PORT ANGELES, WA. – Peninsula College students will be able to search for classes based on the cost of textbooks and course materials beginning spring quarter. Through a grant from the Department of Education, several PC instructors have expanded the number of classes using Zero-Cost and Low-Cost materials to make college more affordable for students.

Bookstore manager Camilla Rico has worked to keep textbooks and the cost of class materials low for Peninsula College students for the past decade. Now the Director of Community Education & Campus Enterprises, she has prioritized improving access and affordability in higher education. In fact, during the 2020-21 school year, the average cost of textbooks and materials at PC was just $46.60 per class.

Low-Cost classes require students to purchase textbooks or materials that total $50 or less. Zero-Cost classes will not require students to purchase any textbooks or materials for classes; instead, these classes use course materials like Open Educational Resources (OER), which are freely available on the web. Tuition, fees, and the quality of instruction remain the same.

To celebrate these efforts to improve access and affordability, PC will be participating in Open Education Week from March 6 through 10. Students can participate in a variety of activities on campus to learn more about OER and Zero-Cost materials while celebrating their savings.

Are you a PC student who would like to explore Zero-Cost and Low-Cost options for spring? For more information visit Pencol.edu/lowcost or schedule a meeting with your advisor.

Interested in finding out more about our course offerings? Contact our Outreach Coordinator Gabi Fenumiai at gfenumiai@pencol.edu.