Skip To Main Content

Textbooks, Fees, and Course Materials

Textbooks

Middle College will check out high school textbooks to students during the school year. Students are expected to take good care of the textbooks and return them to Middle College staff by the conclusion of the course. Students who do not return their textbooks or damage them will be responsible for paying for a replacement.

All college textbooks and eBooks are covered through the joint collaboration between the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) and the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCD). Middle College students do not need to purchase their own college textbooks or eBooks for courses covered under this agreement. These materials remain the property of SMUHSD/SMCCD and must be returned at the conclusion of the course. Students who do not return these materials or damage them will be responsible for paying for a replacement. Students may not write in or deface these textbooks in any way.

Middle College students should check in with the Middle College Office Assistant to see if the college textbook they need has already been purchased. If it has, students can check the book out through Middle College. If the book has not yet been purchased, Middle College will purchase it; however, it remains the property of SMCCD and SMUHSD and must be returned at the end of the semester.

The following items are not covered under the joint agreement. Students are required to purchase these themselves if enrolled in the corresponding course or circumstance:

  • Art classes – Students must purchase art supplies.
  • Lab courses – Students must purchase any lab supplies required by the professor.
  • Over 15 college units – Any student enrolled in more than 15 college units in a semester must pay for their own required books and supplies.
  • SMCCD summer classes – Any student enrolled in SMCCD summer classes must pay all fees and textbooks, as summer classes fall outside the school year and are not covered under the joint agreement.

Student Fees

The College of San Mateo and the San Mateo County Community College District must charge fees to high school students who enroll in more than 15 college units in a single semester. An average college student generally takes a maximum of 12-15 units. We do not recommend going over that. 

Students enrolled in more units by the start of the semester must drop below 16 units before the final day to drop classes (usually two weeks after the first day of the semester) to avoid being charged for ALL enrolled units, fees/textbooks. 

* Subject to change