I’m working on a new project that had me researching average college costs. While tuition, room and board are important to know about, most college websites included an estimate of how much money you might end up spending on textbooks. Though I’ve been out of college for a few years now, I still remember the financial pain of buying my books for class.

That’s why this recent tip sheet from the National Association of College Stores (NACS) caught my attention. It offers four ways that colleges and their college stores are trying to help keep the costs of textbooks down, and helping students save money in the process.

1. Buybacks. Most college stores do their best to promote a strong used book market through aggressive buyback policies. Over 95% of Cornell students receive personalized e-mails during buyback season. As a result, the store nearly doubled its supply of used books over two years, allowing them to resell used books for even less. Likewise, the University of Connecticut bookstore has recently launched a buyback web site that informs students how many books the store will be buying and at what price. Combined with other programs, UConn Co-op estimates that it saves its students about $3.6 million annually on textbooks. Some stores, such as that at California State University-Fullerton, have guaranteed buyback programs to increase used book stock and put a little extra cash in student pockets.
2. Price Matching. George Fox University, Weber State University and California State-Fullerton are just a few of the stores nationwide that participate in these programs, which practically guarantee students the lowest price.
3. Creative Concepts and Promotions. Washington University bookstore hands out $20 bills at random times throughout the year, the University of Illinois-Champaign store helps match used book sellers with buyers, and the University of Arkansas saved students more than $500,000 over two years by discounting books the day before classes begin.
4. Textbook Rentals. Stores like those at San Mateo (Calif.) Community College are saving students money through textbook rental programs. The San Mateo Community College store estimates saving participating students $79,000 in two years.

I’ve heard of some colleges now offering their students the option of accessing textbooks online. I wonder if they charge for that access. I mean, if they didn’t, how else would the college and textbook publishers make their money? If you know additional ways that college students are saving money on their books, let us know.