West Virginia College students say textbook costs are eating away at their ability to attend college, speaking out at a public hearing at WV State University.

One student testified she paid $1,200 for her textbooks this semester, while another told the taskforce textbook costs are nearly half of what she pays for tuition.

The hearing is part of a study being done by the state Higher Education Policy Commission.

HEPC Commissioner Nelson Robinson says the hidden costs are hurting students. "I don't think a lot of people, the governing boards and bodies around the state representing institutions, I don't think they understand the overall cost the students are having to pay."

Robinson says the colleges and universities won't admit it, but more expensive textbooks are a revenue producer for the school.