New data from the Michelson Center for Public Policy reveals that California’s Zero Textbook Cost program, or ZTC Program, saved community college students $32.9 million during the 2024-25 academic year. As a result, a resolution has been introduced to the California Senate to recognize the importance of California’s Zero Textbook Cost program.
The program, which has been in place for 10 years, aims to provide relief to community college students struggling with the high cost of living in California. Affordability is a significant issue for many community college students. According to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, from 2022-23, 62% of California community college students were economically disadvantaged.
“2.2 million Californians are currently enrolled in our community colleges, with 79% surveyed reporting concern over the ability to cover the cost of course materials,” said California Sen. Jesse Arreguín when introducing the resolution to the Senate. “The ZTC Program helps students save millions of dollars and thereby removing barriers to higher education.”
The ZTC Program makes education more affordable for community college students by eliminating or reducing the cost of textbooks. Community colleges that are part of the program offer courses that don’t require students to buy textbooks or that have a low-cost option such as a free online text.
Las Positas College is a part of the ZTC Program. A certain number of courses offered at LPC either don’t require buying a textbook or have a low-cost option. Courses such as these are marked with a symbol for students to find.
The program started when the 2016 Budget Act was passed. The act, among other things, allocated $5 million to establish the “Zero-Textbook-Cost Degree Grant Program,” a program designed to reduce the cost of textbooks and reduce the time needed for community college students to earn a degree.
The $5 million was used to incentivize California Community Colleges to develop courses that required no additional textbook cost by using alternative instructing methods or free educational resources.
The success of the pilot program led to its expansion with the program receiving an unprecedented $115 million in funding in 2021. This funding was specifically implemented to create pathways to earning a certificate through only ZTC courses.
The investment paid off — the ZTC Program “delivered more than a 700% return on investment,” according to the Michelson Center for Public Policy. The program now reaches more than 300,000 students across 115 community colleges and funds over 11,000 course sections.
Funding for the ZTC Program expires at the end of 2026, limiting any expansion or updates to the program.
***
TOP PHOTO: California’s Zero Textbook Cost program saved community college students $32.9 million during the 2024-25 academic year. The program, which has been in place for 10 years, is designed to help increase graduation rates.
Nuha Maflahi is the Campus Life Editor for The Express. Follow her on X @NuhaMaflahiLPC.
