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How to College - A Virtual Book Display for Students: Textbook Hacks

An all-in-one source for resources and library materials for UofL Students

No-Cost, Low-Cost, A+ Hacks

College can be costly, but savvy Cards know how to save without compromising success. Check out these essential hacks to cut costs and make the most of your UofL experience!

Quick Tips

  • Search the course catalog for classes labled as low-cost or no-cost materials

  • Ask your professor about older editions or online alternatives.

  • Rent or buy used textbooks instead of buying new ones.

  • Use price comparison tools like BookScouter to find the best deals.

  • Swap or share textbooks with friends or previous students.

  • Sell your textbooks at the end of the semester for extra cash.
     

piggy bank

List of Courses with Low-Cost and No-Cost Materials

The following list includes courses where professors have noted the use of low-cost or zero-cost course materials. Please note that this list is not comprehensive, as many professors may use low-cost options without informing the course schedulers. Additionally, the list may not always be up to date, but it will be periodically updated before open enrollment closes. For the most current list of courses, please follow the instructions for finding courses.

**Please note that some of these classes may have additional fees. For specific details about the costs, please check the schedule of courses.

List of Courses Marked as Low-Cost or Zero-Cost Materials

Business

🟩 BUS 201 (Sec 01, 02, 03) - Zero Cost

🟩 ENTR 370 (sec 01) – Zero Cost
🟩 EQIN 204 (sec 01) – Zero Cost

🟨 EQIN 304 (sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 EQIN 313 (sec 01)-Zero Cost

🟩 EQIN 402 (sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 EQIN 404 (sec 01)- Zero Cost

General Education and Humanities

🟩 GEN 100 (Sec 01, 02,50) – Zero Cost
🟩 GEN 101 (Sec 04,05,51) – Zero Cost

🟩 GEN 201 (Sec 50, 51) - Zero Cost

🟨HIST 328 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨HIST 355 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 HON 341 (Sec 06) - Zero Cost

🟩 HUM 102 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 HUM 105 (Sec 01, 05, 50) -Zero Cost

🟨 HUM 105 (Sec 51) - Low Cost

🟩 HUM 152 (Sec 50, 51) - Zero Cost

🟨HUM 216 (Sec 02, 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 HUM 310 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 HUM 312 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨HUM 317 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨HUM 320 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 HUM 326 (Sec 02) - Zero Cost

🟨 HUM 331 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 HUM 338 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 HUM 361 (Sec 01, 50) - Low Cost

🟨 HUM 387 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 HUM 524 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 HUM 663 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 HUM 682 (Sec 02) - Low Cost

🟨 LBST 300 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 LBST 400 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 LBST 401 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 PAS 206 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 PAS 300 (Sec 50) - Low Cost
🟩 PAS 317 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 PHIL 305 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 PHIL 325 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

Educational Leadership

🟨 ECPY 619 (Sec 50) – Low Cost
🟩 EDSP 260 (Sec 02) – Zero Cost
🟩 EDSP 471 (Sec 96) – Zero Cost
🟩 EDSP 584 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟩 EDSP 585 (Sec 51) – Zero Cost
🟨 EDSP 439 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost

🟨 EDSP 450 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 EDSP 536 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟨 EDSP 611 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟨 EDSP 669 (Sec 50) - Low Cost
🟩 EDTP 201 (Sec 01, 04) – Zero Cost

🟨 EDTP 201 (Sec 03) - Low Cost
🟩 LEAD 256 (Sec 50, 51) – Zero Cost

🟨 LEAD 307 (Sec 50) - Low Cost
🟩 LEAD 308 (Sec 51) – Zero Cost

Languages

🟨FREN 250 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 GER 121 (Sec 50, 51) - Zero Cost

🟩 GER 221 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 GER 280 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 GER 321 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 GR 102 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 GR 202 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 LAT 102 (Sec 01,02) – Low Cost

