UCLA is raising the quarterly fee for its digital textbook program, which students said could deter them from using the service.
The quarterly fee for Bruin One Access will increase from $129 to $149 starting next fall, an ASUCLA spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The program provides students with a lower-cost alternative to purchasing individual textbooks and offers access to quizzes and course platforms through a flat-rate fee charged on students’ BruinBill accounts.
“The adjustment to the flat quarterly rate will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the program so that it remains accessible to students at a price point that is lower than traditional print textbook programs,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “Bruin One Access remains among the lowest priced program of its kind nationwide.”
Students are automatically enrolled in the program each quarter but can opt to drop the service.
Kasandra Rodriguez, a rising second-year physiological science student, said she paid the full fee last year because at least one of her classes required textbooks from the service each quarter.
However, she added that paying the flat rate felt unnecessary, especially because students already face high education costs and some classes do not use the textbooks Bruin One Access provides.
Rodriguez said she likely won’t use Bruin One Access in the future because of the price increase.
“Students already have a lot going on, and they have a lot of things that they’re worried about and paying for,” Rodriguez said. “These fees for textbooks, as minuscule as it might seem, actually can mean the difference between having access for some students.”
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Casey Chapov, a rising third-year history student, said the program could save students more money than if they bought individual textbooks. Chapov, a transfer student, added that she spent between $200 and $450 per semester on textbooks while attending Santa Monica College.
However, the increase could still place a burden on students with fewer financial resources, Chapov added.
Rodriguez said the STEM courses she took used the service far more than her humanities courses. Students’ grades for homework assignments and quizzes were often tied directly to the platform, she added.
“Even though they make it an option, it doesn’t really feel like it because your grade depends on it,” Rodriguez said.
Addison Leon, a rising third-year public health student, said she used Bruin One Access when it was required for submitting homework assignments for her Chemistry 14C: “Structure of Organic Molecules” class.
Leon said she typically prefers finding textbooks online or borrowing materials from friends.
The upcoming price increase has made her even less likely to use the program in the future, she added.
“I can’t imagine having to pay that much for every quarter because everyone has their own financial background, and that might be more of a burden for them,” Leon said.
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