Durbin Celebrates $61 Million In Federal Funding Secured Over The Course Of Eight Years For His Open Textbook Pilot Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the inclusion of $7 million for the Open Textbook Pilot Program in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Since 2018 when Durbin helped create the Open Textbook Pilot Program, he has secured $61 million in total federal funding to support college students across the country in accessing textbooks for free and helping lower the cost of an education. Because of this funding, college students at more than 25 schools in 16 states have benefited from the Open Textbook Pilot Program.

“With the rising cost of tuition, many students decline to purchase required textbooks for their coursework due to the outrageous expense. Open textbooks are a proven way to save students money while providing quality instructional materials,” Durbin said. “During my time in the Senate, I’ve fought to secure $61 million in funding for the Open Textbook Pilot Program to ensure that students can access textbooks and get the most out of their college courses.”

The Open Textbooks Pilot, based on Durbin’s Affordable College Textbook Act, is a competitive grant program to support the creation and expand the use of open college textbooks—textbooks that are freely available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to freely access the materials.

To date, the Pilot has funded projects led by:

• Marquette University
• University of Houston
• Loyola Marymount University
• California State University, Bakersfield
• University of New Mexico
• San Antonio College
• Ohio State University
• Maricopa County Community College and Scottsdale Community College
• Colorado State University
• Framingham State University
• University of California, Davis
• Chippewa Valley Technical College
• Arizona State University
• West Hills College Lemoore
• Middlesex County College
• Louisiana Board of Regents
• University of Texas at Arlington
• West Chester University of Pennsylvania
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• Framingham State University
• Yavapai County Community College District
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
• Linn-Benton Community College
• William Marsh Rice University
• Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
• Clemson University

These projects are estimated to result in more than $250 million in eventual savings to students.

Textbook costs are one of the most overlooked costs of going to college, but they can be substantial and can be a barrier to attaining a college education. According to The College Board, the average student budget for college books and supplies during the 2025-2026 academic year was $1,330 at four-year public institutions. According to a survey by U.S. PIRG, 65 percent of students decided not to buy a textbook because of the cost and 90 percent of those students worried it would negatively affect their grade.

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