🟨 LAT 202 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 LAT 302 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 LING 325 (Sec 01)- Zero Cost

🟨 LING 507 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 LING 522 (Sec 02) - Low Cost

🟩 ML 330 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 SPAN 205 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 SPAN 325 (Sec 02)- Low Cost

Sciences and Health

🟨 BIOL 203 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 BIOL 241 (Sec 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10)- Low Cost

🟨 BIOL 258 (Sec 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08) - Low Cost

🟩BIOL 264 (Sec 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09) - Zero Cost

🟨 BIOL 330 (Sec 02) - Low Cost

🟩 BIOL 415 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 BIOL 430 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 BIOL 567 (Sec 02) - Zero Cost

🟨 BIOL 650 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 BIOL 667 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 728 (Sec 01, 02, 03) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 729 (Sec 01, 02, 03) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 730 (Sec 01, 02) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 731 (Sec 01, 02) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 755 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 NURS 777 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 788 (Sec 01, 02, 03) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 823 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 841 (Sec 50, 51, 52) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 842 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 843 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHPH 491 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHPH 492 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 CHEM 201 (Sec 01, 02,50, 75) - Low Cost

🟨 CHEM 202 (Sec 01, 02, 03, 03A, 03B, 03C, 04, 50, 75)- Low Cost

🟩 CHEM 622 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 ENVS 218 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 ENVS 219 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 ENVS 367 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 ENVS 571 (Sec 50, 52) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 600 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 606 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 618 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 619 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 621 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 MBIO 687 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 205 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 206 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 221 (Sec 01, 90) - Low Cost

🟨 NURS 251 (Sec 01, 90) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 252 (Sec 90) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 253 (Sec 90) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 310 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 382 (Sec 51) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 383 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 387 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 388 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 435 (Sec 01,90) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 436 (Sec 01, 90) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 470 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 476 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 488 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 491 (Sec 01, 90) - Zero Cost

🟩 NURS 657 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 NURS 679 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟨 NURS 725 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟩 NURS 727 (Sec 01, 02) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 107 (Sec 04, 52) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 108 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 221 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 222 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 223 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 298 (Sec 02, 02A, 02B, 03, 05, 05A) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHYS 299 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 606 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 608 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 616 (Sec 02) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 617 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 621 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 630 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 642 (Sec 01, 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PHZB 643 (Sec 01, 50) - Zero Cost

Social Sciences

🟨 ANTH 201 (Sec 01, 02, 50) - Low Cost

🟨 ANTH 310 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 ANTH 337 (Sec 01, 50) - Low Cost

🟨 ANTH 344 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 ANTH 352 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟨 ANTH 376 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 ANTH 475 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 ANTH 508 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 ANTH 510 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 ANTH 610 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 CHST 271 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 CHST 313 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 COMM 238 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟩 GEOG 316 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 GEOG 361 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 GEOG 385 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 GEOG 442 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 GEOG 559 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 GEOG 656 (Sec 75) - Low Cost

🟩 GEOG 685 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟨 LALS 311 (Sec 01) - Low Cost

🟩 MSSW 648 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PSYC 410 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 PSYC 414 (Sec 03) - Zero Cost

🟩 PSYC 602 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟩 PSYC 638 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 SOC 442 (Sec 50) - Low Cost

🟩 URBS 131 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 201 (Sec 52, 54) - Zero Cost

🟨 WGST 201 (Sec 07) - Low Cost

🟩 WGST 202 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 203 (Sec 01, 03, 53) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 301 (Sec 01) - Zero Cost

🟨 WGST 303 (Sec 01, 50) - Low Cost

🟨 WGST 332 (Sec 52, 55) - Low Cost

🟩 WGST 391 (Sec 02) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 393 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 395 (Sec 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 500 (Sec 01, 50) - Zero Cost

