CCCS Internal Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) will roll out fully zero-textbook-cost Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in fall 2025, replacing commercial textbooks with free, openly licensed materials.
Backed by Colorado’s Open Educational Resources Grant Program, CNCC faculty have transitioned the entire curriculum to OER, a move expected to save students about $2,000 over the course of a two-year degree.
The faculty-led initiative earned the 2025 Governor’s Award for Institutional Advancement to Zero-Textbook-Cost during the Colorado OER Conference, positioning CNCC as a statewide model for affordability and access.
Read the full press release from the Colorado Governor’s Office.
