Although the University Web site estimates textbook cost per semester at $500, many students say they hope that figure is a generous estimate.
Textbook prices this year are higher than ever with an average price of $72.83 per book, according to the College Board.
Some students try to cut costs by buying used books, but many professors insist students purchase the latest edition.
Third-year College student Jean Langley, a psychology major, said her books totaled over $550, mainly because the books were all brand new.
All of her professors "said to use the new edition and not the old because there's substantial new material and we're tested on the new edition," she said.
Langley's roommate had better luck buying textbooks online.
"When I went to the bookstore and found out my books for this semester were almost $600, I nearly flipped," third-year College student Karen Otto said. "I decided to shop around online and after a few hours I saved over $200, even after shipping costs."
Peter Ronando, the University Bookstore's textbook operations manager, said he found the bookstore's first-year textbooks to be cheaper than those found on Amazon.com at the very least.
University Bookstore Director John Kates, however, said he has frequently found online prices for other books cheaper than even the wholesale price the bookstore pays the publisher. He explained the bookstore has a very small profit margin and attributed the textbook price hike primarily to the publisher.
An average of 64 cents of every dollar spent on a textbook goes directly to the publisher, according to the National Association of College Stores.
"While [the publishers] have a lot of up front production costs, I also believe that they take advantage of students," Kates said. "I've never understood why the rise in cost of textbooks has exceeded the rate of inflation."
History Prof. Elizabeth Thompson said she has noted anywhere from a 10 to 20 percent increase in the books she assigns in just the last couple of years. Though she hasn't altered her course reading list, she said she tries to help students save money.
"I don't want to compromise the integrity of the class by shortening the reading list ... but I do advise students to use some books that are on reserve more often," Thompson said. "I'm also putting more on the Web than I used to."
Thompson also expressed concern that more used books need to be recirculated to save students money. The bookstore, however, won't buy back books if a new edition comes out or if a professor takes a book off his or her reading list for the following semester.
Lisa Milhoan, University Bookstore course materials director, said the average shelf life of an edition has lessened recently.
"It used to be books would stay in edition anywhere from four to eight years," Milhoan said. "Now the average shelf life is only one to three years."
Course packets at stores like Brillig Books on Elliewood Avenue offer professors a cost efficient alternative to requiring multiple books, ranging in price from $3.50 to $92.00.
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