Frequently Asked Questions

Bison Ready is NDSU’s course materials program beginning in Fall 2025. Through its two main levels, Bison Ready Complete and Bison Ready Select, students will be able to automatically access their digital materials (eBooks, courseware) by the first day of class. Physical materials such as textbooks and course supply kits can also be picked up and charged directly to your student account on the first day of class.

Through Bison Ready Complete, students will be charged a single flat rate each semester which covers all required materials, across all courses. Bison Ready Select offers the same day-one access while allowing students to have their items billed individually. Both programs are completely optional, and students can opt out altogether.

Bison Ready Select allows students to pick and choose which course materials they want to pay for on a per-title basis. Digital textbooks will be automatically charged to your account, while physical textbooks carried in store can be charged to your student account or paid for at the Bookstore. If you choose not to purchase the titles through the bookstore, you will have to purchase them independently through third parties.

Similar programs to Bison Ready Select have existed at NDSU in the past, whereas Bison Ready Complete is an entirely new program.

The program is designed to improve textbook accessibility for students across all fields of study, ultimately improving their chances for success. With an affordable flat rate program, students can plan their finances in advance, eliminating financial variables that could occur during the school year.

For many, the flat rate charged by Bison Ready Complete will be cheaper than charging all your materials separately. Use your booklist to determine the individual costs of your course materials.

If the total price for your required materials is lower than the flat rate for your degree level, consider dropping down to Bison Ready Select, where your items will be billed individually. You can also opt out of Bison Ready entirely and source the materials on your own.

Professors retain the ability to choose whether or not they want their materials to be available to students in a physical or digital format. If your professor has decided that digital materials are not suitable for the course, physical materials will be made available through the Bookstore.

Any print materials or course kits that are indicated as required by the professor will be included in the flat-rate price of Bison Ready Complete.

Optional course materials are not automatically included with Bison Ready, but they can still be charged to your student account. To order optional course materials, place an order online or visit the course materials desk at the Bookstore.

Your instructors choose the specific book and edition that will be used for your classes. The instructors are required to submit their course material requirements directly to the NDSU Bookstore ahead of the upcoming semester. As we receive information, your booklist will update as soon as possible.

Bison Ready is available to all undergraduate and graduate level students enrolled in courses at NDSU, regardless of how many credit hours are currently being taken.

Yes. We understand that this program may not meet the needs for every student. However, if you choose to opt out of Bison Ready Complete and Bison Ready Select, you will need to purchase your textbooks and any additional courseware or course kits that may be required for your course at current retail or resale prices from either the online Bookstore or the outlet of your choice. We cannot guarantee that you will have these items by the first day of class. You can easily opt back into the program if you change your mind.

Yes. The program works on a semester-by-semester basis, so students are automatically opted in each semester and have the option to opt out each time. If you decide that Bison Ready Complete does not suit your needs, you will have to opt out of it each semester and decide whether you would like to enroll in Bison Ready Select or opt out of the program entirely and source your own materials elsewhere.

The opt out page link becomes available when the term is active, and you have registered for classes. You always have the option to opt back in if you change your mind.

Yes! You have until the opt in/out deadline each semester to change your decision. If it’s before the deadline and you’ve already opted out, you may opt back in using the opt-in button under each item in your VitalSource Bookshelf.

You can purchase physical textbooks either in person at the NDSU Bookstore or through the NDSU Bookstore website.

Digital textbooks can be purchased through the NDSU Bookstore website or through outside vendors such as Vitalsource.

To access digital textbooks and/or courseware for any given course, sign into Blackboard and navigate to its course homepage. There will be a link to the textbook under “Course Materials” or “Syllabus and Textbooks”. If you experience any issues viewing or launching your textbooks, reach out to ndsu.bookstore@ndsu.edu or visit the Bookstore in person for assistance.

Some digital items have physical looseleaf supplement versions available. Check your booklist to see if this is an option for your textbook.

Unfortunately, not every digital item will have a physical version available through the Bookstore. Many digital items are selected by professors through this program because they are significantly cheaper than their physical counterparts, or because there are not physical versions available. The NDSU Bookstore website is kept up to date with any changes in stock, so check there for more information.

You can pick up any physical materials at the Course Materials desk in the NDSU Bookstore. Books and kits are distributed via counter service, so if you have any questions about a particular book, you can inquire with the Course Materials team.

