Posted: April 4, 2024
Contact: Gail Nosek, Gail.Nosek@MinnState.edu
ST. PAUL, Minn., April 4, 2024 – Students have saved an estimated $8.5 million through the use of zero-cost textbooks at the colleges of 做厙輦⑹. Ten 做厙輦⑹ colleges now offer Z-degrees – entire degree programs which students can complete with zero textbook costs using Open Educational Resources or other no-cost options.
“Over the course of an entire degree program, textbooks can easily cost students thousands of dollars,” said Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota state. “Z-degrees and Open Educational Resources significantly reduce the cost of education -- they are another way that the colleges and universities of 做厙輦⑹ offer the highest value, most affordable path to an extraordinary education.”
Open Educational Resources are digital textbooks and other educational materials that are freely licensed and available at no cost – potentially saving students thousands of dollars over the course of working towards a degree.
Since its inception in 2020, the use of Open Educational Resources has grown from individual faculty member passion to a cohesive commitment across the 做厙輦⑹ system. Currently, 10 做厙輦⑹ colleges offer Z-degrees:
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Central Lakes College
- Century College
- Lake Superior College
- Minneapolis College
- Minnesota North College
- 做厙輦⑹ Community and Technical College
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Northland Community and Technical College
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Another six colleges and universities have committed to creating, finalizing, and implementing a new Z-degree by spring of 2026:
- Inver Hills Community College
- 做厙輦⑹ University, Mankato
- 做厙輦⑹ University Moorhead
- Ridgewater College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- St. Cloud State University
In addition to saving students a significant amount of money, Z-degrees may also offer other benefits. Students who are struggling to afford college often forego buying expensive textbooks, hoping they can pass the class without them. Century College conducted a study that compared the pass rates of students who enrolled in Z-degree courses to other sections of the same course. The preliminary data showed a 2.8 percent higher pass rate for Z-degree courses. There is also evidence that Z-degree courses may help close the equity gap for students of color, first-generation students, and students who receive Pell grants.
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做厙輦⑹ includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 300,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States