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Innovation Increases as the Cost of Course Materials Decreases

Aug 21, 2025

When higher education institutions implement engaging digital learning resources delivered through Affordable Access programs, they increase access, affordability, and student success.

What are Affordable Access Programs?

Affordable Access programs are digital-first course material delivery models that ensure all students have access to materials on the first day of class at a reduced cost.

Student Spending on Course Materials is Down

Tuition, Fees, Housing, and Food of Four-Year Institutions (2014-2025)

Four-Year University

A line graph with an upward trend showing tuition and fees of four-year institutions increasing over 10 years.

Student Spending on Course Materials (2014-2025)

A line graph with a downward trend showing student spending on course materials decreasing over 10 years.

Green icon of a downward pointing arrow indicating a decline in student spending

Student Watch reports

40% decline

in student spending on course materials over the past decade.

Ma, Jennifer, Matea Pender, and Meghan Oster (2024). Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2024, College Board. p.11, p.13., https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing

Association of American Publishers . (2025, August 25). New reports from Student Watch and student monitor show that students are saving more and spending less on course materials - aap. AAP - The Voice of American Publishing. https://publishers.org/news/new-reports-from-student-watch-and-student-monitor-show-that-students-are-saving-more-and-spending-less-on-course-materials/

Course completion rates increase when students have day-one access to course materials

A bar graph comparing the course completion rate between students who opted out vs. enrolled in affordable access programs.

“We’ve seen a 3% decrease in students withdrawing from courses in the first 12 class days because of day-one access. In the last four or five years, we’ve also seen about a 10% increase in completion rates.”

– Senior Vice Provost of Academic Services, Dallas College

Bryant, G., McVety, C. (2025, April). Course Materials in Higher Education. Tyton Partners. p.12., https://tytonpartners.com/course-materials-in-higher-education/

Course Materials Account for Just a Small Fraction of Total Student Costs

Public Four-Year In-State On-Campus 2024

A multicolored pie chart shows the breakdown of student spending in higher education.

Ma, Jennifer, Matea Pender, and Meghan Oster (2024). Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2024, College Board. p.11., https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing

Advancing Learning through AI-Based Course Materials

Two pie charts side by side comparing 82% of administrators and 69% of instructors who agree that students need to know how to use GenAI for future jobs and careers.

agree that students need to know how to use GenAI for future jobs and careers.

Shaw, C., Dorn, H., Martin, S., Hay, L., Janson, N., & Bryant, G. (2025, June). Time for Class - 2025. Tyton Partners. p. 7., https://tytonpartners.com/time-for-class-2025/

Personal use of GenAI tools has increased across all institutional audiences since spring 2023.

A multicolored bar chart comparing the personal use of GenAI tools between administrators, instructors and students

Shaw, C., Dorn, H., Martin, S., Hay, L., Janson, N., & Bryant, G (2025, June). Time for Class - 2025. Tyton Partners. pg. 6., https://tytonpartners.com/time-for-class-2025/

Improved familiarity with courseware and AI platforms for faculty results in decreased time spent on:

Grading and data analytics (-1.3 hours)
Course creation (-1.4 hours)

A blue clock illustration showing time reduced by two thirds for instructors.

This makes up over

two thirds of the time reduced

for instructors.

Shaw, C., Dorn, H., Martin, S., Hay, L., Janson, N., & Bryant, G. (2025, June). Time for Class - 2025. Tyton Partners. p. 28., https://tytonpartners.com/time-for-class-2025/

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