The State of College Course Materials 2021-2023


Attention: There is an updated edition available for this report.

The State of College Course Materials 2021-2023

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The College Course Materials reports from Simba Information provide an overview of the changing market for instructional resources in higher education in the U.S. and how the college publishing industry is both impacted by market changes and helps shape the market opportunities.

The State of College Course Materials Trends 2021-2023 is now available and focuses on the market conditions and the trends that are likely to persist into the next several years. The report provides the outlook for the higher education publishing industry and sales segment projections through 2023.

The State of College Course Materials Trends 2021-2023 provides statistical data of the changes in market demand for postsecondary education and sizing and context to the market segments of new course materials—both print and digital.

Among the trends Simba explores in The State of College Course Materials Trends 2021-2023 that are shaping market opportunities and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future are:
  • Contraction of the number of institutions of higher education
  • Decline in total undergraduate enrollment.
  • Growing acceptance among faculty of OER
  • Growth of short-term courses with credentials not degree credits
  • Changing strategies for the development, sales and distribution of course materials


  • Methodology
  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
    • Table The Marist Mindset List for the Class of 2025
  • Market Size & Enrollment
    • Institution Types and Numbers
      • Table Number of U.S. Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions, 2020-2021 v. 2019-2020
      • Public vs. Private
      • For-Profit/Nonprofit Split among Private Institutions
      • Institutions with First-Year Undergraduates
        • Table Degree-Granting Institutions with First-Year Undergraduates, 2019-2020 vs. 2010-2011 vs. 2000- 2001
      • Institutional Closure and Consolidation
    • Where Students Are Enrolled
      • Table U.S. Undergraduate Enrollment by Characteristics, 2000, 2010, 2019
      • 2-Year Down, 4-Year Up
      • Fall 2021 Enrollment
        • Table U.S. Undergraduate Enrollment Percentage Changes by Sector, Fall 2019-Fall 2021
      • Shifting Market for For-Profit Institutions
        • Table Simba Information Career College Enrollment Index
      • The Appeal of Distance Education
        • Table Undergraduate Enrollment in Distance Education Courses, Fall 2019 v. Fall 2018
        • Table Undergraduate Enrollment in Distance Education, Fall 2020 vs. Fall, 2019
        • Table Certificate/Associate/ Bachelor's Degrees Awarded, 2018-2019 vs. 2008-2009
    • Degrees by the Numbers
    • Fields of Study
      • Table Fields with Largest Number of Bachelor's Degrees Awarded in 2018-2019 and % Change from 2009-2010
  • Policy & Funding
    • Introduction
    • Costs of Attending College in 2020-2021
      • Table Undergraduate Tuition and Fees, 2021-2022 vs. 2020-2021
    • Costs of Attending College in 2021-2022
    • Federal Funding for Higher Education
      • Table Selected Higher Education Programs in President Biden's Department of Education Budget Request; FY2022P vs. FY2021 ($ in 000 except for Max Pell Grant, which is actual; P=proposed)
      • Proposed Postsecondary Education Funding
    • COVID-19 Aid
    • Education Department Renews Push for Oversight
      • Also on the Education Department's Docket in Summer 2021
      • More Oversight for For-Profit Colleges
    • State Support for Higher Education
      • Table State Fiscal Support for Higher Education, FY2021 vs. FY2020 (Fiscal 2021 generally ends June 30, 2021; $ in 000; ranked by % change)
      • Federal Funding Helps
      • 2-Year Colleges
      • Looking ahead
    • Workforce Development
      • Table Registered Apprenticeship Program Grants, 2021
      • COVID Relief Funds Aid Workforce Ed efforts
  • Course Materials
    • Introduction
    • Continued Decline in Course Materials Spend
      • Table Select Findings from 2020-2021 Student Watch
      • Student Preference
    • Publishers Hasten Pivot to Digital
      • Table Higher Education and University Presses Sales, January-September 2021 vs. January-September 2020 ($ in 000)
      • Segmenting Industry Sales
        • Table Sales by Segment of Key College Course Materials 2019-2021P ($ in 000,000)
        • Table Changes in Digital Higher Education Revenue Share at Three Publishers, 2019-2021P ($ in 000,000)
    • Operating Performance of Providers and Distributers
      • Table Simba Information's Leading Higher Education Publishers by Higher Education Revenue, 2020 vs. 2019 ($ in 000)
      • Pearson Unbundles Higher Ed Content
      • Cengage Reorganizes
      • Digital Growth is McGraw Hill Revenue driver
      • Wiley's Education Publishing Finally on the Rise
      • Chegg did generate Revenue from Textbooks
      • DSS Is Positive Point in BNED's Year
    • Open Educational Resources
      • Open Stax and CORE Get Ed Department Funding
      • Xanedu Expands Open Partnerships
        • Table Putting OER to Work, 2021
      • Using HEERF Grants for Free College Textbooks
  • Trends and Industry Adaptations
    • Introduction
    • Mergers and Acquisitions in 2020
      • Table Simba Information's Higher Education Merger & Acquisition Index, 2020
    • Heated M&A Market Continues in 2021
      • Table Simba Information's Higher education Merger & Acquisition Index, 2021
      • edX Is Game-Changer for 2U
    • More Focus on Workforce Education
      • Cengage Group Reorg Highlights Workforce Ed
      • Growth Strategies Pay off for Wiley
  • Conclusions & Outlook
    • Introduction
    • Supply and Demand
      • Table Selected Higher Education Revenue Changes for Instructional Resources Providers, 2021 vs. 2020
      • Enrollment
      • College Degree Alternative
    • Traditional Colleges & Universities Adapting to New Realities
      • Tuition Cuts
      • Digital Movement
    • Outlook for College Course Materials
      • Table Sales by Segment of Key College Course Materials 2021-2023P ($ in 000,000)

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