Why are college books so expensive?

trust me, i can't believe i had to work a whole week just for some damn books. i go to used bookstores now and spend about half the price.

Because they are printing books for a limited audience. It costs a lot to get them printed and bound, and then they can't expect to sell too many of them. I don't think anyone is avoiding college because of the cost of books. Maybe the cost of classes. But really, only about 15% of the population is really capable of getting a college degree, and about 40% of them try.

Yeah i spent that much too! but i think it because they know you need them and they change a paragraph and call it a different edition, reprint it and charge more. I always try to budget $100 a book, but some are more depending. If i can i buy them on half.com for much cheaper.

usually because they're all new editions of books and are therefore hardcover, which is more expensive than paperback. also, the professors write a lot of the books that are required for their classes, and if they know their students have to buy the books, they're gonna charge a lot for them. yeah... i'm in school too.

Because in college, you're on your own. High schools babysit you in some degree.