Nevada Adopts Policy on No-Cost and Low-Cost Course Materials
Nevada has joined a growing number of states taking action to make course material costs more visible and manageable for students. Earlier this month, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approved a policy revision requiring institutions to identify courses that rely exclusively on no-cost or low-cost materials within their course registration systems, giving students clearer information about what they'll actually spend before they enroll.
The policy stems from Assembly Bill 345, passed unanimously by the Nevada legislature in 2025, which directed NSHE to establish formal definitions for no-cost and low-cost course materials and to catalog qualifying courses across its campuses. A systemwide working group of library leaders and instructional materials experts developed the definitions: no-cost materials carry a total list price of $0, and low-cost materials fall between $1 and $40 per course per term. Lab fees and equipment are excluded from the calculation.
Many of the courses that qualify under the new policy already use open educational resources that students can use for free and that faculty can adapt to their course needs. The policy also explicitly names library-licensed materials as a qualifying no-cost option, which reflects a broader understanding of how institutions can reduce costs using the materials students can already access.
“Encouraging the use of open educational resources and other low-cost learning materials helps reduce barriers for students while preserving faculty flexibility in selecting course materials, said Regent Joe Arrascada, Chair of the Academic, Research and Student Affairs Committee. “Clearly identifying these courses will also help students make more informed decisions as they plan their schedules.”
NSHE institutions have until July 1, 2026 to implement the course identification requirement in their registration systems. With tuition increases ahead at several Nevada institutions, being able to identify lower-cost course options will give students more information to manage their budgets.
The NSHE policy offers a useful model for its strong definition and emphasis on making it easy for students to identify courses that use no-cost and low-cost materials. View the full text of the policy in the Board of Regents briefing paper.
