With college tuition on the rise, many students are strapped for cash. And according to a survey released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, seven in 10 students are unable or unwilling to raise enough funds to buy books, something that every student needs.

Students at Cosumnes River College had various ways of getting textbooks.
Christine Garcia, a 22-year-old music major, said she buys textbooks from the ‘Hawks Nest,’ the colleges’ bookstore. She said that prices for textbooks are “all high,” regardless of where they are at.

Makenzie Humphrey, a 19-year-old communications major, said she bought all her books from the Hawks’ Nest and Chegg.com. She has a scholarship, but “it’s running out.”

Other students said the prices at the ‘Hawks Nest’ are overpriced.

Alex Esternon, 19-year-old nursing major, said she rented her books from KJ Textbooks while Kaylynn Barker, a 17-year-old undecided major, said she bought her books online at Amazon and half.com.

Song Phan, a 22-year-old nursing major, said he borrows books from his friends and avoids spending money altogether.

However, the yearn to skip books is still present.

“I wish I skipped out on buying [my textbook] because I never use it,” said Jennifer Preston, an 18-year-old photography major.
Jacob Garcia, a 24-year-old film major, said he often skips buying textbooks. Nick Montez, a 19-year-old undeclared major, said that he had never skipped buying a textbook, but he’s known people who have.

The same study stated that 81 percent of students reported being negatively affected because a publisher had released a new edition of a textbook.

While some CRC students said the new editions “were a waste of money,” Phan disagreed.

The new editions are worth it because of the new information present that the older editions lack, Phan said.

Despite the variety of ways CRC students may or may not get their books, it seems that there is a general consensus that textbooks are “too expensive.”