Maryland Seeks To Cut Students' Textbook Costs

Maryland may be moving a step closer to cutting the high cost of textbooks.

The average American student pays about $1,200 a year for books alone. An experiment currently underway is turning up some hopeful results. In effect, professors would be encouraged to put class material online, instead of charging students hundreds of dollars for a printed textbook.

The cost of a college education goes beyond tuition, fees, and room and board. In the spring, the University System of Maryland tried its hand at something called Maryland Open Source Textbook. About a dozen faculty members took part in the experiment, and their students saved about $1,030.

"This is entirely in lieu of existing textbooks," said M.J. Bishop, director of the Center for Academic Innovation.

The voluntary program will get a second run this fall.

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