OpenStax
OpenStax is a Rice University nonprofit that publishes free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed digital textbooks for higher education and K12, reaching 6.4 million learners annually across 169 countries via its website, LMS-integrated tools, and print partner Kendall Hunt.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What OpenStax does
OpenStax is a nonprofit initiative of William Marsh Rice University that operates as the world's largest publisher of free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed educational resources. Its core product is a library of customizable digital textbooks spanning Business, College Success, Computer Science, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences, available free online as web views and PDFs, with affordable print copies fulfilled through partner Kendall Hunt. The platform is distributed directly via openstax.org and reaches 72% of U.S. colleges, 10,000 K12 schools, and 169 countries, with 6.4 million learners served in AY25 and 43.4 million all-time.
The technology stack includes LTI-based integrations with all major LMS platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L/Brightspace, Schoology), an integrated code runner for the Python textbook, an errata tool for transparent content correction, and the SafeInsights research infrastructure for large-scale education data. Layered on the free base are two monetized offerings: OpenStax Assignable, an LMS-integrated assignment and assessment tool priced at $15 per student per semester with auto-grading and grade sync (transitioned to paid in 2025), and OpenStax Kinetic, an AI-supported digital learning tool developed in partnership with Microsoft and Google. The K12 product line and the RAISE Algebra 1 curriculum (approved by the Texas State Board of Education) extend the same content model into secondary education.
The business model is hybrid and mission-driven. The free textbook base is sustained by philanthropic funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Arnold Ventures, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education, augmented by a $90M NSF-led funding event in April 2024. Direct revenue comes from OpenStax Assignable subscriptions, mission support fees paid by for-profit "Allies" that build complementary resources, and print copy sales through Kendall Hunt. OpenStax is governed as a 501(c)(3) under Rice University (Tax ID 74-1109620) and is headquartered in Houston, TX with 51–100 employees.
OpenStax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OpenStax
- Legal name
- OpenStax (a part of William Marsh Rice University)
- Website
- https://openstax.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- OpenStax is a Rice University nonprofit that publishes free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed digital textbooks for higher education and K12, reaching 6.4 million learners annually across 169 countries via its website, LMS-integrated tools, and print partner Kendall Hunt.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OpenStax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Open Educational Resources / Digital Textbook Publishing
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open Textbooks (Open-licensed core texts) (EDAGAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Open Homework Systems & OER-Integrated Courseware (EDAGAJAH), Open Ancillaries & Instructor Resources (slides, test banks, solutions) (EDAGAJAC), Open Lesson Plans & Teaching Units (K–12) (EDAGAJAI), Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Access Academic Publishing (MPAJABAG)
Keywords
Where OpenStax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
OpenStax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Funding: OpenStax is a nonprofit initiative at Rice University supported by foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Funding comes from organizations like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Hewlett Foundation, and others.
- OpenStax Assignable Sales: The Assignable tool generates revenue at $15 per student per semester. Students receive a two-week free trial. Institutions can purchase site licenses or participate in inclusive/equitable access programs.
- Mission Support Fees from Allies: OpenStax partners with for-profit companies (referred to as Allies) that provide extra optional instructional resources aligned with OpenStax textbooks. These companies pay mission support fees for using the content.
- Print Copy Sales (Kendall Hunt): Print copies are sold through official print partner Kendall Hunt at affordable pricing. Revenue supports reinvestment in the library.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free digital access to all textbooks |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | OpenStax Assignable paid tier |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Print copies through Kendall Hunt |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
OpenStax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OpenStax publishes free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed digital textbooks across subjects including Business, College Success, Computer Science, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences for higher education and K12. It also offers OpenStax Assignable, a paid LMS-integrated tool that layers the textbooks with auto-graded reinforcement questions, cumulative practice, and video content, and conducts education research through the SafeInsights infrastructure.
Product overview
OpenStax is a nonprofit educational initiative at Rice University that operates as a platform-plus-products organization. Its core offering is a free library of peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks spanning Business, College Success, Computer Science, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences. These free digital textbooks form the foundation of the platform. Building on this, OpenStax offers OpenStax Assignable as a paid add-on that integrates directly into LMS platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L/Brightspace, Schoology), layering the free textbooks with auto-graded reinforcement questions, cumulative practice, and video content. Additional products include OpenStax Kinetic (AI-supported learning), SafeInsights (education research infrastructure), and RAISE (K12 Algebra curriculum). The portfolio ranges from completely free resources to low-cost paid tools ($15/student/semester for Assignable), unified by the mission to make education accessible.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OpenStax Assignable: A tool that allows instructors to build customized assignments directly in their Learning Management Systems with auto-grading, LMS grade sync, and built-in feedback.
- RAISE (Rice Algebra Initiative for Success and Equity)
- SafeInsights
Products and services
- OpenStax Free Textbooks A library of peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks available free online for college and K12 students and instructors across Business, College Success, Computer Science, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences. Books are customizable and include instructor resources like LMS integration, lecture slides, and test banks.
- OpenStax Assignable A paid LMS-integrated assignment and assessment tool that layers OpenStax textbooks with auto-graded reinforcement questions, cumulative practice, video content, flashcards, and researcher profiles. Instructors build customized assignments directly in their LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L/Brightspace, Schoology) with auto-grading and grade sync; students pay $15 per semester.
