Zero Textbook Cost
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Zero-Textbook Cost Programs
Tackling a broken textbook publishing model is key to increasing educational access by reducing cost obstacles associated with higher education. Zero-Textbook Cost degree programs will give students in California community colleges clarity that they will not incur any costs for textbooks or other materials throughout the course of their degree pathway.
Help Students Who Need It Most
With 7 in 10 community college students reporting being food or housing insecure, these savings make a critical difference in their ability to continue their studies. Another recent survey of college students showed that 25% needed to work extra hours to afford course materials. 19% said that they decided what course to take based on the cost of materials.
Will Save CA Students Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
A recent pilot program in California allowed 23 colleges to build 34 degree or certificate pathways which were entirely free of a textbook cost. It was an unqualified success. These 34 pathways saved over 23,000 students more than $42 million--a more than 8x return on investment.
Improves Student Outcomes
Beyond saving money, early study results have shown students enrolled in ZTC degree programs perform better in their classes. In a review of over 179,000 letter grades, the program boasts a 3.1% increase for ZTC students, compared to non-ZTC students. The results are even starker when looking at Pell recipients who see a 7.6% grade increase in ZTC pathways compared to non-ZTC Pell counterparts. In addition, minority ZTC students performed better academically than minority non-ZTC students.
These outcomes show that the ZTC program can be a powerful tool in combating the equity gap that exists for students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.