10 Money-Saving Tips for Cash-Strapped Students; Students Avoiding Course Materials Expenses May Jeopardize Their Education.

Business Editors & Education Writers

OBERLIN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2002

National Association of College Stores Offers Students

Advice for Saving Money

More than 15 million students will head to campus this fall, and most would agree that planning for "extra" educational expenses beyond tuition, room and board is a low priority compared to enjoying those final, precious weeks of summer. But once on campus their minds will quickly change; the average price tag for textbooks and other supplies will easily top $800 this year according to the National Association of College Stores (NACS).

As unsettling as that estimate may be, however, it may only be the tip of the iceberg. NACS, a trade group for higher education retailers, has noticed that a growing number of students are "just saying no" to purchasing required textbooks and course materials each semester, possibly putting the quality of their educations at risk. Despite continual growth in textbook sales for the past decade, many college stores report that sales of textbooks are actually falling when compared to burgeoning student enrollments

It's a trend that college stores find alarming since data doesn't support claims that students are finding alternative text suppliers online or increasingly sharing textbooks with classmates. "Textbooks can be a very expensive investment for students," says Ken Bowers, president of NACS and director of the bookstore at the University of California in Santa Barbara, "but they're fundamental to success in the classroom."

So, what can cash-strapped students do this fall when faced with long book lists and little cash? NACS offers students the following suggestions:

1) Go to class before buying. Make certain you understand what

materials are required and how they will be used in your

classes. Many items are "optional" or "recommended."

2) Be cautious when making educational purchases online. The

exact items you need may not be available right away causing

you to fall behind in your studies.

3) Buy "used" books whenever possible. Used books contain the

same information as new books - and have a lower price tag.

4) Know your store's refund policy, especially the deadlines.

This way, you won't be disappointed if you need to bring

things back to the store.

5) Keep your receipts. Most stores require receipts for course

material returns.

6) Don't write in your books until you're certain you'll be

keeping them. Most stores will not offer full credit for books

that have been marked.

7) Before buying technology products make sure they comply with

the standards on campus and can tie into the campus network.

8) Take advantage of campus license agreements for the software

you need. This allows you to access software at a low cost.

9) Purchase the extra year of warranty service for your computer.

There's nothing more frustrating than a broken laptop during

finals!

10) Finally, if you have a choice between buying a textbook by

itself, or the same text packaged with a study guide or

software package, make sure you need both parts. Packages can

be a great value but are often non-returnable once opened.

"Most college stores are operated as a student service. They exist to help students and make only a few cents for every textbook dollar sold," says Bowers. "But aside from selling books, I think that any college store director would agree that our real job is giving students access to the tools they need to succeed in class and on campus."

About NACS

Headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the nearly $11 billion collegiate retailing industry. Members include more than 3,000 institutional, private and leased college stores along with 1,200 suppliers of books and other products to college stores. Additional information about NACS and college stores is available online at www.nacs.org.