Body
Overview
In order to help prepare students coming into their programs, several colleges have compiled lists of recommended computer specifications.
General Minimum Specifications for Students
Information Technology Services has provided the minimum recommended specifications below for students. These specifications are meant to serve as a baseline recommendation for students and do not supersede the recommendation of an individual college for their degree programs. Students can use the links available here to receive discounted pricing on their purchases: Pricing for Home Use
Minimum Windows Specifications
For Windows, ITS recommends the following minimum computer specifications:
- Intel Series 3 Core Ultra 5 Processor (minimum)
- 16GB of RAM (minimum)
- 512GB SSD (minimum)
- Windows 11 capable
- A warranty that covers your device for the time you will be a student. Accidental damage protection is a good choice as well since you may be moving around if your have a mobile device.
Minimum macOS Specifications
For macOS, ITS recommends the following minimum computer specifications:
- M4 processor (minimum)
- 16GB of unified memory (minimum)
- 512GB SSD (minimum)
- macOS Golden Gate capable
- A warranty that covers your device for the time you will be a student. Accidental damage protection is a good choice as well since you may be moving around if your have a mobile device.
Recommendations by College
The following colleges provide recommendations and minimum specifications for the type of computer that will best serve you in that college's curriculum.
Before making the choice of Mac or PC, put careful consideration into your field of study & the types of software you will interact with over the course of your studies. Most times, this will settle the debate for you. For example, the College of Business, while it does also provide minimum specifications for a Mac device, the fine print states that the College of Business is PC-centric and many courses will require the use of software that is not available for Mac.
If you're unsure what to do, or your college is not listed below, the best course of action is to speak with your academic department.
Don't have access to a personal computer?
That's okay. We've got your back.
- There are numerous computer labs on campus, several of which are available 24/7.
- There is also the technology checkout service that is housed in the Volpe Library. There, you can check out a computer (Mac or PC) for use with your studies.