On top of the publisher's already free catalog of textbooks, online homework resources are now free to teachers and students during the public health crisis.

Through a recent $30,000 grant, the school is joining a growing trend of students relying more heavily on digital resources.

The era of traditional textbooks and their high costs is coming to a close, says OpenStax' David Harris.

The Rice University-based OER publisher reported that students across 5,160 colleges and universities are saving a combined 77 million on its textbooks.

Commentary: As students and teachers seek to make education more affordable, they should consider a peer-review process for open educational resources.

In addition to spreading access to knowledge, the digital-focused education tools can help lower the cost of education for students, experts say.

Higher ed faculty are increasingly turning to OpenStax for low-cost, openly licensed printed and digital materials for their students.