Student Computer Purchasing
Below is our campus recommendation for purchasing a laptop for classes at WCU. If
your college has a recommendation that exceeds ours, find it below.
* Dell & Apple laptops receive on-site software and hardware support (service subject to warranty status). Other devices receive limited support.
* IT does not recommend the purchase of Chromebooks or MacBook Neos as they do not meet the university鈥檚 laptop requirement.
* All students receive a free copy of Microsoft Office 365.
*Once you purchase a computer, log in and follow our to get it ready for the semester!
| Program/College | Apple Recommendation | Dell Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Recommendation | - MacBook Air or better with M4 chip or higher - 16GB unified memory - 500GB SSD - AppleCare+ warranty subscription |
- Dell Latitude/Plus or better laptop with Windows 11 - Intel Core Ultra 7 - 16GB RAM - 512GB SSD - 4-year Dell ProSupport Plus |
| School of Business |
*School of Business students must use a Windows Laptop. - Dell Latitude or Precision Series Laptop with Windows 11 |
|
| College of Engineering |
*School of Engineering students must use a Windows Laptop. - Dell Precision, Inspiron, or Dell Pro Max Series Laptop with Windows 11 |
|
| Graphic Design | - MacBook Pro 16" - Discrete graphics card (Pro or Max chip) - 32GB unified memory or greater - 500GB SSD or greater - AppleCare+ warranty subscription |
- Dell Latitude or Precision Series Laptop with Windows 11 - 15" screen or greater - Discrete graphics card - 32GB RAM or greater - 500GB SSD or greater - 4-year Dell ProSupport Plus |
| Interior Design |
*Interior Design students must use a Windows Laptop. - Dell Latitude or Precision Series Laptop with Windows 11 |
