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University Presses and Digital Textbook Printing
The AAP estimates U.S. university press revenue rose 4.9% to $368 million in 2025. An editorial on the practical choices facing press directors.
University presses have traditionally relied on the printed monograph and on institutional support. Digital textbooks, print-on-demand and open access offer other ways to publish.
The Numbers
Revenue figures suggest university presses are not in decline as a group: the Association of American Publishers' StatShot Annual for 2025 estimated university press revenue at $368 million, up 4.9% on 2024, and higher education course materials up 8.5% to $4.7 billion. Print-on-demand and digital licensing let presses keep titles available without large print runs. Further reading: Publishing, Analytics, and the Digital Shift
A university press's core value remains peer review and editorial selection, which do not depend on format. Moving slow-selling titles to print-on-demand can free working capital tied up in stock.
Questions for Press Directors
For press directors, the questions are practical: which titles justify a print run, which can move to print-on-demand, and which can be offered through open access with institutional funding.