Introduction

At the University of Maryland, many professors require costly textbooks, homework site subscriptions needed to complete classwork, and/or additional materials that some students cannot afford. As many students’ financial situations are different, it is important to make accommodations to these requirements. By researching how the University of Maryland can lower or eliminate the cost of course materials, it can benefit the students from having the burden of pay for them on top of their already expensive tuition.

Problem Statement

Many UMD students struggle financially to pay for college tuition as it is. While these students are often also paying for rent, food, gas, and more, the difficulty of paying for course textbooks and materials just adds to the struggle. Course textbooks and materials are typically very expensive, and can leave students with the tough decision of whether to pay their rent on time, or to buy textbooks.

Our goal is to figure out how the University of Maryland can better assist students with the burden of required course materials.