Affordable College Textbook Act

The Affordable College Textbook Act proposes to establish a permanent federal grant program designed to lower the cost of higher education by supporting the use of open textbooks. These resources are educational materials that are either in the public domain or released under licenses that allow students and teachers to use, adapt, and share them for free. Under this bill, the Department of Education would award grants to colleges, universities, or states to help them create and implement these free materials in their classrooms.

If enacted, the bill aims to provide students with more affordable alternatives to traditional, expensive textbooks. Beyond funding the creation of materials, the legislation would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study within three years to analyze the rising costs of college textbooks and identify the factors driving those price increases. This research is intended to help Congress understand how to further improve transparency and affordability for students and families in the future.