NC State Student Computer Requirement

• NC State DOES NOT REQUIRE students to have a computer.  Each college or department may have different requirements or recommendations.
• Most professors do EXPECT students to have access to a computer for assignments.  This may be a personal computer or the Lab computers available for student use on campus.
• It is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that students have one.

College or Department Requirements and Recommendations

If your specific college or department for your degree program is not listed you should follow the NC State Recommendations below.

• College of Design
• College of Education 
• College of Engineering
• Poole College of Management
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Other Colleges and Programs

Before You Buy

Compare Machine Types

• Business-Class Laptops: These are more durable and stable, offering better support and longevity for your studies, though they come at a higher cost. Consider this for long-term reliability.
• Home User or Consumer-Class Laptops: These are less expensive initially but might not withstand general wear and tear of student life over the years. They are suitable for lighter tasks and budgets.
• High-Performance or Gaming Laptops: These offer top-tier technology and power, but they are the most expensive and might have features unnecessary for typical university coursework. Only consider if your field demands the increased performance or have other personal requirements.
• Alternative Devices (Chromebooks, Android Tablets, and iPads): While useful for specific tasks, these generally don't adequately replace a PC or Mac laptop or desktop for the demands of university-level work and software compatibility. They are best as secondary devices.

Financial Aid Computer Purchases

The US Department of Education permits institutions to include the cost of a computer for educational use in a student’s Cost of Attendance (COA). The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will include this expense for students upon request and according to policy.  Fill out the Computer Purchase Request Form and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid. 

NC State Recommendations

New Computers

Already Owned

Bring With Your Computer

• Warranty information and coverage.
• Personal printer, if desired.  Wireless printing is not supported, so get a local cable for printing.
  • NOTE: WolfPrint FollowMe Printing offers fee-based printing at many campus locations.
• Other needed peripherals and adapters (e.g. USB-C to USB-A)
• USB hub for laptop models with limited USB ports; for Mac users a USB-C multiport adapter
• HDMI adapter and/or cable
• Surge protector

Software

• Antivirus – Windows Defender and Apple's XProtect which come with the operating system sufficiently satisfy this requirement.
• Before purchasing software review the freely available and discounted software provided by NC State at Software Licensing.

Theft Protection

• Register your laptop and other valuables with the Wolf Guard ID Program.
• Keep a copy of your laptop’s serial number and your ethernet and/or wireless card MAC addresses in a safe place.
• Don't leave your backpack or other items unattended.