Pace University has recently partnered with Barnes and Noble for the First Day Complete program, a plan aimed at both reducing the cost and having more accessible textbooks for students – that is if faculty and students are on the same page. First Day Complete is aimed at rolling out in the Fall 2026 semester.
According to the Barnes and Noble website, “With First Day Complete, all students receive their required course materials, in both physical and digital formats, before the first day of class. Costs for those course materials are bundled as part of tuition or a course charge, typically saving students an average of 35-50%.”
The First Day Complete program has currently rolled out over 220 campuses with over a million students thus far, and its success only seems to be growing. With 78% of students reporting the program provided more affordable course materials, 81% saying it had a positive impact on their term, and 91% describing the plan to be convenient to have their course materials together, the First Day Complete program has gotten partnerships with notable schools such as University of Connecticut (UCONN), Mississippi State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte).
Although the program’s goals seem straightforward, the implementation into Pace’s curriculum raises important questions that both faculty and students have in mind. One key concern is the fine line between affordability and autonomy, as students will be automatically enrolled to pay into the program under a flat-rate system, whether their courses require textbooks or not.
Students taking courses that rely heavily on more open-source materials or professor-curated readings may not benefit from the program in the same way that students taking textbook-heavy courses do. These students will presumably end up paying more under a flat-rate system rather than the individual purchasing system currently used. Conversely, students in business, STEM, or lab-based courses that have historically relied more on textbooks will benefit significantly.
I spoke to Katie Chase, a director of Pace University’s operation and budgets department, inquiring about the opting-out process for students.
“There is an opt-out option for students who choose not to participate. By accessing the First Day Complete opt out portal, students can opt out or opt back in throughout the add/drop period. It is a simple process within the portal,” said Chase. “Based on our research and speaking with other Universities who have been utilizing the program, communication on how the program works and how to navigate the program will be key. Pace and BNC will be developing a robust communication plan during the implementation process.”
They advertise the opting-out process to be seamless, but issues of seamlessness might not be the core issue of posing a threat to students. Will students know about the program and know how to opt out? Will they have enough time to compare textbook costs on their own?
As this system will be new for Pace University, making sure the students are kept up-to-date and informed about this program will be key to making sure students aren’t overpaying for books in the upcoming years.