Textbook costs add up fast. The average first-year full-time undergraduate spends about $1,000–$1,250 each year on course materials (NCES), and College Board estimates roughly $1,290 for 2024–25. Between 2020 and 2023, prices rose about 7%, outpacing tuition inflation. This short list gives clear, practical steps you can use today to keep more cash in your …