For a freshman college student that is full-time, the cost of books can be a few hundred dollars or more, even if you are purchasing used books. On average, a used book can run about $60 or $70. If you multiply that by four classes, that is about $240 to $280 for books per semester. However, if you have to buy a new book because the professor switched to a newer edition, those books can be over $100 each. This is why it is best to purchase books early so that you have the first crack at purchasing a used book from the bookstore. Books for each semester really depend on what classes you're taking. But on average, each semester, you should expect to pay about $400-$500 dollars. Try getting them cheaper from a website or used bookstore.