The Shift to Open Educational Resources (OER)

For decades, the rising cost of college textbooks has forced students to make difficult financial choices. Many students report skipping meals or working extra hours just to afford required reading, while others simply do not buy the books at all and risk their grades. A growing movement in higher education is changing this dynamic. Professors and institutions are increasingly ditching expensive commercial textbooks in favor of Open Educational Resources (OER). These free, open-source materials are not just saving students money; they are reshaping how information is taught and accessed in the modern classroom.

The Financial Crisis of Traditional Textbooks

To understand the urgency of the OER movement, you have to look at the numbers. The College Board estimates that the average undergraduate student at a four-year public university budgets approximately $1,240 per year for books and supplies. This price tag has outpaced inflation significantly over the last forty years.

When a single chemistry or economics textbook costs $300, it creates a barrier to entry. A survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that 65% of students had opted not to buy a textbook because it was too expensive, even though 94% of them knew it would hurt their grade. This creates an equity issue where financial status dictates academic success.

What Are Open Educational Resources?

OER are teaching, learning, and research materials in any medium (digital or otherwise) that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license. This open license, typically a Creative Commons license, permits no-cost access, use, adaptation, and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions.

It is important to distinguish OER from resources that are simply “free.” A PDF found on a website might be free to read, but you cannot legally change it. OER materials adhere to the “5 Rs” of openness:

• Retain: Make, own, and control copies of the content.
• Reuse: Use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video).
• Revise: Adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translate the content into another language).
• Remix: Combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new.
• Redistribute: Share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others.

Major Players Leading the Charge

The shift to OER is being driven by several large organizations and university initiatives that ensure these materials are high-quality and peer-reviewed.

OpenStax

Based at Rice University, OpenStax is arguably the most recognizable name in the field. They provide peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks for high-enrollment introductory college courses like Biology, Physics, and Sociology.

OpenStax books are free online and low-cost in print. Since their launch in 2012, they report saving students more than $2.9 billion. Their materials are used in more than 60% of colleges and universities in the United States.

The LibreTexts Project

Initiated at the University of California, Davis, LibreTexts is a multi-institutional collaborative venture to develop the next generation of open-access texts. It is currently the most visited OER platform on the internet. Unlike a static PDF, LibreTexts allows professors to “build” a book by mixing and matching modules from different disciplines to create a custom resource for their specific syllabus.

OER Commons

OER Commons is a public digital library of open educational resources. It serves as a search engine for educators to find textbooks, full courses, and interactive lessons. It was created by the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME).

The Rise of "Z-Degrees"

The adoption of OER has evolved beyond individual classes. Entire degree programs are now being designed around zero textbook costs. These are often called “Z-Degrees.”

Tidewater Community College in Virginia was the first institution in the United States to launch a Z-Degree. Students can earn an Associate of Science in Business Administration without spending a single penny on textbooks. This model has since been replicated across the country.

The City University of New York (CUNY) launched a massive OER initiative funded by New York State. By replacing commercial books with OER across thousands of course sections, CUNY has saved students roughly $95 million in textbook costs. This systemic approach ensures that students can plan their entire academic trajectory without worrying about hidden material costs.

Benefits Beyond the Price Tag

While cost savings are the headline, the pedagogical benefits of OER are equally significant.

Immediate Access In a traditional model, students waiting for financial aid checks might not purchase their textbooks until three or four weeks into the semester. With OER, every student has access to the materials on the very first day of class. This levels the playing field and prevents students from falling behind due to administrative delays.

Customization and Relevance Commercial textbooks are often written to appeal to the widest possible audience, making them generic. OER allows professors to localize content. A statistics professor in rural Kansas can adapt word problems to feature agriculture examples, while a professor in Miami might adapt the same problems to feature marine biology. This relevance increases student engagement.

Challenges to Widespread Adoption

Despite the benefits, the shift to OER faces hurdles. The primary challenge is the time required for faculty to locate and vet materials. It is much easier to adopt a publisher-provided package that comes with pre-made slides, test banks, and homework platforms like Pearson MyLab or McGraw Hill Connect.

However, the OER community is responding. OpenStax and other providers are now partnering with technology companies to offer low-cost homework software that integrates with their free textbooks, bridging the gap between open content and the tools instructors need to manage their courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are OER textbooks as high quality as traditional books? Yes. Major OER publishers like OpenStax utilize a rigorous peer-review process similar to traditional publishing houses. Experts in the field review the materials for accuracy, clarity, and scope before they are released.

Can I print an OER textbook? Yes. Most OER materials are available as PDFs that can be printed at home or at a local print shop. Many providers, such as OpenStax, also sell high-quality hardcover or paperback versions at the cost of production (usually between $25 and $60), which is significantly cheaper than commercial alternatives.

How do I know if my college offers OER courses? Many course catalogs now include attributes or markers for “Zero Textbook Cost” or “Low Textbook Cost” sections. If you cannot find this information in the course schedule, contact the academic advisor or the registrar’s office at your institution to ask about Z-Degrees or OER specific courses.

Is OER the same as digital rental programs? No. Many publishers offer “inclusive access” or digital rental programs where the cost of the book is added to your tuition. While this is digital, it is not open. You lose access to the material after the course ends, and you cannot alter or share the content. OER is permanent and free.