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Day-one access. Lower costs. Better outcomes.

Affordable Access programs help institutions ensure students have the course materials they need from day one while supporting affordability, retention, and course completion goals.

36%

Average Student Savings聽
Students participating in Affordable Access programs saved an average of 36% per course.

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14%

Higher Graduation Rates
Graduation rates increased by 14 percentage points, from 36% to 50%, over ten years following implementation.

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60%

Less Likely to Withdraw聽
Students with day-one access to course materials are 27% more likely to earn a passing grade and 60% less likely to withdraw from a course.

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85%

Improved Student Readiness聽
85% of faculty reported improved student readiness after implementing Affordable Access.

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What Affordable Access Makes Possible

An intentional approach to course material access can lower costs, ensure all students have required materials from day one, and support course completion.

Students Start Ready to Learn

Day-one access removes barriers to participation.
When students are still searching for, purchasing, or waiting on course materials after classes begin, they lose valuable time. First-day access removes these early barriers, helping students engage from the start and stay on track.

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Students Start Ready to Learn

Day-one access removes barriers to participation.
When students are still searching for, purchasing, or waiting on course materials after classes begin, they lose valuable time. First-day access removes these early barriers, helping students engage from the start and stay on track.

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Access is Part of the Learning Experience

Bring course materials into the academic experience, without limiting faculty choice.
Course materials are essential to participation and completion. Affordable Access makes access part of the academic experience, helping students start with the materials they need while preserving faculty choice鈥攊ncluding publisher content, OER, or a combination of resources.

Affordable Access Models Support Institutional Goals

Make course material access part of a broader student success strategy.
Affordable Access connects course material strategy to broader institutional priorities, including student success, affordability, and accessibility.

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Ready to explore what an Affordable Access model could look like at your institution?聽

Affordable Access in Action

Explore the Impact of Affordable Access Programs in Your State

Hover over a state on this map to view the number of institutions using inclusive access programs and the annual savings.

(4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025)

Choose the Model That Fits Your Institution

Affordable Access programs can be implemented in different ways depending on your institution's priorities, bookstore model, and student population. Explore the options below to see which approach best aligns with your goals.

Sometimes referred to as 鈥淔irst Day,鈥 鈥淔ollett Access,鈥 or 鈥淚mmediate Access.鈥

  • Faculty decide whether their course/section participates. If they do, students access digital course materials via the institution鈥檚 Learning Management System (LMS) on or before the first day of class.
  • Students pay a discounted rate for the materials on their student account alongside tuition and fees, making them eligible to be covered by financial aid.
  • Students are provided a process to 鈥渙pt out鈥 for each participating course if they wish to purchase independently.

Sometimes referred to as 鈥淓quitable Access,鈥 鈥淔irst Day Complete,鈥 鈥淎ll-In Access,鈥 or 鈥淎ccess Complete.鈥

  • All courses in a particular academic program, college, or institution participate.
  • Students access digital course materials for the term through the institution鈥檚 Learning Management Systems (LMS) on or before the first day of class.
  • A discounted flat fee per credit hour or term is added to a student鈥檚 account alongside tuition and fees, making it eligible for financial aid. This fee covers materials for all courses taken during the term.
  • Students can choose to 鈥渙pt out鈥; however, by doing so, they agree to obtain all their course materials independently that term.

A combination of Complete and Inclusive Access programs. The difference is how the student elects to participate.

  • Cascading Access is initially delivered in the same way as a Complete Access program, where students are provided access to all their required materials for the term, on or before the first day of class, and charged a discounted flat fee per credit hour or term.
  • If a student opts out of the program, they can still purchase their materials by course individually at a discounted rate through the institution or bookstore鈥搇ike an Inclusive Access model.

Impact Across Campus

Read how students, faculty, and campus leaders are experiencing the impact of Affordable Access.

Tools for Building Your Affordable Access Strategy

  • Affordable Access Launch Guide

    鈥↖nsights, steps, and lessons learned from successful higher education affordability implementations.Find answers to your questions about Affordable Access programs.

    Get Started

  • Affordable Access Myths vs. Reality鈥

    Many of the assumptions that shaped Affordable Access programs no longer reflect today's research, technology, or institutional goals. Explore five common myths and the evidence behind them.

    Read the Blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the questions institutions ask most about Affordable Access, from affordability to regulations, faculty choice, and financial aid.

Affordable Access is an umbrella term for programs designed to make course materials more affordable and accessible for students. 糖心Vlog supports a variety of Affordable Access options, including Inclusive Access, which provides course materials to students on a course-by-course basis, and Equitable Access, which expands the model across an instution or department to provide students with campus-wide access to required learning materials.


Inclusive and Equitable Access programs are digital-first course material delivery models designed by institutions and their bookstores to provide students with access to required materials on or before the first day of class at significantly reduced costs.


Inclusive Access and Equitable Access reduce costs by providing required digital course materials at discounted, financial-aid-eligible prices rather than requiring students to purchase each resource individually.

Yes, Inclusive and Equitable Access programs must include an opt-out process for students who choose to purchase course materials outside of the program on their own.


To access Inclusive Access books, log in to your course through your school鈥檚 learning management system, such as Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, or Moodle. Open the course where Inclusive Access is being used, then select the 糖心Vlog or course materials link provided by your instructor. Your eBook or digital materials should open automatically if your course is set up for Inclusive Access.


Inclusive Access and Equitable Access are course-material purchasing and delivery models, while open educational resources, or OER, are materials published under an open license that generally allows them to be used, shared, and adapted at no cost.


Affordable Access programs help ensure students have access to required course materials on or before the first day of class. By reducing cost and access barriers, these programs can help students come to class prepared, participate more fully in coursework, and stay engaged throughout the term.

Colleges and universities can work with 糖心Vlog to identify an Affordable Access model that aligns with their courses, students, and institutional goals. Implementation may involve collaboration among faculty, administrators, bookstore partners, and other stakeholders to provide students with convenient, affordable access to required course materials.

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Do you have questions?

Send your questions about Affordable Access programs our way. We鈥檒l be in touch.

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