Many students and parents fork over more than a thousand dollars a year just for books.

Any college student will tell you they dread buying textbooks.

"Per quarter it's usually about $250 to $300," said UW student Ryan Larsen.

Suzie Love says, "I'm a law student and I spent about $400 this quarter,"

The Washington Student Public Interest Research Group calls its study "Rip-off 101".

Researchers here and in Oregon and California interviewed hundreds of students, professors and college book store managers.

WASHPIRG accuses publishers of cranking out new editions just to make the old ones obsolete.

In a $120 calculus book, students say they found only minor changes from the old edition.

"So essentially we are just paying $40 more dollars for different numbers on the math problems and exercises," said UW student Jay Holcomb.

Many students try to rely on cheaper used textbooks.

"There's never really enough used ones, It seems like 75 percent of the books I have to buy are new," said Larsen.

The reports also slams the practice of bundling textbooks... forcing students to by the whole pack, when they only need one.

And, the study charges the price of the same book varies widely.

"American students must pay $125," said Holcomb, holding up a calculus book. "In Canada, students pay $95 U.S. dollars for this. In Great Britain, students pay $65 U.S. dollars for this."

We made calls to several to of the biggest textbook publishing companies to get their reaction to this reports, but none have called us back.

"Seems like the teacher could step up and demand that the old text books be used they don't have to use the new ones," said Larsen.

One UW math professor said she'd love to, but once the old edition is out of print, used book suppliers stop carrying them, meaning students must fork over the cash for a new one.

"I just kind of cringe and do it, it's not fun," said Love.

WashPIRG hopes public pressure will force textbook companies to change their tactics.

Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman David Wu have already introduced national legislation to bring prices down.