How to Pay for College Books: Your Guide to Loans, Grants, and Discounts

College is expensive—no surprise there. But it’s not just tuition that’ll drain your wallet. Textbooks can cost you nearly $1,000 a year! That’s a lot for books you might only use for a semester. The good news? You have options.

From student loans and grants to rental sites and savvy shopping tricks, there are plenty of ways to cut costs and handle the expense. Whether you’re looking for free books, cheap alternatives, or just a smarter way to pay, we’ve got you covered. Let’s break down how to pay for college books without blowing your budget.

Can you use student loans for college books?

Yes, both federal and private student loans can be used to pay for college textbooks. When you apply for student loans, your school’s cost of attendance (COA)—which includes tuition, fees, housing, and educational expenses like books and supplies—determines how much you can borrow.

Federal student loans factor in textbook costs automatically as part of financial aid awards, while private student loans also account for the COA but may have different disbursement rules. Whether your loan funds arrive in time to purchase books before classes start depends on your school’s financial aid policies and your lender’s disbursement process.

Federal student loans

If you’re using federal student loans, the amount you’re awarded is based on your school’s COA minus other financial aid. Since textbooks are considered an essential educational expense, federal loan funds can be used to cover them.

Tip

We always recommend maxing out federal student loans first, before taking out a private loan. Federal student loans have low interest rates and favorable repayment terms, and the government may even pay the interest during deferment periods depending on the loan type.

Financial aid is typically disbursed about 10 days before the semester begins. If you’re expecting a refund after tuition and fees are paid, some schools provide bookstore vouchers so you can buy textbooks before receiving your refund.

Refund timing varies. If you choose direct deposit, your funds may arrive on the first day of class. If you opt for a paper check, expect a delay.

Private student loans

Private student loans also account for the COA, but lenders have different disbursement rules. Some send loan funds directly to your school, while others deposit them into your account, giving you more flexibility in how you pay for books.

If you need private loans to cover textbook costs, compare lenders carefully. Some may offer faster disbursement timelines, while others require you to borrow larger amounts instead of just enough for books. For example, College Ave and Citizens Bank are known for their fast approval and disbursement processes, sometimes issuing funds within a few business days.

On the other hand, some lenders have higher minimum loan amounts, which might not be ideal if you only need to cover books. Ascent, for instance, has a $2,001 minimum loan amount, while SoFi requires at least $5,000, meaning you may have to borrow more than necessary if it’s mainly books you’re looking to cover.

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Looking for the right loan? Check out our guide to the best private student loans to compare your options.

How to get free college textbooks

Due to the high costs of college textbooks, many scholarships and grants can help students cover the cost of their books. 

Available funding is limited, and acceptance can be competitive, so you should apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of qualifying.

College textbook scholarships and grants

Scholarships and grants to cover textbook costs include:

• Carl A. Scott Book Memorial Fund: Students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice working toward a social work degree could be eligible for this scholarship. It offers two $500 awards to eligible students. The fund is targeted to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, but it’s open to individuals from all races.
• Passageway: The Passageway scholarship foundation offers a $1,500 scholarship to students who have participated in a regional occupation program (ROP), such as a charter school or transition program. Applicants must be high school graduates or completing high school within 60 days, and undergraduates must have a GPA of at least 2.0. Graduates must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Foundation of NACE Scholarship: The National Association for Catering and Events offers three different scholarships to eligible students pursuing a career in event management. You must submit an essay when applying for these scholarships, and some have minimum GPA requirements.

Check with the Department of Education in your state or your school’s financial aid office to find out about additional scholarships and textbook grants. This will help you find free college textbooks where you live or attend school.

Other ways to save money on college textbooks

Regardless of how you’re paying for your college textbooks, it benefits you to find ways to save on this expense. Here are several tactics to help you avoid paying full price for college books this semester.

• Rent your books: You can use sites such as Chegg to rent books at a significant discount to purchasing them. This is ideal for books you’ll use only for a semester.
• Buy used: If your professor doesn’t require the latest issue or if the most recent issue of your textbook is now several years old, buying used can be a terrific way to save. 
• Buy e-books: Many textbooks now come in an e-book format you can download and read on your tablet. This won’t work for reference books or books you need to write in, but it can be a fantastic option for books you just need to read. It can save cash and lessen the load you’ll carry around campus.
• Share with a classmate: If you take the same course but at different hours as another student, consider splitting the cost of a textbook with them. Just be sure you can work out a system to provide you both with enough access to the book.
• Check the library: Look at your school or local library. Many books might be available there. 

At the end of the semester or quarter, you can sell books back to your school’s bookstore or online. This returns some of the initial costs to you. You can use the funds for other expenses—such as next semester’s books—or apply them to your student loan.

Erin Kinkade , CFP®, ChFC®

You have plenty of options to save on the cost of college textbooks, including grants, and scholarships.

Paying for books with federal or private loan funds is a legitimate use of your student loan money, so don’t worry if some of your student aid needs to go toward helping you cover this expense.

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