Pathways to Affordable Course Materials
We believe education should be accessible, high-quality, and student-centered. That’s why Maricopa Community Colleges is proud to offer affordable textbook options, giving you easy access to an expanding range of low-cost or no-cost learning materials designed to help you succeed.
LTC, ZTC, and OER Explained
Our three affordable textbook options—LTC, ZTC, and OER—span low-cost, no-cost, and openly licensed learning materials. Below, discover what each offers, and how they put you in control of your learning.
Low Textbook Cost (LTC)
All required materials for LTC courses carry a total bookstore price of $40 or less (excluding shipping and tax), or have no cost at all.
Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC)
ZTC courses eliminate the financial cost of learning materials entirely—all instructional content is available to students at no cost.
Open Educational Resources (OER)
OER are unique from LTC and ZTC materials because they reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits others to reuse, revise, and redistribute them.
Significant Cost Savings
LTC courses cap material costs at $40, and ZTC courses eliminate textbook fees entirely. OER can be either low-cost or no-cost.
In total, these affordable options have generated over $270 million in cumulative textbook savings districtwide since 2013 alone, directly reducing out-of-pocket expenses for thousands of students.
Unique Benefits of OER
While LTC, ZTC, and OER courses all offer high-quality materials at affordable prices, students that utilize OER will also benefit from these unique characteristics.
Evidence of Quality and Success
Research has indicated that students using OER achieve comparable academic outcomes to those using traditional commercial textbooks, underscoring the exceptional quality and effectiveness of these open resources.
Flexibility of Choice
Maricopa’s OER offerings give you the freedom to study your way—whether you prefer digital access or low-cost print editions. You can choose what fits your needs, schedule, and learning style, without compromising quality or breaking the bank.
Immediate and Lasting Access
OER are immediately accessible, meaning students can begin learning on day one—no waiting for financial aid or bookstore delays. And because OER are retainable, students can keep and revisit materials long after the course ends, unlike traditional learning materials that may expire.
Customizable, Student-Centered Learning
OER empower educators to tailor course materials to meet specific objectives, local contexts, or current events—keeping content accurate and engaging. This customizability allows instructors to better support student needs across all backgrounds and perspectives, ensuring that materials are accessible, relevant, and support student-centered learning. Some content may even be created by students themselves!
Targeted Math Support
MOER is a no-cost, web-based platform designed specifically for math. It delivers homework, quizzes, tests, and diagnostics with rich mathematical content and instant feedback on algorithmically generated questions—helping you build confidence with numerical and algebraic answers at your own pace.
How to Search for LTC, ZTC, and OER Courses
Discovering affordable or no-cost classes at any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps to filter for LTC, ZTC, and/or OER courses.
Our Find a Class tool is the go-to method for searching for courses across all 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.
Once on the Find a Class page, you can find the relevant filters by clicking on the menu button to the right of the search bar. Then, select “More Options” and scroll down until you find “Textbook Cost” under the “Miscellaneous” heading, where you will see the three following filters:
- ZTC—Zero Textbook Cost
- LTC—Low Textbook Cost ($40 or less)
- OER—Open Educational Resources
Select the checkbox(es) that match your preference. You may check one, two, or all three at once.
With your preferred filters selected, click the search button to refresh your course listings. The results page will now display only those classes that meet the ZTC, LTC, or OER criteria you selected.
Click any course title to view details such as schedule, instructor, campus location, and any additional requirements.
- Start with the LTC filter if you're open to all affordable options (ZTC courses will also be shown when using the LTC filter)
- Use the ZTC filter if you specifically need courses with zero textbook costs
- Look for course notes in the course listings for confirmation
Maricopa Community Colleges' History With OER
Maricopa Community Colleges’ history of embracing affordable textbooks and OER began in Spring 2013 with the launch of the “Maricopa Millions” initiative. This ambitious effort aimed to save students $5 million through low-cost and no-cost materials across the district’s 10 colleges.
The program exceeded expectations by meeting its original goal in just two and a half years, and ultimately generating over $270 million in cumulative textbook savings to date.
Maricopa also became the first institution in the nation to designate course filters to search for courses that utilize LTC and ZTC materials. These clear markers make it easy to identify affordable options in the class schedule, and underscore the district’s commitment to textbook affordability.
By Fall 2021, “Maricopa Millions” evolved into “Open Maricopa,” reflecting an expanded commitment to affordability, innovation, and accessible learning. Today, Open Maricopa continues our decade-long dedication to providing high-quality, cost-effective educational resources.