Check with your professor to determine where they placed the link to access the material. If you still cannot access the material, please reach out to the NDSU Bookstore at ndsu.bookstore@ndsu.edu or stop by the Course Materials desk for assistance.

Feel free to reach out to the NDSU Bookstore at ndsu.bookstore@ndsu.edu, call us at +1(701)231-8535, or stop by the Course Materials desk.

It depends on the duration of the license selected by your professor when they submitted their course material requests. If the professor selected a perpetual license, then you will continue to be able to access the material through the VitalSource bookshelf even after you have finished the semester.

To check the license duration for your Bison Ready course materials, visit the Course Materials desk at the Bookstore or send us a message through our website.

Most eBooks distributed through Bison Ready do not use access codes, so check your syllabus if a code is required. If your book should not require a code but still prompts one, check with the NDSU Bookstore for support.

If your eBook does use an access code, check your syllabus for activation instructions. If you’ve ordered an eBook online outside of Bison Ready, its access code can be retrieved by following the instructions emailed to you after your purchase.

If you’ve opted out and want to source digital course materials on your own, eBooks and courseware can be purchased directly through Vitalsource with a credit/debit card.

Physical books can be purchased through third-party vendors. Used copies are more affordable, but they typically do not include redeemable access codes. Check with your instructor to determine if used copies will be acceptable for your course’s needs.

Availability of supplies from course kits is more varied. Some supplies will be carried independently from kits in the bookstore, while others will need to be ordered from outside vendors. Contact the Bookstore for more information.

Our website opens on the first day of open registration for the next semester. You can find these dates on our Dates and Events page.

You will receive an email when your order is ready for pickup. You can also check the status of your order by signing into your NDSU Bookstore account used to place your order and then clicking on "Track Orders". When picking up your order, please have your sales order number (beginning with “SO”) ready at the Bookstore’s order pickup desk.

Yes. By placing an order on our website, our system will be notified to order a new shipment of the book if it is out of stock. We recommend that you place orders for out-of-stock books as soon as possible to give us time to order new shipments.

Unfortunately, we are unable to give specific dates as to when a backordered book may arrive. Many factors may affect the timeliness of arrival, including delays associated with print-on-demand books, or publishers no longer supplying the required edition.

We will do everything we can to fill backorders as quickly as possible.

If you no longer wish to receive your backorder, please contact us via the "Send Us a Message" feature in the lower-right corner at www.ndsubookstore.com to cancel before your order is filled.

Through Bison Ready Complete, a flat rate will be charged which covers all required materials. The current rate is $325 per semester for undergraduate students, and $55 per semester for graduate students. This price will be recalculated each semester depending on the overall program cost.

If you opt out of the flat rate but remain opted in for specific course materials, you will be billed through the Bison Ready Select program. Each material will be billed individually; view your financial statement or check with the Bookstore for specific pricing details. Currently, the flat-rate option only extends to fall and spring courses, so Bison Ready Select is the only program available for the summer semester.

Yes. The flat rate charge for Bison Ready will be automatically added to your student bill (unless you opt out or choose a different plan). This cost will be paid prior to disbursement of any remaining aid balance.

You will see the flat-rate Bison Ready charge on your first university bill of the semester. This will be a two-line charge from the bookstore, consisting of the flat rate fee and the sales tax charge. You have until the drop date/opt out date to opt out of the program without penalty.

Student account charging (or “student charging”) is an optional method of payment allowed by the NDSU Bookstore. Through this method, students are given a $500 balance limit for items purchased through the NDSU Bookstore. When students have reached the balance limit, they will not be able to charge any further items to their account.

Only registered NDSU students may charge their student accounts, using a valid NDSU student ID card or the GET Mobile app. Financial Aid is not required for student charging, but if excess financial aid is available in your account, it will be automatically applied to your student charge balance. Any additional charges not covered by excess financial aid must be paid within 30 days, which can be done through your student account online or at NDSU One Stop.

If the charge is labeled “Bookstore-Bison Ready”, that is for a Bison Ready item that one of your courses is using. Check your email for more details about each charge. If you drop a course before the Add/Drop Class deadline, you will automatically be refunded for any automatic charges through Bison Ready.

