Why Textbooks Cost So much?
Textbooks aren't cheap. The cost of college books for a full year of college and university can be over $1,200.00, whether you attend a community college or an expensive ivy league university.
The main reason for the high cost of textbooks is specialization.
Another reason, is that some professors want their students to purchase their own research books, which are usually under contract through a publisher in much lower numbers than what may be found at a mainstream bookstore. And further, limited edition printings required by some course syllabus, may cost more because the press run is smaller than what is normally done by large publishers.
Also, some universities, although diverse in their programs, have set curricula every few years, and have set a listing of special titles students must purchase for each class. And within these set curricula are several text listings that stay in the reading list for one to ten years at a time... continue reading
