Online Colleges That Offer Laptops and iPads

Written by: Staff Writer

The increasing role of technology in higher education has made computers a necessity. Many colleges now provide free laptops or tablets for all incoming students. These technology programs differ, so students should understand exactly what their prospective school offers.

Some colleges offer free laptops, with the cost included in the price of tuition. Others provide laptops at greatly reduced prices. Schools may offer the same device to every student or provide options based on each learner's budget or academic major.

This page provides an overview of online colleges that offer laptops. The following sections detail common practices for technology programs and important factors to consider when selecting a device. This guide also includes information on resources to help students pay for laptops, including scholarships and direct discounts from technology companies.

Are the Laptops Online Colleges Offer Completely Free?

While many colleges offer free laptops for students, the specifics of these technology programs vary by institution. Some schools provide all students with free laptops and set no additional requirements. Other schools charge a technology fee to cover the cost of the laptop, which students often pay over multiple semesters. While these schools do not offer laptops for free, they provide the technology at a greatly reduced price.

In most cases, students own their laptops. However, some schools rent laptops for the duration of a student's enrollment and require the laptops to be returned after graduation. While most schools offering technology programs provide laptops to all incoming students, some institutions only offer devices to learners in certain academic programs. Students researching online colleges that offer laptops should identify any special requirements for receiving a device.

What Colleges Offer Free Laptops?

Some online colleges that offer laptops set eligibility requirements, but most provide laptops for all students. However, learners should research each school's laptop program to ensure they qualify. Below are some online colleges that offer laptops for new students.

Colleges That Offer Free Laptops

Bethel University

Bethel University offers laptops to all incoming full-time students. If students do not pick up their Bethel laptop during their first semester, they forfeit possession of it. Students using Bethel laptops have many resources available to help them with their computing needs.

Widener University

Widener University awards eligible engineering students brand new laptops. Requirements for this school's laptop scholarship are continued full-time enrollment in one of the engineering degrees and meeting one of the following academic requirements: a combined SAT score of 1310 or higher, an ACT score of 28 or higher, or a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Seton Hill University

Through the Mobile Learning @ The Hill Program, Seton Hill University offers all traditional full-time undergraduate students MacBooks. This program has garnered Seton the distinction of being an Apple Distinguished School. The high caliber of their program allows the university to offer on-campus AppleCare support, which includes loaner laptops.

Chatham University

Chatham University offers Macbook Air packages to all incoming first-year students. The package includes a laptop, a backpack, a laptop case, various protection plans, and repair services. While graduate students are not eligible for the Macbook Air package, Chatham does offer financial assistance to graduate students needing a laptop to meet the graduate laptop requirement.

St. John's University

Eligible students at St. John's University may participate in the Academic Computing Initiative Program and receive a portable computing device for use during their studies; the school charges a laptop fee to the student's account every semester. The students may keep the laptop as long as they remain enrolled full time at the University and abide by the terms and conditions.

Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University provides full-time undergraduate and graduate students with a fully-loaded laptop. The cost of the laptop is included with tuition, and the university estimates that the laptop program, along with the textbook rental program, saves students $7,300 over the course of four years of study. The program also includes technical support.

Wentworth Institute of Technology

The laptop program — for full-time matriculating undergraduate and master's of architecture students at Wentworth Institute of Technology — provides laptop options tailored to each major. Faculty select the laptop for each program based on the specific needs of their students.

Stevens Henager College

Stevens Henager College provides laptops to undergraduate students to provide the tools for success at their institution and to remove what can be a financial obstacle for some students. The new laptop is reserved for students to use while they are in school, but they can be kept after graduation. Students in the School of Graphic Arts receive a MacBook.

Colleges That Offer Free Tablets

Seton Hill University

As part of the Mobile Learning @ The Hill Program, Seton Hill University gives iPads to all traditional full-time undergraduate students. Apple recognized Seton Hill as an Apple Distinguished School for this program. This partnership allows the university to offer on-campus AppleCare support.

Long Island University - Brentwood

As part of an initiative started in 2013, Long Island University – Brentwood offers iPads free of charge to new full-time criminal justice undergraduate students and at a discounted rate of $250 to new part-time criminal justice undergraduate students. Students are eligible as long as they are making satisfactory payments to their account and submit required documentation.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Students receive iPads as part of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's fully online graduate degrees and to demonstrate the school's commitment to mobile learning. The iPads are fully integrated into the course curricula and come loaded with Engage, the university's main app, as well as other productivity apps like Adobe Connect.

Colleges That Offer Discounted Laptops

Villanova University

Villanova University's purchase program allows students to purchase Dell and Apple computer equipment at a discount through Villanova's partnerships with the vendors Connection and Apple. Connection offers seven choices of laptops and two choices of monitors for Villanova faculty and students, while Apple offers three types of laptops, two all-in-one desktops, two GPUs, and four iPads.

Colleges That Offer Laptop Rentals

Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University provides full-time undergraduate and graduate students a laptop for school use. The cost of the laptop is included with tuition, and the university estimates that the laptop and textbook rental program saves students $7,300 over the course of four years of study.

Drexel University

Students at Drexel University are able to borrow laptops from a service desk or a laptop kiosk in their libraries. The only costs incurred to students result from late fees, or fines issued for violating the terms and services. If borrowers stick to the rental period and follow the terms and conditions, this service is available for free.