The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents has approved a policy revision that strengthens the use and identification of no-cost and low-cost instructional materials across its institutions.
Under the revised policy, courses that rely exclusively on no-cost or low-cost required materials will be clearly identified in the course registration system, giving students and families clearer information as they plan their schedules and overall cost of attendance.
NSHE says according to the College Board’s most recent Trends in College Pricing report, students at public institutions budget between $1,290 and $1,520 per year for books and supplies, depending on the sector.
The updated Board policy defines “no-cost” instructional materials as those with a total list price of $0, and “low-cost” materials as those with a total list price greater than $0 but no more than $40 for all required materials in a single course for one term. Class or laboratory fees and equipment are not included in this calculation.
Many of the courses that qualify under the revised policy rely on Open Educational Resources, or OER. These materials are either in the public domain or openly licensed, allowing students to access them at no cost and enabling faculty to adapt content to meet course objectives.
“Access is about more than admission. It is about making sure students have the tools they need to succeed once they are in the classroom,” said Board of Regents Chair Byron Brooks. “Expanding access to no-cost and low-cost learning materials helps ensure every student has the resources they need to succeed.”
Faculty at NSHE institutions will continue to select instructional materials for their courses. The revised policy encourages and supports the use of no-cost and low-cost options, including OER and library-licensed materials, while maintaining academic freedom and institutional flexibility.
Institutions will implement the updated course identification requirements in their registration systems no later than July 1, 2026.
The policy revision fulfills requirements outlined in Assembly Bill 345, passed during the 2025 Session of the Nevada State Legislature, which directed NSHE to establish clear definitions for no-cost Open Educational Resources and low-cost course materials.
(NSHE contributed to this report.)
