“Instructional materials” refers to all the required materials for a course, including textbooks, supplemental materials, and supplies. Most credit courses require students to provide their own instructional materials, which can cost upwards of $150 per class unless the class section is designated as Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) or Low Textbook Cost (LTC).

No-Cost and Low-Cost Options

ZTC-designated classes typically use no-cost digital textbooks, online resources, and homework systems, and they may have optional print texts and other required materials, such as lab supplies, a calculator, or test forms, that are not free.

LTC-designated classes use course materials that may be purchased new for $40 or less at the MiraCosta College bookstore. 

The ZTC and LTC webpage lists all ZTC and LTC classes MiraCosta offers, and you can search for them in SURF where they are marked with the following logos: 

Note: While the college strives to ensure the accuracy of ZTC and LTC designations, under some circumstances, faculty may have to adjust the selection of instructional materials, which can affect course material costs. Additionally, when the college must change an instructor originally assigned to a class, the replacement instructor is not obligated to use free or low-cost course materials selected by the original instructor.

Other Cost-Saving Options

Students are encouraged to participate in the bookstore's textbook rental, used book, and book buy-back programs. Textbooks, lab manuals, workbooks, and other course materials for classes taught online or at the Oceanside Campus can be rented or purchased from the Oceanside Campus bookstore; course materials for classes taught at the San Elijo Campus can be rented or purchased from the San Elijo Campus bookstore. Books for classes taught at the Community Learning Center (CLC) must be purchased or rented at the CLC bookstore. (Please see the Bookstore page for more information.)

Students who need assistance paying for books should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine their eligibility for financial aid, book grants, or book loans. The Financial Aid Office is located on the Oceanside Campus in Building 14, First Floor, Room 14147.  For more information, please visit the Financial Aid webpage or call 760.795.6711.

All students may also participate in the EOPS Textbook Loan Program (open to all students), which loans textbooks to students for the entire semester. Finally, the library has many textbooks on reserve, enabling students to study from those textbooks while visiting the library and/or the library website.

Materials Fees

Some courses require a "materials fee" as a condition of enrollment in a class. When required, this fee is noted in the course description. The fee is used to purchase materials such as tools, equipment, and clothing that not only are necessary for achieving the respective course's objectives but also have a continuing value to the student outside of the classroom setting.