Rent your books: Some websites such as Chegg.com enable students to rent books at a lower cost than buying them. This choice is ideal for expensive texts you’ll use only for one semester.
Buy used: Ask your professor if an older copy of the text is acceptable to use. Many texts have only minor additions or updates. Used copies are often considerably less expensive.
Buy e-books: These days most textbooks are available to buy or rent in electronic format as well. Because there is no printing cost overhead, these editions are often much less expensive than their printed counterparts.
Share with a classmate: Consider sharing the cost of a textbook with a classmate. Going this route halves the cost of the investment if you can make it work.
Utilize your libraries course reserves: Oakton campuses at Skokie and Des Plaines have many of the textbooks for classes available for borrowing for a two hour time limit behind the circulation desk. This option works well if you are often on campus and don't mind needing to be flexible about when you are able to access the text.
Books and Technology
Outside of tuition, books and technology can be one of the most expensive items on your college budget. This page tracks some resources specifically for these items but you can also often use general aid for these as well.
One-time awards of $100.00 – $1,000.00 are awarded to college/university, technical, vocational, and graduate students. High school students (over the age of 16) are invited to apply for aid directed toward one of these institutions of higher learning. Applicants must attend an institution in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Funding is available for fall and spring semesters.
Students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice who are working towards a social work degree could be eligible for this scholarship. It offers two $500 awards to eligible students with at least a 3.0 grade point average. The scholarship is offered by the Council on Social Work Education and is open only to African American, Native American, Asian American, Mexican American, or Puerto Rican students.
Each year the SGA provides students financial resources to assist with the cost of text book. The application to be considered is available at: https://www.oakton.edu/admission/forms/21_22/21-22textbkpurchase.pdf Students may email their completed applications to financialaid@oakton.edu
Laptop4Learning offers college students free laptops through their L4L program. If you are a college or university student who needs access to a laptop for classwork, assignments, or other educational needs, this resource might be for you.
Apple offers special discount pricing for Macbook and Macbook Air to new college students, as well as discounts on Apple Care. Current deals include a free pair of Apple Ear Pods.