation over the last two decades. Students estimate spending an average of $702 per year on course materials. In many cases, these textbooks can’t be sold back because of the rapid turnover of textbook editions.

To combat these issues, more and more businesses are developing creative ways to serve students for less. For years, used bookstores have offered students the ability to buy textbooks for a discounted rate.  Online marketplaces give students the opportunity to sell their books directly to others, without the middleman. In the last two years, the college textbook industry has seen the introduction of online textbook rental companies, like Chegg.com. I wish that I had known about renting earlier.  It really would have helped me out.
Andrea North, senior in biomedical engineering

The concept of renting textbooks online gives students the ability to pay hundreds of dollars less for their textbooks up front, and send them back with no shipping cost. 

Chegg.com, the frontrunner in online textbook rentals, has even taken their business plan to an environmental level.

 According to their Web site, “Chegg plants a new tree for every book it rents.So far, more than 3,000 acres of forest exist thanks to all the students who have chosen to rent from Chegg.” 

Additionally, Chegg professes to have saved students more than $73 million in the last two years alone.

As enrollment rates for both undergraduate and graduate schools continue to rise, the college textbook industry can expect to see continued growth in bookstore alternatives. 

“I’ve spent thousands of dollars on textbooks over the last three years,” said Andrea North, a senior in biomedical engineering. “I wish that I had known about renting earlier.  It really would have helped me out.”