OER Degrees Case Study

An OER Degree, sometimes referred to as a Z Degree, a zero textbook cost degree (ZTC Degree), or a Zed Cred, is a complete pathway to a degree, certificate, or credential that has no or very low costs for instructional materials (typically less than US$30 per course per student). All courses in these degree pathways use open educational resources (OER) or other instructional materials that are zero or very low cost to students. OER Degrees have been growing in the United States and Canada, particularly at community and technical colleges where textbook costs represent a significant percentage of student costs.

OER Degree pathways represent a commitment by an institution to significantly invest in open education as a tool for student success. The aims of this type of initiative go much further than just saving students money; they also seek to:

• Increase student equity
• Improve student completion
• Enhance academic freedom
• Encourage open pedagogy
• Grow open course repositories