Our DS has always bought online when he can. Sometimes, the book required is not on line so he is forced to buy at the book store. Remember for some the cost will be more based purely on how many credits the student is carrying. Our DS has never carried less than 19, if he carried 15 it would be at least 1 less book.
I will also say because ROTC cadets are required to take foreign language, prepare yourselves to be shocked at the cost of those books. I assumed that the ECON book would be more than the language book, and was quick to realize I was wrong. The most expensive book for him that semester was his foreign language book.
I am impressed 200 a semester as engineering is pretty good. We just bought our DD's books online, all used, except for 1 and we paid 400. She is a sociology major.
JAM, I am not talking about workbooks, I am talking about the actual book. If you attend a well known university, the professors write their own textbooks and the school, along with other colleges will use their textbook.
I sit on the fence regarding not buying the book before class starts. Our DS is a Govt and politics major, i.e. Liberal Arts. Every book he was told to buy they used. If you wait to purchase the book you could be forced to buy new at the school.
As a parent with now 2 kids currently in college, I can tell you that the book store on campus, which traditionally will also sell used is packed during move in week because many folks take them straight to the bookstore after they move them in, thus, a week later when classes start the used books are gone.
I love that you can buy on-line because it can be cheaper, but it also relieves the stress for move in day. (If you go to a large university, and it is boiling hot or raining you will know what I mean
).
In the end of the day the point is don't view the book issue as a money making issue AND you will pay out of your own pocket first. It is also important to understand how the military finance system works. It can take weeks before they reimburse you.