Eastern Kentucky University announced changes to its free textbook program Wednesday, shifting to a discounted model to comply with new federal financial aid regulations taking effect in 2026.

The university's BookSmart program, which has provided free textbooks to students since Fall 2021, will transition to an at-cost model starting Fall 2026. Under new federal guidelines for Title IV of the Higher Education Act, continuing to offer free textbooks would negatively impact students' federal aid eligibility.

Starting Fall 2026, participating students will pay a flat $26 per credit hour for all textbooks and course materials through the program's partnership with Barnes & Noble. The university estimates this will cost students approximately $780 per year, significantly below the national a

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