Open Educational Resources (OER): No-cost/Low-cost Information

Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost

WOU uses the "Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost" attribute to indicate that the combined cost of the textbook or required course materials, such as workbooks, streaming media, lab manuals, online homework platforms and codes or publisher-provided curricular materials should be $40 or less. 

• The threshold is based on the new book price at the campus bookstore or charged by the publisher directly, whichever is lower. When a new book is available through both print and ebook versions -- and one is not required over the other -- use the lower of the two costs. If a specific version is required, use that book's cost.
• Prorating the book cost based on its use across a multi-sequenced set of courses is not allowed. For example, a $80 textbook spanning two quarters cannot be prorated 50/50, thus not to be labeled Low-Cost.
• The $40 threshold applies to a class regardless of the number of credits.

Example cases for labeling a course as meeting the low-cost threshold:

• Use of an inexpensive commercial textbook costing $40 or less
• Use of a course material bundle (e.g., textbook and homework website) costing $40 or less
  • A textbook costing $30 and online homework site costing $10
• Use of faculty-developed course packages costing $40 or less.

Due to a faculty member's request to raise WOU's $40 threshold for low cost materials to $50, WOU students were surveyed in spring and fall of 2025 about the threshold. More than 200 students responded and results indicated the majority of students considered $40 (or less) to be the upper limit for low cost textbooks.

The Textbook Affordability Committee decided, therefore, to maintain the $40 threshold.

The following information regarding what is included in the no-cost/low-cost designation was vetted by the Textbook Affordability Committee in November 2024.

Included: All required materials for the course. This includes, but is not limited to, textbooks, course packs, other publisher-provided materials, workbooks, lab manuals, online homework platforms, access codes, art supplies, calculators, lab equipment, etc., and any course fees. If the student is required to purchase something for use in your course beyond tuition and listed course fees, it should be included in the cost for the no cost/low cost designation.

Excluded: Optional texts that students are not required to purchase for your course section.

Optional costs are not included. For example: you provide students with a link to a free, online version of your materials but give them the option to purchase printed versions. The optional cost of printing these materials is not included in your calculation. However, if the print version is required in your class, it will be included.

If a text is used across multiple courses in a sequence DO NOT base your calculation on the cost divided by those courses. For example, a text that costs $120 that is required for 3 sequenced courses DOES NOT meet the Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost designation requirement. Not all students take all courses in a series. Students may take courses over time and may have to pay for edition changes. Students must pay the $120 and cannot budget for 3 even payments.

What cost will be used? What if materials are less expensive on Amazon, etc.? Text-related costs for these designations will be calculated using the price at the WOU Bookstore. While materials may be less expensive elsewhere, students might have access to a financial aid voucher that must be used at the WOU Bookstore prior to the release of financial aid funds by the college.  

What if my text is available as an e-book through the WOU library? If the required text is available as a free-to-students e-book through the WOU library, as long as you do not require the printed text in your class, your course can qualify for the Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost designation. However, we strongly recommend that you work with the Library to determine longevity of access to any particular e-book.  

What if I don’t require any texts or “outside” materials for my class? Your course CAN qualify for the Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost designation if no “outside” materials or texts are required. Apply the question: does my course have any text, course materials, or publisher-related costs? If the answer is no, the course meets the Text Books-No Cost or Low Cost designation.