For Morgan State University students and college students across country, the cost of textbooks often leaves many students unprepared for school when classes start.

In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported textbook prices increased by 88 percent since 2006.

Relief will come to Morgan students this upcoming semester as the university introduces the Barnes and Noble First Day Complete inclusive textbook program.

The ‘Bear Books’ program will give undergraduates access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbook versions through Barnes and Noble at the fee of $20.75 per credit hour.

All eligible students will automatically be enrolled in the textbook program. A full-time student with 12 credits will be charged $249 for the program and students with 15 credits will pay $311.25.

The flat-rate cost is included in students’ tuition, saving them 35 to 50 percent of the average textbook cost.

Once students registered for classes, the university bookstore began preparing course materials. Students are instructed to visit the Bear Books webpage to select delivery preferences for the textbooks.

The digital course materials will be available on Canvas for students and professors by Aug. 22, one day before the fall semester begins.

Students have the option of purchasing the textbooks at a reduced rate through the buyout program.

However, the program excludes consumable objects such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kids, engineering kits and nursing kits.

Morgan will not be the only university participating in the Barnes and Noble program.

There are over 770 colleges that will join Morgan in receiving their books for a nominal cost, including Norfolk State University, George Mason University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of Maryland.

Barnes and Noble works with each school in the program independently, catering to a price based on the school’s needs.

Students who wish to opt out of the program can do so through Canvas by clicking the “Help” button and selecting “Barnes and Noble Opt Out.” The deadline to opt out is Sept. 3, 2021.

As the textbooks received under this program are considered rentals unless purchased, the deadline to return textbooks is the last day of finals, Dec. 16.

If a student fails to return rental textbooks by the deadline, a hold will be placed on the student’s financial account until the fees are paid in full.