For daughter’s first semester, she ordered all the books from the bookstore. We looked online but almost all the books listed were for new editions, and she was scared to use an older version. It was over $1000. As a sophomore, friends gave her books, she figured out that she didn’t need all the books the profs listed, she could order online, use past editions. She hasn’t spent more than $200 since. My other daughter had the same experience, with computer codes being the most expensive thing she can’t avoid.
Even though her tuition has gone up (and up and up) every year, other costs have gone down. Books, ‘setting up the dorm’ as she doesn’t care anymore about decorating, meal plans (way, way cheaper as they gouge the freshmen at her school), transportation as she bums rides.