If the charge is “Bookstore Charges”, this indicates charges for an online order that you placed or items you charged in-store. Check your NDSU Bookstore account for additional details.

Credits can be found on the Payment History page of your campus connection account.

Course enrollment changes can take up to 48 hours to be processed. Once records have been refreshed, digital course materials will be available through your instructor’s links in Blackboard and/or VitalSource Bookshelf. If print materials are required, feel free to stop by the course materials desk to request materials or place an order online.

If you are waitlisted for a course, course materials will not appear in Blackboard until you are officially added to the course roster. Course enrollment changes can take up to 48 hours to be processed.

Sign into www.ndsubookstore.com using your Bison Login. Click the “My Curriculum” dropdown and select the appropriate term. Clicking “Print Booklist” will display a list of all your required and optional materials.

If your order has not been fulfilled, you can cancel your order via the "Send Us a Message" feature in the lower-right corner at www.ndsubookstore.com.

If your course material order has already been filled, and it is before the return deadline, you can request a return on our website. If it is after the return deadline, all sales are final, but we can check for buyback value.

Physical Course Materials

• Course materials are returnable for a full refund through the Add/Drop Class deadline for the semester. These dates can be found on our Dates and Events page. You must have your receipt, and the items must be in the original condition purchased.

Digital Course Materials – Bison Ready items

• You will begin receiving informational emails regarding Bison Ready items approximately two weeks before class begins. Please refer to those for additional details.

Digital Course Materials - Non-Bison Ready items

• All other eBooks and digital materials purchased outside of the Bison Ready program must be returned inactivated within 14 days of purchase, regardless of the course start date. To request a refund, please use our “Send Us A Message” feature in the lower right-hand corner of this page, or email ndsu.bookstore@ndsu.edu with your NDSU ID number, order number, and title of the item to refund.

Save all of your receipts. If you have bought an item in error, you must have your receipt for your refund. In order to protect against stolen books, we ask you for your NDSU ID which we enter onto your receipt when you make your purchase. Your receipt ensures that the books being returned are for the right student, against the original form of payment. No one can return your books to the Bookstore and get cash without it. Do NOT send the receipt home with your parents or you will be unable to return any unneeded books. This includes exchanges.

Don't open any packages or software before going to class and deciding whether you really need it or not. We can't return opened package materials to the publisher.

Watch the Dates and Events page for book return dates. You can only return textbooks within the first week of class unless you've dropped the class and have a copy of your drop paperwork with you (This extends your return for one additional week).

If you drop a course before the opt-out deadline, any physical materials obtained through Bison Ready (print books, kits, etc.) must be returned to the bookstore.

We offer a buyback program through the NDSU Bookstore where we buy books back from our students during dead week and final exam week. During this time, our buyback prices can be found on our website as well as in person at the Course Materials desk. We require a valid NDSU student ID to sell books back.

If you live in the residence halls:

• Packages and mail that cannot fit into a mailbox are sent to the NDSU Bookstore.
• You will get an email and/or text alert when packages are available for pickup.
• You can pick up your packages at the Course Materials desk of the Bookstore whenever the Bookstore is open!

You will receive an email and/or text message from the NDSU Bookstore when your package has arrived and is ready for pickup. There is a minimum 1-day delay from the time your package has been marked delivered with the carrier and when we receive it, due to on-campus sorting.

To ensure that your package gets to you in a timely manner, please follow these steps:

• Use your residence hall mailing address, even though pickup is at the NDSU Bookstore.
• If ordering from Amazon, click the setting that turns off Saturday/Sunday delivery (NDSU does not accept deliveries on weekends).
• · Use the address formats listed on Residence Life’s website found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/residence-life/contact/addresses-packages

If you place an order on our website, you will be emailed your tracking number once your order has been processed.

If you have a package coming from somewhere else, we do not have access to any tracking information prior to the item arriving.

Due to on-campus sorting, there is a minimum 1-day delay in processing your package so please be patient. If it has been longer than that and you still have not received a notification, please send us a message through the NDSU Bookstore website with the following information and we will do what we can to try and locate it:

• Full name and ID number
• · Name and address as it appears on the package
• Tracking number

For help with accommodations, please reach out to the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources located in Suite 17 at the Main Library or at https://www.ndsu.edu/accessibility-disability.