Higher Education

Peer-reviewed course materials used at 71% of U.S. colleges and universities

Free, openly licensed textbooks and affordable technology for introductory courses, written and reviewed by educators.

Browse the digital library Subjects orange Explore OpenStax Assignable Assignable blue_outline 240918_Freshman_Chemistry_Martin_98_1 Instructor teaching college students in a classroom, one working on a laptop right #f7fcff 3 #002E6D 12 3 dark blue divider center 3px 100%

Why instructors choose OpenStax

The world’s largest publisher of open resources

The benefits of a traditional textbook, plus more.

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Built by educators, backed by research

Written by subject matter experts, peer-reviewed for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest in each discipline.

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Free instructor resources to simplify course prep

Your free educator account unlocks test banks, PowerPoint slides, customization tools, and more, all aligned with your textbook.

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Every student has access on the first day

Free access and built-in tools keep students engaged from day one. They can highlight, take notes, and create study guides directly in the book.

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Free textbooks for every student

Find your subject in our digital library

Business https://openstax.org/subjects/business College Success https://openstax.org/subjects/college-success Computer Science https://openstax.org/subjects/computer-science Humanities https://openstax.org/subjects/humanities Math https://openstax.org/subjects/math Nursing https://openstax.org/subjects/nursing Science https://openstax.org/subjects/science Social Sciences https://openstax.org/subjects/social-sciences small text center 0 60% subjects_links 0 2 0 0 to bottom #FDFFFF #F7FCFF

Assign and grade OpenStax content, right in your LMS

Assignable pairs expert-written questions and videos with your OpenStax textbook, all within the LMS you already use. Save time with pre-built assignments, auto-grading, and LMS grade sync. Starts at $15 per student, per semester.

Try OpenStax Assignable

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Your course, your way

Options for every class, every campus, and every student

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Low-cost print textbooks

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All OpenStax textbooks are free online, up to date, and have no expiration dates. We also offer low-cost print editions for a fraction of traditional textbook prices.

Order today

Campus affordability programs

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To meet the needs of all learners, OpenStax textbooks and Assignable are available through bookstore purchasing and campus affordability programs.

Explore your options

Digital accessibility compliance

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All OpenStax digital materials strive to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards, helping institutions meet the Department of Justice's ADA Title II digital accessibility requirements.

Learn more about our commitment to accessibility

Technology Partners

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More than 30 technology partners have built tools, like virtual labs, adaptive practice, and AI resources, mapped to the same peer-reviewed materials your students are already using.

Search Technology Partners

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Resources to support your teaching

Innovation and insights from the OpenStax community

Explore the latest in open education, instructional strategy, and OpenStax materials.

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Webinar

OpenStax 101: How to get started

Watch the recording https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5168716/758CE726B5F6875F522D962AECD7CC5A #f26b39

Behind the scenes

How OpenStax materials are made

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Guide

How to customize OpenStax content

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Want to learn more? Explore our blog and webinars.

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"In an area where there is huge housing and food insecurity, having OER textbooks helps our students participate in higher education without having to make tough decisions between expensive textbooks and food for their kids."

Holly Eisberner

Milwaukee Area Technical College

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Need help? Start here

Frequently asked questions

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What is OpenStax?

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OpenStax is a nonprofit initiative of Rice University and the world's largest publisher of open educational resources (OER). Our mission is to make an amazing education accessible for all. We publish free, peer-reviewed textbooks with aligned instructor resources. Every textbook is openly licensed, so instructors can assign it as is or adapt it for their course. We also offer learning technology like OpenStax Assignable, our LMS-integrated homework and courseware platform.

Is OpenStax OER? What does that mean?

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Yes. OpenStax textbooks are open educational resources (OER), meaning they are free to use and available under a Creative Commons license. Students can access and keep their digital textbook at no cost, while instructors can adapt and customize their book without asking for permission or paying licensing fees. To learn more, read this blog post.

How are OpenStax textbooks free?

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OpenStax is funded by foundations, organizations, and individuals who share our mission to make an amazing education accessible for all. We also generate revenue through Assignable (our optional courseware platform), print editions, and technology partnerships. Together, that funding covers the cost of writing, reviewing, and maintaining our digital textbooks so students never have to pay for them. To learn more, read this blog post.

How do I start teaching with OpenStax?

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Find your subject in our free digital library and assign the book to your students. You can also create a free educator account to unlock your book's instructor resources, like test banks, PowerPoint slides, and solutions manuals. To add assignments, auto-grading, and LMS grade sync to your course, try OpenStax Assignable.

How do I access the free instructor resources?

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Create a free educator account here. Once verified, you'll have access to the aligned instructor resources for all OpenStax textbooks. The resources available vary by title but may include test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals, and customization tools.

To find your book's instructor resources, select your book in our library. On the Book details page, click the Instructor resources tab.

instructor_resources_openstax Screenshot of the College Physics 2e webpage featuring navigation tabs for book details, instructor resources, and student resources.

Do my students or I need an account to use OpenStax?

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No account is required to read most OpenStax textbooks. Students can access the full text online without signing up. Select features and student resources, like embedded notetaking, highlighting, and solutions manuals, require a free student account.

Instructors who want to access supplemental instructor resources, such as test banks, PowerPoint slides, and solutions manuals, will need a free educator account.

Note: A small number of titles, including some nursing books, require an account to access. You'll be prompted to sign in if your book is one of them.

What formats are OpenStax textbooks available in?

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Every OpenStax textbook is available for free online, readable on any device. All titles are also available as a free PDF download. Low-cost print editions are available for purchase here.

For students who need additional support, several titles are available through Bookshare in Braille Ready Format and/or the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) format. Select titles are also available as free or low-cost audiobooks through Open Audio and Audileo, an OpenStax Technology Partner.

How do OpenStax textbooks stay current?

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Our textbooks are regularly reviewed and updated by subject matter experts to reflect the latest developments in each field. Updates are made directly to the online version, so instructors and students always have access to the most current edition at no additional cost. To learn more about our revision process, read this blog post.

I'm using OpenStax in my course. How can I let your team know?

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We'd love to hear from you. Reporting your usage helps us track our impact and secure the funding that keeps our textbooks free. You can report your usage here. It takes less than two minutes.

Does OpenStax provide customer support?

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Yes. Our support team is available to help instructors and students with questions about our textbooks, instructor resources, and Assignable. Visit our support center or email us directly at support@openstax.org.

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Get started

Ready to teach with OpenStax?

Create a free educator account to access test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals, and more. Or browse the library to find your subject.

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