OpenStax Institutional Sales for OpenStax Assignable: How It Works

OpenStax offers school-wide purchasing options for institutions that want to give students access to Assignable. This model is designed to simplify and streamline access for large groups of students enrolled in designated courses.

 

What Is an Institutional Sale?

An institutional sale refers to a school-wide or department-level purchase that grants access to OpenStax Assignable for a defined number of students across specific courses.

Instead of having students pay individually, your institution pays for access, making course materials easy to distribute and equitable to access.

 

How Access Is Assigned

Access is based on student count per course:

  • The number of students enrolled in each participating course. 

  • Access is granted to students in only those courses.

 

Pricing and Course Term Policy

OpenStax Assignable is designed to be both accessible and sustainable.

  • Standard Fee: starts at $15 per student, per course, per semester.

  • Flexible Pricing: If students are enrolled in multiple courses, we can work with you to develop a bundled or alternative pricing approach.

  • Course Term Flexibility: Assignable pricing applies to any substantial academic term, including:

    • Semesters

    • Trimesters

    • Quarters

    • 10-week or 4-week intensive sessions

     

This structure ensures students receive the same high-quality support and platform experience, regardless of course length. Because of our already low cost compared to similar products, we are not able to offer discounted pricing based solely on shorter course duration.

 

Getting Started: The Process

  • Express Interest
    • Please fill out this form to let us know you’re considering an institutional sale.
    • Estimated number of students
    • Please make sure all of the courses you will be paying for are included on the form
  • OpenStax titles you are using
    • School
    • Department and/or Purchasing Authority contacts
    • Provide Key Details like courses and instructors' names
    • Receive a Price Estimate
  • Based on your information, we’ll send you a custom quote.
  • The school’s purchasing authority should review and approve the estimate.
    • This step helps avoid confusion about payment responsibility down the line.
  • Approve the Estimate 
  • Send a Purchase Order (PO) to OpenStax@rice.edu or request an invoice from OpenStax@rice.edu
  • You will receive an Invoice from OpenStax@rice.edu, which includes instructions on how to complete the payment. Please note, we cannot take payment over the phone.
  • The payment prompt will be removed from the courses you listed in the Institutional Request Form. If any students see a payment prompt, please have them log out and then log back in to refresh their course access. 

 

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to explore institutional access for your school or department, please fill out this form and include the following:

  • Name and email address

  • Estimated number of students. Please share your best estimates. If student numbers change substantially due to course additions or drops, let us know, and we’ll work with you to adjust.

  • OpenStax titles you are using

  • School, instructors and department contacts

We look forward to working with you to support your students!

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