Affordable course content describes any free, low-cost, or openly licensed educational resources that can serve as alternatives to high-cost resources. Affordable course content can include syllabi, course modules, textbooks, videos, tests, journal articles, assessment tools, and any other materials used to support learning. ​

Most affordable course content still retains traditional copyright licensing, including restrictions on how a resource can be used or shared.  The exception is open educational resources, which are free of cost and most copyright restrictions, allowing them to be freely used, edited, stored, and distributed.