The State of College Course Materials; Outlook to 2027

The US college course materials market is entering a more difficult phase. Simba estimates that sales of new course materials reached $3.24 billion in 2025, up 0.9% from 2024, but forecasts the market will decline to $3.11 billion in 2026 and $2.97 billion in 2027 as falling per-student spending, demographic pressure, and substitution toward lower-cost options outweigh gains in digital delivery. Demand is becoming more selective across institution types, academic programs, and purchasing channels.

This report covers the US college course materials market by product segment, market conditions, and competitive dynamics. Demand is presented in US dollars.

Sales by product are presented for:

new course materials, print, digital media

Sales by major market and demand drivers are presented for:

postsecondary enrollment, freshmen enrollment, student spending, sourcing behavior, funding sources, OER adoption, digital access programs, AI use in teaching and learning, federal and state policy, and competitive performance

Scope of the Report

This report analyzes the size, structure, and outlook of the US college course materials market, with emphasis on the institutional, student, policy, and competitive forces now reshaping demand. It examines enrollment trends, students' spending behavior, sourcing and funding patterns, OER adoption, digital access models, AI use in teaching and learning, and the positioning of major publishers. Historical context and current-year market conditions are used to support Simba's forecasts for course materials sales through 2027. The report also evaluates the effect of federal and state policy, shifting institutional finances, workforce-oriented funding changes, and program-level demand shifts on both print and digital materials.