Why doesn't the cost of college tuition cover the cost of books too?

Because different classes have different books at different costs. I wouldn't want it all piled together and then have to pay out more than I might of had to with buying my own books for the classes I am taking. If you don't like this country you do have the freedom to go to college else where.

i like that, This Country. As if congress woke up and said 'hey, lets rip college students off' Books are a ripoff, and professors know this. In all my years in college, I bought 6 books. 4 I didn't need. Don't buy the book, if by the 4th class you still don't need it, don't buy it. College Education is not a right. You are not guarenteed a college degree. It is expensive, and it is tough. Big Deal. Get over it or quit.

thanks to 30yrs of Reaganomics!! they PLANNED it this way to keep us in debt and afraid, of losing our jobs and Afraid of terrorissstt!, so they can steal us blind why we bleat like sheep....keeeep us saaafe, keeep us saaaaafe........ In most European countries college education is FREE!! some even up to a PHD! they know the value of investing in their human capital. Read Naomi Kleins book, below, and wake up America Just dig the BLEATING answers from the posters above me....OY Vey!!

It would make no sense to include the cost of books with tuition, because the engineering major that needs to spend six hundred dollars per semester on books would be paying the same as the education major that needs to spend one hundred and fifty. Yes, textbooks are a ripoff in the US. Textbooks companies sell the exact same books in other countries for a lot less. You can go to websites like half.com and find books for a lot less than your college bookstore because they import them from overseas. Instead of offending a whole bunch of people by telling us that our country is riduculous, do something useful like writing to people who can do something about it.