NACS Student Watch Report: Use of Digital Course Materials Is Up

OBERLIN, OHIO (June 15, 2021)—College students were more likely to obtain digital course materials for their 2020-21 academic year classes, according to the Student Watch™: Attitudes and Behaviors toward Course Materials: 2021 Report, the National Association of College Stores’ (NACS) annual survey of college students. That’s just one of the indicators showing how the pandemic impacted student learning and access to course materials in the past year.

During the 2020-21 year, many higher education institutions switched in-person classes either to fully online, hybrid models (some sessions online, some in the classroom), or HyFlex structures (optional online or in person sessions). Some campuses closed or restricted their physical facilities to students, including the campus store.

Before the pandemic, only about 35% of students were enrolled in online courses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics fall 2018 data. This year, 81% of Student Watch respondents had taken at least one fully online course this year.

“Student Watch respondents rated their learning experience higher for in-person classes than they did online-only courses,” said Brittany Conley, research analyst, NACS OnCampus Research.

Funded by the NACS Foundation, Student Watch™ is developed by OnCampus Research™, the research arm of the National Association of College Stores. Other key findings from the report, which compiled responses from approximately 11,800 college students attending 39 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, include:

• The campus store was still the number one place students turned to for obtaining their materials, but this year more students went to the campus store’s online presence instead of the physical store. Meanwhile, a little more than one in four students obtained materials directly from a publisher.

• The average course material spend (purchased plus rented course materials) per student was $456 for the 2020-21 academic year. This was up about $43 compared to 2019-20. 

• It’s not clear why the average course material spend rose in 2020-21 after declining almost every year since 2007. However, a key change in student behavior may have had an impact. In 2019-20, students acquired about the same number of materials—and spent about the same—in fall and spring terms, which has been fairly typical. But, in fall 2020, students took fewer courses (4.2 on average) and obtained fewer materials (3.5 versus 4.7 in fall 2019) while in spring 2021 they took more classes (4.4) and obtained more materials (5.0 versus 4.4 in spring 2020). Fewer students skipped acquiring materials, and publishers slightly raised prices in the spring. Also, with more students taking classes remotely, access to cheaper options was limited, such as physical rentals, sharing, using print copies at the library, or buying used copies from peers on their campus.

• Students were less likely to rent print materials in 2020-21 than a typical academic year and were more apt to buy digital materials and/or obtain free materials. This does not necessarily mean student preferences have changed; some instructors chose to require digital or free materials (which are often digital) because their classes were online.

• 58% of students reported using digital materials more this year. Only 6% reported they used digital materials less than last year.

• More students participated in inclusive access programs in 2020-21, a finding consistent with both recent Faculty Watch™ findings and campus store surveys. Student satisfaction with the programs also increased from the previous year. (Inclusive access programs deliver course materials, most often in digital formats, by the first day of class at a reduced cost, typically as a fee or included in tuition.)

• More than half of students bought a computer device (laptop, desktop, etc.) this year. Technology spending for these students averaged about $1,100, compared to $320 for students who did not buy a major device. In some cases, students already owned computers but were most likely buying upgrades to keep up with online courses.

• 30% of students seriously considered dropping out or delaying enrollment in 2020-21 year. Nontraditional students were even more likely to consider dropping out (40%).

Members of the media interested in a copy of the report should email publicrelations@nacs.org.

About The National Association of College Stores: The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents campus retailers and industry-related companies that supply course materials and other merchandise and services to campus stores. NACS provides education and other resources that help its member stores support student success, the campus experience, and the missions of higher education institutions.

About The NACS Foundation: In operation for almost four decades, the NACS Foundation is the only philanthropic resource for the campus store industry. Since its inception, it has disbursed more than $3 million for industry education and research, and awarded more than 3,000 professional development grants to college store professionals.