Yes, you can use federal and private student loans for books and other education-related expenses. However, buying every book on the course list from the campus store isn’t the way to do it.
Continue reading to learn how using student loans for books works along with some tips and tricks for buying books for college.
How Can I Use Student Loans for Books?
If you need to use student loan money to pay for books, know this: you will not have immediate access to your student loan funds.
All your borrowed or awarded money is applied in a specific order. It works like this:
- First, your financial aid award (scholarships, grants, and federal student loans) and any private student loans are applied to your tuition, required fees, and room and board bills.
- Then, any remaining funds get refunded to you as directed—a check or a direct deposit. In some cases, the college will give you some of that balance in the form of book vouchers for the student bookstore. You can, and nearly always should opt-out of these vouchers and purchase books on your own.
Your university is required to disburse the lesser of your expected credit balance or the actual amount needed to cover books and supplies within the first week of the term. Once you’re reimbursed, you can use the funds, which include leftover student loan money, to purchase books and supplies.
Learn more about financial aid disbursement here.
Should I Use Student Loans for Textbooks?
Sure, you can use student loans for books, but should you?
No.
Ideally, you should avoid using student loans for books if possible. Why? Because everything costs more than it should when you use student loans to make purchases.
According to CollegeBoard, the average student for the 2018-2019 school year spent $620 per semester on books and supplies. If you use savings to cover that expense, you’re only spending $620.
If you use federal student loans to cover the expense, you’ll actually end up spending $720 assuming a 4.53% interest rate and a standard 10-year repayment term.
If you’re using private student loan money to pay for books, you’ll could end up paying even more depending on the interest rate available.
Over your four years in college, you’d spend $800 more if you buy books with a federal student loan and $2,720 more if you buy books with a private student loan than if you used savings to cover the costs instead.
Tips for Saving Money on College Textbooks
Unfortunately, it’s not possible for every student to pay for their textbooks with savings. If that’s you, you need to do what you can to cut down textbook costs. It might take some extra time, but the savings are worth it.
Follow these tips to save money when shopping for college textbooks:
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Only Buy What You Need
It’s possible that your syllabus isn’t 100% accurate. Don’t waste student loan money paying for books that you don’t actually need. Send an email to each of your professors. Introduce yourself and explain that you’re trying to limit expenses. Then, ask if you could use the older version of the textbooks listed and if there are any listed books that you don’t need to purchase.
If you don’t hear back (or aren’t satisfied with the response), try to find someone who took the class last year. There’s a good chance the class hasn’t changed. Ask them what books they really needed and which they didn’t. Hold off on purchasing the books you probably won’t need.
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Borrow Books from the Library
Before buying any books for class, search the library catalog to see what’s available at your local library and your college’s library. Bear in mind that other students might plan to check the book out too, so check it out as soon as possible.
In addition to their catalogs, libraries also offer these free resources:
- Hoopla: Hoopla is a digital subscription service sponsored by libraries across the country. It lets you check out eBooks, audiobooks, music, and other digital content for free. Check if your local library or college library has a subscription, and if so, create an account with your library card. It’s unlikely you’ll find textbooks, but Hoopla might have supplementary books like novels or non-textbook nonfiction books available. There’s no waiting or holding period before downloading a book.
- Libby: Libby is a digital service used by libraries that lets you check out audiobooks, eBooks, and magazines. Again, it’s not likely you’ll find textbooks, but you might find other nonfiction books or novels. Unlike Hoopla, Libby requires borrowers to put holds on books that are currently checked out, so it’s possible the book you want won’t be available when you need it for class.
- Interlibrary Loan: Libraries partner with one another to allow patrons to check out books and other materials from any partnering library. This free service is called an interlibrary loan. If the book you want isn’t available at your college’s library, you might be able to request it from another college. Check with your college’s library or your local library for details on how long you can keep books checked out.
- Library Databases: Some library databases contain PDF copies of books, including textbooks. Visit the library’s database resources and search within those to find books on your list. ProQuest is a good database to start with.
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Search for a Free (and Legal) Copy Online
Some textbook authors and publishers make their books legally available for free online. Do a quick search before making a purchase to see if there’s a free (and legal) eBook or PDF copy out there. Start with Google Books and Google Scholar.
If you’re taking an English literature class, be sure to check Project Gutenberg. This site releases digital copies of older books with expired U.S. copyrights.
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Share with a Friend
Share books with friends who will be in the same class as you. Split the cost or just take turns purchasing the books for shared classes. In a pinch, you can always photocopy pages if one of you is headed home for the weekend or a mid-semester break.
Sharing books works great when there’s a school-specific book you need that’s only sold at the campus bookstore.
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Compare Prices with CheapestTextbooks.com
Find the best rates on textbooks from CheapestTextbooks.com. Simply type in the book’s ISBN number and the search engine will compare prices and shipping costs from all discount college textbook stores, including Amazon. Relevant coupon and discount codes show up too. Use the tool to find used books, new books, to-rent books, and eBooks.
The site will even recommend if you should rent or buy based on the cost of renting vs buying and the current sellback value.
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Find the Sell/Buy Textbook Facebook Group for Your College
Check Facebook for a sell/buy textbook group for your college. On these groups, students list textbooks that they’re looking to purchase or looking to sell. The groups are usually set up by students for students, so your best bet is to ask a current student if one exists.
Most textbook groups are fairly organized and searchable. Simply type in the class name or the book’s ISBN number to see if anyone is selling what you need. Books sold by students are often cheaper than those you find online. If not, students are usually willing to match online prices.
Check the Facebook group before purchasing any school-specific book editions from the campus bookstore.
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Consider Purchasing or Renting eBooks over Paper Books
If you already own an e-reader or a tablet, buying or renting eBooks could save you money. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of eBooks before committing. Some students do better when they can physically hold, flip through, and take notes in a book. For others, the cost-savings are worth it.
Either way, you should never assume an eBook is cheaper than a used hardcopy. Always compare the prices of both and factor in a hardcopy’s buyback value too.
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Choose Loose Leaf
Some book publishers sell budget-friendly loose leaf (also called binder-ready) copies in addition to traditionally bound textbooks. Loose leaf copies are usually $10+ cheaper than their bound counterpart. Most are three-hole-punched too, so you’ll just need a three-ring binder to keep the pages contained.
What Should I Do with Leftover Student Loan Money?
If you have any student loan money left over after purchasing books, give it back. It might feel tempting to keep it in your bank account, but remember, you’ll end up paying for it later.
