VIVA Course Materials Survey: Hollins compared to Virginia averages
VIVA (Virginia’s academic library consortium) administered a survey in 2025 to Hollins students to better understand
- how Virginia students are impacted by the costs of course materials.
- the extent to which these costs affect educational equity in the Commonwealth.
This page shows how Hollins students compare to Virginia averages.
How worried were you about meeting your course materials costs this term? (percentages)
| Hollins University | Virginia Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Extremely worried | 11% | 11% |
| Moderately worried | 11% | 23% |
| Somewhat worried | 49% | 36% |
| Not worried at all | 30% | 30% |
How much did you spend on course materials, whether purchased, rented, or leased, during this semester?
Only 1 in 25 of our students spent $401 or more on course materials costs, compared with 1 in 6 average at Virginia schools.
| Hollins University | Virginia average | |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | 2% | |
| $1-100 | 26% | 21% |
| $101-200 | 30% | 29% |
| $201-300 | 26% | 21% |
| $301-400 | 13% | 13% |
| $401 or more | 4% | 16% |
In your academic career, has the cost of required course materials caused you to: Not purchase the required textbook. (percentages)
Hollins students rank higher in the “Frequently” not purchasing the required textbook category; 34% compared to the Virginia average of 22%.
Have any of the following large decisions been based at all on the cost of course materials? (percentages)
Hollins students were very close to the state average in this category.
Can you please tell us more about how the cost of course materials has influenced your educational progress?
I often do not buy the required text for some courses if it is too expensive; rather, I try to find the material for free online. If I am unable to find it online, then I do not complete the assigned reading.
Not only is it a source of anxiety of wanting to save as much money as possible, but it also it is a concern that I am starting at a disadvantage and having to work harder when I cannot buy a textbook for a class.
The cost of course materials has had a significant impact on my educational progress. In several instances, I’ve had to delay purchasing textbooks or access codes because they were simply too expensive. This sometimes meant falling behind in readings or assignments, which made it harder to keep up with the course and affected my performance. I’ve also had to rely on borrowing materials from classmates, sharing textbooks, or searching for free resources online, which isn’t always reliable or efficient.