- OpenStax Kinetic
- OpenStax K12 OpenStax's K12 product line offering free, high-quality K12 textbooks and resources aligned to AP, TEKS, and state standards at no cost to schools, students, or teachers.
- SafeInsights The nation's infrastructure for education research, of which OpenStax is the lead partner, enabling large-scale data collection and analysis of educational outcomes and learning patterns for researchers.
- RAISE (Rice Algebra Initiative for Success and Equity) Rice Algebra Initiative for Success and Equity — OpenStax's Algebra 1 curriculum deployed primarily in middle school classrooms, approved by the Texas State Board of Education.
Quantifiable outcome
- $3.4 billion all-time savings to students, including $450 million in AY25
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use OpenStax
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OpenStax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
OpenStax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SafeInsightscoreSafeInsights is led by OpenStax as the nation's infrastructure for education research, enabling large-scale analysis of educational outcomes and learning data.
- MicrosoftminorMicrosoft partnered with OpenStax for AI-enhanced learning in the classroom, providing technology collaboration for AI-supported digital learning tools.
- Google (Google Inc.)minorGoogle partnered with OpenStax through Google's Gemini apps integration, providing AI-enhanced access to OpenStax content.
- Kendall HuntcoreKendall Hunt is the official print partner for OpenStax, fulfilling all print copy orders with fast delivery (within 10 days) and affordable pricing.
- Rice UniversitycoreOpenStax is a nonprofit initiative of William Marsh Rice University (501(c)(3)), providing institutional backing and academic credibility.
- CheggminorInnovative corporation committed to low-cost high-quality educational resources.
- HP Inc.minorInnovative corporation supporting OpenStax's mission.
- LMS Platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L, Schoology)coreIntegration partnerships enabling OpenStax Assignable to work within major learning management systems.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
OpenStax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CK-12 Foundation: Nonprofit publisher of free, customizable K-12 OER textbooks,FlexBooks, and adaptive practice. Directly comparable in OER textbook publishing for K12 and post-secondary, with similar customizable content and free core offering.
- Saylor Academy: Nonprofit offering free, self-paced college-level courses built on OER, including textbooks. Comparable as a free OER-based higher-ed content provider serving the same cost-conscious student segment.
- Khan Academy: Nonprofit provider of free educational content (videos, exercises, lessons) for K12 and higher-ed learners with a similar mission of open access. Highly comparable in mission, freemium model, and broad learner base, though Khan leans short-form video/AI tutoring vs. OpenStax's textbook-centric approach.
- OER Commons: Nonprofit public digital library of open educational resources for K12 and higher-ed. Comparable as a discovery and distribution platform for OER textbooks, lesson plans, and ancillaries.
- Lumen Learning: Commercial OER courseware provider that wraps open content with LMS-integrated homework, analytics, and instructor support. Closely comparable to OpenStax Assignable, with a paid courseware model layered on top of OER.
Others
- Coursera: Online learning platform partnering with universities to offer courses and credentials. Adjacent in higher-ed digital learning but not a textbook substitute; comparable in mission-driven online learning reach and institutional partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- McGraw-Hill Education: Major commercial educational publisher with digital textbooks, Connect, and ALEKS adaptive learning. Direct competitor in introductory college courses (the heart of OpenStax's catalog) but a broad incumbent with K-12, higher-ed, and professional offerings.
- Chegg: Publicly traded student support platform offering textbook rentals, study help, and AI tutoring. Listed as a partner/supportive organization and a broader incumbent in low-cost and supplementary educational resources, with a hybrid free/paid model.
- Pearson: Largest global educational publisher with digital textbooks, MyLab, and inclusive-access bundles. Competes with OpenStax for higher-ed courseware adoption and inclusive-access contracts but as a broad commercial incumbent with a much larger portfolio.
- Cengage Group: Educational publisher operating Cengage, ed2go, and Infosec, with growing Cengage Unlimited subscription and inclusive-access programs. Competitor in college textbook and courseware with a subscription-first commercial model that contrasts with OpenStax's free approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OpenStax social profiles
Digital presenceOpenStax compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
OpenStax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OpenStax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
OpenStax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OpenStax M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OpenStax
What does OpenStax do?
OpenStax publishes free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed digital textbooks across subjects including Business, College Success, Computer Science, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences for higher education and K12. It also offers OpenStax Assignable, a paid LMS-integrated tool that layers the textbooks with auto-graded reinforcement questions, cumulative practice, and video content, and conducts education research through the SafeInsights infrastructure.
Is OpenStax a public or private company?
OpenStax is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OpenStax founded?
OpenStax was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is OpenStax based?
OpenStax is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does OpenStax make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Funding is the primary driver. The others are openStax Assignable Sales, mission Support Fees from Allies and print Copy Sales (Kendall Hunt).
Who are OpenStax's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CK-12 Foundation, Saylor Academy, Khan Academy, OER Commons and Lumen Learning. Coursera is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are McGraw-Hill Education, Chegg, Pearson and Cengage Group.
Does OpenStax have an API?
No public API is recorded for OpenStax.
What industry is OpenStax in?
OpenStax's product category is Open Educational Resources / Digital Textbook Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAJAA, Open Textbooks (Open-licensed core texts), with a secondary code of EDAGAJAH, Open Homework Systems & OER-Integrated Courseware. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 2731.