Recommendations for Student Computers

If you are looking to purchase a computer to be used for your coursework, please note the recommendations provided by individual schools and colleges below.

Need Help? If you have questions related to these recommendations, please contact your school or college directly. For additional technical assistance, contact the ITS Help Desk by calling at 315-443-2677, by emailing help@syr.edu, or by stopping into 1-227 CST.

Incoming New Student?

Whether you'll be living on or off-campus, be sure to check out the checklist and IT resources available on the ITS New Student page at its.syr.edu/welcome.

Office 365 at Syracuse University

All Syracuse University students are encouraged to have a computer running Microsoft Office or Office 365. Active Syracuse University students can download and install Microsoft Office desktop applications on up to five computers (PC, Mac) and five mobile devices (iOS, Android). The subscription also includes Windows 10 if you need it. And , it’s FREE while you're an active Syracuse University student! For details, please visit the Office 365 at Syracuse University home page.

Recommendations by School or College

School or College	Recommendation
School of Architecture	You will use computers for CAD, 3D modeling & visualization, graphic design, and architecture-specific applications. We strongly recommend a Windows-based laptop with a powerful GPU. For detailed information, please visit http://soa.syr.edu/compbuy.
College of Arts & Sciences	A&S students should have their own Apple or Windows computer, preferably a laptop.
School of Education	SOE students are encouraged to have a laptop computer. Students who are dually enrolled with music or art education should check The College of Visual and Performing Arts' recommendations to ensure they have the computer and software required.
College of Engineering and Computer Science	ECS students are strongly encouraged to have a notebook computer; for more specific information visit https://su-jsm.atlassian.net/wiki/x/c4FYCQ.
Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics	Students should bring their own laptop or desktop computer, both Windows and macOS are acceptable. The computer should be a fairly recent model to insure that it has adequate processor speed and memory, 8 – 16 GB of RAM is recommended. Most students will be running statistical analysis software at some point in their coursework as well as the usual business productivity software like Microsoft Office and Adobe products all of which can have above average computing requirements. Falk College has its own computer labs with all the software needed to complete coursework but students generally want to work on their own computers wherever they are making a laptop preferable.
School of Information Studies	iSchool students must have a laptop with Windows 10 or macOS. Chromebooks or tablets are not adequate for the technical demands of your coursework. Many of your classes will require you to use Microsoft Windows applications. Mac users can work with these applications in our Hinds Hall computer labs, or via virtualization. A Windows laptop is recommended. Hardware Minimum Specifications: 8GB RAM (16GB if attempting virtualization) HDMI adapter 25GB of storage reserved for iSchool courses Students may choose to purchase their computer through the University Bookstore or a retailer of their choosing. Visit https://ischool.syr.edu/technology-services/ for more information.
College of Law	All laptops used by College of Law students must be compliant with the current minimum system requirements of Examplify, our exam-taking software. Note that there is a version of Examplify available for Apple iPads, but the College of Law does not permit the use of iPads in exams. Please review the information at the following link to ensure compatibility of your laptop device: https://examsoft.com/resources/examplify-minimum-system-requirements/ You must have full administrator access to your device to permit software installs and necessary configuration changes. If your device was issued to you by your place of business or another institution, please check with the issuing IT personnel to ensure that you have this capability.
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management	For information on computer hardware and software recommendations for incoming Whitman School of Management students, please visit http://whitman.syracuse.edu/techrecs.
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs	Students are encouraged to have their own laptops. 16 GB - 32 GB of RAM is recommended for students using their laptop for statistical (i.e. Stata, SPSS) or cartographic software such as ArcGIS.
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications	To ensure you can actively engage in your course work at the Newhouse School, you will need access to a personal computer. For more information, please visit https://newhouse.syr.edu/about/facilities/technology-requirements.
College of Visual and Performing Arts	For information on computer hardware and software recommendations for incoming Visual and Performing Arts students, please visit Computing Recommendations for all VPA Students.
College of Professional Studies	The College of Professional Studies encourages its students to have their own desktop or laptop computer. For more information, please visit: https://professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/academics/online/bachelor-of-professional-studies/technical-requirements/