🟩 WGST 591 (Sec 01-) - Zero Cost

🟨 WGST 591 (Sec 04) - Low Cost

🟨 WGST 692 (Sec 03) - Low Cost

*As of 3/24/25

*As of 3/24/25

Business

🟩 BUS 301 (Sec 40, 50, 51) – Zero Cost

General Education & Humanities

🟩 LBST 400 (Sec 51) – Zero Cost
🟩 PHIL 211 (Sec 51) – Zero Cost
🟩 PHIL 219 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟨 PHIL 222 (Sec 51) – Low Cost

Sciences & Health

🟩 BIOL 264 (Sec 20) – Zero Cost
🟩 BIOL 265 (Sec 30) – Zero Cost
🟩 PHZB 644 (Sec 1, 2) – Zero Cost
🟩 PHZB 645 (Sec 1, 2) – Zero Cost

Social Sciences

🟩 SOC 451 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟨 SOC 343 (Sec 50) – Low Cost

Education & Leadership

🟩 LEAD 256 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟩 LEAD 410 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟩 LEAD 413 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟩 LEAD 450 (Sec 50) – Zero Cost
🟨 LEAD 307 (Sec 50) – Low Cost

Languages

🟩 GER 280 (Sec 51) – Zero Cost

What do I do if my courses don't have affordable options?

Step 1: Confirm Your Required Textbooks

Before anything else, confirm the required textbooks for your classes. Once you receive your class schedules and book lists, read your syllabi carefully to see which books are required and which are optional. If you're unsure, don't hesitate to reach out to your professors.

Best Questions to Ask Your Professor:

  • How often is this textbook used in class?

  • Can I use an older edition? Which edition(s) are acceptable?

  • Is this textbook required or recommended?

  • Can any of the readings be found online or as free/low-cost PDFs?

These questions can help you make informed decisions on whether you truly need to buy the textbook and which version would work best.

Step 2: Free Textbook Options

There are a few options to access textbooks without breaking the bank:

  • UofL Libraries: Check with UofL Libraries to see if the required textbooks are available. While textbooks are not typically purchased for library collections, instructors may place some course materials on Course Reserves for students to borrow. These books are available for short-term use. If the book isn’t available, you can Ask Us for assistance.

  • Online Resources: Check if the required readings are available through the library’s digital platforms like EBSCOhost or JSTOR. You may also find free, legal, downloadable textbooks through resources like OpenStax or Project Gutenberg.

  • Textbook Sharing and Swapping: If you have a reliable friend or study buddy, consider swapping textbooks. You can also ask students who took the class in previous semesters if they still have the textbook and would be willing to lend or sell it to you for the semester.

Step 3: Buying or Renting Textbooks

If borrowing or sharing textbooks isn’t an option, here are ways to buy them at lower prices:

  • Student-to-Student Sales: Ask your friends or check your school’s student portal, Facebook groups, or student organizations to see if anyone is selling their textbooks. Students often sell their books at reasonable prices to avoid the hassle of dealing with book buyback programs.

  • Search Facebook Groups: U of L Used Book Exchange 

  • Renting Textbooks: Renting textbooks can save you a lot of money if you don’t need the book again after the semester. You can rent textbooks online through websites like Chegg, Amazon, or UofL bookstore.

  • Price Comparison Tools: Before buying, use a price comparison tool like BookScouter to compare prices for new, used, or rental textbooks. This can help you find the best deal without visiting multiple websites.

  • Used Books at Local Bookstores: Check your local bookstores for used versions of the textbooks. Used textbooks are often significantly cheaper than new ones. Plus, they may already have highlights or notes from previous students!

Step 4: At the End of the Semester

  • Return Rented Textbooks: Don’t forget to return rented textbooks on time to avoid late fees! Set a reminder so you don’t miss the return deadline.

  • Textbook Buyback Programs: Check buyback prices for your textbooks using BookScouter. This tool allows you to compare buyback prices from multiple bookstores, so you can sell your used textbooks at the best rate. You can use the money to buy books for next semester or treat yourself!

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