Student Computer Recommendations & Software Licenses

During the summer months, we are often asked what kind of computer a student is expected to bring to campus. Importantly, no student is required to provide their own computer for success at UMass Lowell. The university provides multiple options to access technology to complete coursework.

However, most students prefer to have their own computer for flexibility, entertainment, and personal use. Below, we provide some recommendations for all students. Some departments also provide some program-specific recommendations, which are linked at the bottom.

This page is updated annually, usually in the late spring.

General Student Recommendations

We recommend that students purchase a computer from a large, reputable brand with the following specifications:

• Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 or Apple macOS 15.5 (Sequoia) or newer
• Intel i5 or i7 processor (14th generation or newer)
• AMD Ryzen 3 or 5 (7000 series or newer)
• 16GB of RAM or more
• 500 GB or larger SSD
• 802.11 AC wireless compatibility

Computing-Intensive Programs

For students enrolled in engineering or other computing-intensive programs, we recommend a higher-performance system to ensure compatibility with resource-intensive applications such as SolidWorks, MATLAB, and AutoCAD. Minimum recommended specifications:

• Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 24H2
• Intel i7 (14th generation or newer) or AMD Ryzen 7/9 (7000 series or newer)
• 32GB of RAM or more
• Dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU with at least 4 GB VRAM
• 1 TB SSD
• 802.11 AC wireless compatibility
• 802.11 AX (Wi-Fi 6) wireless compatibility

Note:
These specifications are provided as general recommendations by the IT department. Individual academic departments or specific programs may have additional or different hardware and software requirements not listed here. Students are responsible for confirming any program-specific needs before making a purchase. Information Technology is not liable for purchases that do not meet the requirements of a student's academic program.

Chromebooks

While Windows and Apple laptops generally offer broader compatibility and higher performance, low-cost Chromebooks can be an excellent option for staying connected and completing basic academic tasks while keeping costs down. Listed below are some benefits of using a Chromebook while at UMass Lowell:

• Typically much lower cost compared to Windows, macOS, or iOS devices
• Usually very lightweight with long battery life
• Fast start up with minimal load time
• Integrated seamlessly with Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Gmail
• Cloud-based storage reduces reliance on internal storage space
• Direct access to vLabs
• Easy to maintain with minimal technical overhead

Hardware Warranties

Warranties are truly up to you as the purchaser. If you want the assurance of knowing that this computer will be good for a four-year program of study, you may want a four-year warranty. We have found that due to the rapid pace of technological change, and the additional cost of such warranties that many would prefer to replace the computer if it breaks after two years.

UMass Lowell always recommends you provide accidental damage protection for the duration of the computer’s expected life.

Note: TechServices will not be able to service your personal device hardware (hard drive, screen, RAM, motherboard, CPU, etc.). Should you have an issue with your personal device, please contact the manufacturer or provider from where you purchased.

Software

UMass Lowell has a diverse range of academic departments, many of which utilize specialized software. We are proud to offer the vast majority of the required software, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, SolidWorks, the AutoDesk suite, and may more on our vLabs virtual computer lab platform. Because of this, we recommend that you wait until you are in your classes to see if there is software that you want to purchase.

All enrolled students are able to download a copy of Microsoft Office 365 for free. Accordingly, we recommend that you do not purchase Microsoft Office on your own. As part of Microsoft 365, all students have access to one terabyte of storage on Microsoft OneDrive. We strongly suggest students keep all important documents and files in OneDrive in case their computer crashes.

Security

Windows computers include built-in virus protection, and macOS is generally less susceptible to common threats. However, we strongly recommend that all students use antivirus software to help protect the university’s network. That said, we do not advise purchasing third-party antivirus software, as the built-in protection provided by modern operating systems is typically sufficient.