In high school, textbooks and other resources are often provided and you do not have to arrange to obtain them yourself. However, in college it is up to you to plan how you will access your course materials.
"When your financial aid is calculated, we consider not just your tuition, room and board, but also budget for other anticipated costs such as books, supplies, and travel. Unfortunately, Vassar is not able to increase your scholarship aid should you find that your actual expenses exceed the budgeted amount. Therefore, you must plan accordingly and spend wisely." (p. 3)
*The cost of course materials is included in the total Cost of Attendance as an “indirect cost which means that you are expected to budget for it on your own. Vassar assumes $2250/year in “books and personal expenses." See “Understanding your Vassar Financial Aid Award.”
If work study earnings will be used to pay for course materials, note:
Finding and confirming a work study position may take a few weeks, and you will not receive your first paycheck at least two weeks into the semester. Because of this, you may wish to take advantage of one a short-term loans.
Cash Advance
Students may add up to $600 of V-Cash on their ID card at the start of each semester (up until October 1st for Fall and March 1st for Spring) to purchase books through the Vassar College Store. The funds are essentially a “cash advance” as the amount is charged to your student account. It is expected that the student will use their work study earnings or other financial assistance to pay off the charge before the end of the semester." (Student Financial Service Student Guide 2023-2024.)
Students in need of emergency funds may apply for a no interest loan of up to $300. Application must be made to a financial aid counselor. The loan will appear as a charge on your student account and must be repaid when your next bill is due." (Student Financial Service Student Guide 2023-2024, p. 4)
*Note some departments, such as the Art and Film Departments, also offer stipends to help students pay for course materials. Please contact individual departments for more information.
Course materials can be purchased or rented online through the Vassar College Store. Try to order course materials *early* to ensure that a copy is available for you.
The College Store offers new, used, and rental options, including “Marketplace” alternatives. You may want to comparison shop by price checking online book vendors directly, such as, abebooks.com, alibris.com, Amazon or Chegg.
Exploring Editions
Textbooks and other course materials might be available through the Vassar College Libraries.
Check Vassar's Library-Search online catalog for your course materials. Note, no items in the Libraries include the accompanying access codes. You may be able to purchase access codes separately.
Reserve items have a limited checkout period: 4 hours, 1-day, or 3-days. It is important to note when the items you have borrowed are due.
Check for items on Reserve though Vassar's Library-Search online catalog Advanced Search.
Faculty members can submit a request for the textbooks, scores and other materials used in their courses to be purchased and put on Reserve at the Vassar Libraries through the Textbook Program.
If an item is not held by Vassar, you may be able to request the item through Interlibrary loan. However, libraries typically do not lend commonly used textbooks.
FLI Library
Rm. 234, Josselyn
Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 12 p.m.–7 p.m.
This space houses used textbooks, resource books, reading books, and other course materials. FLI students may borrow books from the library. Want to know if we have a book you need? Learn more about how to borrow a book (4MB).
No Access Codes: The used items in the Transitions Library do not include the accompanying access codes. Access codes usually come with new course materials, but you may be able to purchase them separately.
Free Bookstore: The Office of Sustainability
Rm. 28 (Basement) Blodgett Hall
Used copies of textbooks and other reading materials available to students for free!
Donations accepted.
Departmental Collections: Departments often have a collection of new and used course materials or "Desk Copies" that can be made available to students.
Talk with your instructor: See if the Department has any free copies of the course materials for loan. Urge them to use the Textbook Program to request that the Libraries purchase a copy to put on Reserve. Faculty members can make request(s) using the Book Request Form.
Note: Scores and other materials that are used as course materials may be requested through this site. Requests will be handled on a first come, first served basis and processing will occur throughout the semester, so requests should be made as soon as possible.
Some departments, such as the Art and Film Departments, also offer stipends to help students pay for course materials. Please contact individual departments for more information.
There are an increasing number of options for helping other students by sharing your used course materials. Consider:
