Visual or digital arts prefer Apple products Computer science or business majors prefer Windows productsThe computer's educational utility is pushing more and more schools to require that students actively use computers during class. The list of classroom efficiency improvements is lengthy: faculty can solicit feedback from students, teaching assistants can answer questions during lectures, students can take notes directly on class materials and expensive textbooks can be replaced by downloadable e-books. $500 to $2,000 for a new laptopIncreased efficiency and convenience unfortunately come at a price: the National Association of College Stores reports students spent an average of in fall of 2014. In response, many universities are taking steps to reduce the cost of technology.
Aliquippa WR Gipson ponders new Power 5 scholarship offers. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 2018-11-01 - High Schools - By Brad Everett Brad Everett. At the time, his list of offers included strictly MAC schools and FCS programs. Months later.
Pittsburgh Is Latest Scholarship Offer For Macy's
The savings for students can be drastic considering the average price of a new laptop runs from $500 to $2,000 or more. Some campus and online colleges that offer free laptops, factor those costs into the tuition; others assess a separate fee on a one-time or recurring basis. Most of these schools allow students to keep the equipment after graduation. WHAT COLLEGES PROVIDE LAPTOPS? We found 17 schools that provide laptops or iPads to their students.
This includes Bethel University, Centenary College, Chatham University, and Full Sail University. CAN I USE MY FINANCIAL AID TO BUY A LAPTOP? Any money that's left over after paying for tuition can be used as the student sees fit, including purchasing a laptop. However, it's recommended that students use this left-over money to pay for room and board, food, and other essential needs. WHAT IS THE BEST TABLET FOR ONLINE CLASSES? The best tablet will be different for every student. Each tablet has their strengths and weaknesses.
When making this decision, it's helpful to figure out which features you desire most. HOW TO GET A FREE LAPTOP FOR COLLEGE Students must attend one of the universities that offer a free laptop or tablet to new learners. WHAT IS THE BEST LAPTOP FOR COLLEGE? The best laptop will be different for every student. Each laptop has its strengths and weaknesses. When making this decision, it's helpful to figure out which features you desire most.
Online Colleges That Offer Laptops If receiving a laptop is an important criterion for your choice in school, then our list of online colleges that offer laptops to their students will help in your decision making. Below, you will find the information you need to compare different computer options, as well as direct links to the program details. Collapse all - Rank School Name Location Description 1 Bethel University LOCATION McKenzie, TN This private liberal arts school issues laptops to all incoming, on-campus freshmen during orientation. If laptops are not picked up during the first semester, the offer is forfeited. The school does not offer insurance but recommends that students purchase private insurance of up to $600 in value. The cost of this laptop is rolled into the tuition price. 2 Centenary College LOCATION Hackettstown, NJ All incoming on-campus undergraduates at this private school in New Jersey are eligible for a laptop preconfigured to the school’s wireless network.
Students may take laptops home for summer and winter breaks or during study abroad. Centenary graduates may also keep their laptops. Students choose either a 5.3-lb.
Toshiba Satellite C55 with a 15.6-inch screen, or a 4.5-lb. MacBook Pro with a 13.3-inch screen. Both laptops have 4Gb RAM, a 500Gb hard drive, DVD multi-drive, HDMI/VGA out ports, antivirus software and the 2013 MS Office Suite. Tech fees are assessed at $325 per semester for the Toshiba and $475 per semester for the Mac. 3 Chatham University LOCATION Pittsburgh, PA All incoming, on-campus freshmen at this private liberal arts university are provided with a 13-inch MacBook Air. The school also provided four years of theft and accidental damage insurance in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty.
A technology fee of $375 per semester is assessed in addition to tuition. Upon graduation, ownership is transferred to the student. 4 CollegeAmerica LOCATION Colorado Springs, CO CollegeAmerica is a private career college offering online and hybrid degree programs.
All undergraduate students are issued a laptop, which becomes personal property after graduation. Each laptop is preloaded with the software applicable to the student’s degree program. There is no additional fee, as the cost is included in tuition.
5 Full Sail University LOCATION Winter Park, FL Full Sail University is a private, for-profit school for students aspiring to work in media and entertainment. Its degree programs include film, design, web design, animation and a host of other creative fields. This online school provides each student a MacBook Pro loaded with the most popular software tools in the industry. Programs vary depending on area of study but can include Adobe CC, Vectorworks, Final Cut Pro X, SynthEyes, ZBrush and Auralia. Full Sail charges a technology fee in addition to tuition, most of which covers the cost of the MacBook and software. Though this fee varies based on degree program, undergraduates can expect to pay between $3,000 and $10,000 for a preloaded MacBook.
6 Wake Forest University LOCATION Winston-Salem, NC Wake Forest provides campus-based undergraduates computers preloaded with a suite of educational software and cloud-based tools. Students receive a 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook configured with 8Gb RAM, 256Gb SSD, Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Office 365. A limited number of convertible ultrabooks with touch capability are also made available for a small upgrade fee.
Computers are issued during orientation. Wake Forest offers a four-year warranty plan that covers accidental damage (minus a $500 deductible) for a one-time $139 fee. After graduation, the ThinkPad may be purchased from the university for approximately $300.
There is no direct charge for the laptop’s use. 7 Northwest Missouri State University LOCATION Maryville, MO Northwest’s full-time, on-campus undergraduate and graduate students are provided a laptop preloaded with the software required to participate in the program. Each student receives a 14-inch HP EliteBook 840 G1 configured with 4Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD, Windows 7 Pro and MS Office 2013.
The cost of the laptop is included in tuition. Northwest does not provide warranty coverage beyond that of the vendor, and encourages to insure laptops to avoid a $1,500 replacement fee. Students may keep their laptops over summer breaks for a $50 charge; however, all computers must be returned after graduation. 8 ICDC College LOCATION Huntington Park, CA Online students at this accredited career college are eligible for a laptop at no additional charge. Computer models may change at the school’s discretion, but they are always manufactured by ASUS.
Any software required for study is preloaded, though additional tools for online study must be downloaded by the student. Any student who attends ICDC for more than 30 days may keep the laptop. 9 Stevens-Henager College LOCATION Murray, UT Students participating in hybrid undergraduate programs at this private technical college are eligible for a laptop, the cost of which is included in standard tuition and fees.
After graduation, students may keep the laptop. 10 Regis College LOCATION Weston, MA Every on-campus student at this private Catholic college receives an iPad. While the iPads are not intended to replace computers, they do serve to facilitate collaboration, research and classroom participation.
This tool is considered a rental while students attend Regis; after graduation, the iPad may be kept for personal use. All costs are absorbed in tuition pricing. 11 Rochester College LOCATION Rochester Hills, MI Entering on-campus freshmen and transfer students with less than 30 credit hours are eligible for a free laptop at this private liberal arts college. Eligible full-time students may choose either a 13-inch MacBook Pro or new iPad for use in their studies. After six semesters, students may keep the technology. Cost is included in tuition. John's University LOCATION Queens, NY Incoming, on-campus students, whether freshmen or transfers, are provided with a laptop at St.
Full-time undergraduate students may choose either a 12-inch Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga with 4Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD, touchscreen and Windows 8.1 or a 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8 Gb RAM, 128 Gb flash storage and 9-hour battery. A one-time fee of $49 per Lenovo or $400 per MacBook is assessed in addition to tuition cost. Graduates of St. John’s are welcome to keep their computers.
13 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota LOCATION Winona, MN Online graduate students at Saint Mary’s benefit from from a mobile learning suite that has been fully optimized for the iPad. Students can use the St.
Mary’s app to collaborate on group projects, attend virtual office hours, organize coursework and read textbooks. Each student enrolled in an online graduate program will receive an iPad, ensuring everyone benefits from the expansive set of virtual tools provided by the school. All costs are included in tuition.
14 Seton Hill University LOCATION Greensburg, PA Full-time, on-campus undergraduate students at this private Catholic school in Pennsylvania are eligible to receive a 13-inch MacBook Air and an iPad Mini. The laptop’s specs include a 1.7GHz processor, 8Gb of RAM and a 256Gb hard drive. The iPad Mini is configured for campus wifi and contains 32Gb of storage. Devices are upgraded every two years. Upon graduation, students may keep the devices.
Seton Hill charges a $1,000 technology fee in addition to tuition. 15 Southern Nazerene University LOCATION Bethany, OK SNU is a private Christian school that provides on-campus undergraduates laptops for classroom use. Students receive a 14-inch Fujitsu Lifebook E544, configured with 4Gb RAM, a 320Gb hard drive, Windows 8 and Office 365.
For an additional, one-time $650 cost, students may upgrade to a 13-inch MacBook Pro with 4Gb RAM, a 500Gb hard drive and Office 365; for $1,450 upgrade to a 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina screen, 8Gb of RAM, 265Gb flash storage and Office 365 is also available. After one semester is completed, the student owns the laptop. 16 Widener University LOCATION Chester, PA On-campus engineering students at this private liberal arts university may be eligible for a computer scholarship. Entering freshmen who meet the following criteria are guaranteed a brand-new laptop: Combined SAT score of 1250 or higher or an ACT composite score of 28 or higher, grade point average of 3.5 or higher, declared major in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical or mechanical engineering, and be enrolled full-time. 17 West Liberty University LOCATION West Liberty, WV Any on-campus student at this public university is eligible for a laptop at extremely low cost. Students majoring in business or education are required to purchase a laptop through the program; all other students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity. Students may either choose an iPad Air or a 15-inch PC-based laptop, both of which are preloaded with MS Office 365.
A one-time fee of $400 per iPad or $450 per laptop is assessed. After 30 credit hours are completed, students own the technology.
Choosing the Right Device 75% of our time engaged with technology Given that the average students is spending close to 75% of their time engaged with technology, it is important to be comfortable with your laptop. Schools that provide laptops offer a variety of different models, and the laptop market itself is chock full of options across a range of price points. We've compiled a chart of the common laptops offered by colleges and narrowed down the specs we consider most important. Size & Weight Laptops were designed for portability, a perfect option for college students on the go. Whether you go for the smaller 11” models or the larger 15”, there will be a slight tradeoff in size, power, and performance.
For some, light, small, and simple works fine for basic tasks such as web browsing and word processing. For others, screen size and higher power take precedence. Choose a laptop that is best suited for the tasks at hand; unless you are in a computer science field or require a large screen and high performance for detailed tasks like design work, an 11-13” laptop should suffice. A laptop under 5 pounds is easy to find and will save you from an aching back in the long run. Battery Life When it comes to key features in a college laptop, battery life is towards the top of the list.
These days, batteries have become much more capable, lasting up to 14 hours (13-inch Macbook Air). Smaller computers will most often have the longest battery life as they are more efficient, while higher performing laptops use more power and therefore underperform as compared to their smaller counterparts. Overall, laptops nowadays often carry an average battery life of 8-10 on the low side and 12-14 hours on the high side. In the end, the longer the battery life, the less headache you will have searching for an outlet and toting around a power cord.
Display Ask yourself, would a larger screen work better for you or does a smaller screen suffice? While subjective, this should be taken into account; will you need a larger display for future coursework or will your laptop simply be a web-browsing and word processing tool throughout your college experience?
Resolution is the other factor one needs to consider when evaluating laptop displays. Displays have advanced greatly in recent years and even lower priced models can carry a high-resolution display. A low-resolution display (1366 x 768) are most likely to be found in low-budget models or smaller screens, a 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution is ideal.
Even higher resolutions are available but the upgrade will often be reflected in the price. RAM/Processing Random Access Memory, or RAM, is a form of computer memory that is available to programs during their use, meaning the more RAM available, the more applications can be used at the same time.
Today's laptops and tablets generally start with 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for web browsing and word processing. Although 4GBs has been the standard, 8GB of RAM will let you comfortably run multiple programs at the same time.
As computer programs advance and update, your computer's RAM will stay the same, yet these updates come with an increase in memory use. This explains why your computer may slow over time.
4GB of RAM will get the job done when running simple applications, but upgrading to 8GB may be a better long-term investment. Hard Drive & Storage A computer's hard drive is simply where a computer stores your data. Hard drives contain moving parts that read and write data, they store your documents, music, pictures, etc. Essentially, all the digital information you create and collect on your computer is stored on your hard drive. Regular hard drives vary in size and usually an increase in size signals an overall increase in performance. A Solid State Drive (SSD) is an alternative type of hard drive which contains no moving parts and therefore makes them faster and more stable than standard hard drives.
While SSDs are often more expensive, the upgrade in speed and performance may warrant the larger price tag. SSDs are three to four times faster than regular hard drives and are becoming the standard in storage. If your budget can handle it, opt for the SSD.
If you go with a regular hard drive, like battery life, look for the most storage available at your preferred price point. If a larger hard drive isn't in your budget, you may want to consider external sources of storage such as a flash drive or external hard drive. 128 GB for an SSD is optimal and for a standard hard drive, try to get at least 250GB of storage. Platform Operating system is often a matter of personal preference.
If you can, it would be ideal to see if you can try a Windows computer and a Mac computer at your local library to see which best suits you. This continually updated list displays the best available deals on laptops. Taking bang-for-your-buck into consideration, this resource breaks down the features that make each laptop a sound purchase for a college student. This publication annually updates its list of the ten best laptop choices for college students. This organization, owned and managed by students and faculty, provides new and refurbished laptops to students at discount rates.
Part of the Tom's Guide technological series, this annually updated guide reviews most current computer models. Suggestions by area of academic interest are included. Our Methodology Schools featured in our rankings demonstrate a commitment to high-quality education for their students. Quality is measured and weighted through various data points that are specific to each ranking topic. Each methodology drives proprietary calculations, which are grounded in statistical information, and developed to recognize academically robust, affordable colleges and programs. Sponsored school listings are separate, paid advertisements and are clearly marked with a 'SPONSORED' tag to distinguish them from editorially ranked schools. Our school rankings are editorially determined, independently vetted, and are not influenced by schools that pay for advertisements.
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