Students never own Inclusive Access content—they usually rent it, sometimes for a higher price than a print rental.

Unlike buying a used or new print textbook, students typically lose access to Inclusive Access content sometime after the course ends. If they want to regain or extend access, they may need to pay more. Even if students get access for longer periods or even “perpetual access,” they cannot share or resell the content.

Do students want to keep their materials?

While print rentals are a popular cost-saving strategy for students, less than a majority rent. According to the National Association of College Stores, 35% of students acquired materials by renting. This number has fallen from a peak of 45% in 2018. While this trend may be influenced by other factors such as the growth of free materials, it is significant that less than half of students choose to rent, despite widespread availability of rental models.