Technology and education go hand in hand.  Traditional on-campus education is transforming into online learning and distance education. This transition has skyrocketed even more this decade. Even though online courses were not fully adopted and appreciated a few years ago, the 2020 pandemic has made it a way of life.  

Distance education and online programs make colleges and universities more affordable and accessible to millions of students. But if a student lacks regular and dependable access to a laptop or computer, the appeal of such programs diminishes. 

In response, most colleges offer students ways to acquire these crucial devices, such as giving them free laptops or leasing laptops to enrolled students. As such, students will be spared from the financial burden that comes with purchasing a laptop.  With the help of a free laptop, students get to qualify for online classes and save money at the same time. 

Below, we’ve provided you with a list of colleges that offer students laptops or tablets for free or at a discounted price. So, don’t let the cost of a laptop prevent you from pursuing your dream course.

Southern Nazarene University

This private Christian University has a 100 percent acceptance rate. According to payscale.com’s recent college ROI report, graduates from Nazarene University earn a twenty-year average net ROI of $217,000.  The university is well known for having considerate professors that are not only brilliant but also dependable.

The university popular majors include:

• Business Administration and Management
• Human development
• Organizational Behavior studies

Laptop choices provided include:

• 15″ MacBook Pro
• Dell Latitude 3380
• 13″ MacBook Pro 

St. John’s University

St John’s University is a Catholic University in Queens, New York. It offers free laptops to students who opt for its program, whether on-campus or online.  Besides the free laptop, students receive a four-year warranty, on-campus technical support, and pre-installed software compatible with every course requirement. Everyone who graduates with a Bachelor’s degree from the university gets permanent ownership of the laptop. The university receives a lot of praise because of its reliable professors and great abroad programs.

The University’s popular majors include:

• Physician Assistant
• Psychology
•  Biology

Laptop choices include:

• Lenovo ThinkPad L380
• Apple MacBook Pro
• Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga

Indiana State University 

Indiana State University’s Sycamore Technology Award covers the cost of a laptop selected by the school for enrolled and eligible students.

Both in-state and out-of-state students can apply for this scholarship, but it’s not available to international students, online-only students, and students returning to Indiana State. Even though all freshmen qualify for the award, transfer students must apply for the scholarship.  

Students can keep the laptop if they attend the school for two consecutive semesters. Anyone who opts out before the semester ends must return their laptop in person or through the mail.

Laptop provided:

• Hp ProBook 640

Rochester College

Full-time undergraduates of Rochester University receive a free iPad or Apple MacBook.  Also, any student who transfers to the University with 29 credits or less can receive these devices.  

Recently the US News and World Report ranked Rochester University position 59 among the Regional Colleges. If you graduate from this university, you stand a chance of earning a twenty-year average net ROL of $59,800. The university offers both accelerated degree and undergraduate programs.

Wentworth Institute of Technology

If you’re enrolling for the first time in Wentworth Institute of Technology, you’ll receive a brand new laptop. The model of the laptop you’ll receive will vary base on the program you’re pursuing. Some programs offer students multiple models and specification options.  

If there are multiple options available, you must fill out and submit a laptop survey form before the next fall enrollment. If you don’t, you might have to pay a laptop change fee. Students retain full ownership of the laptop after graduation. However, there some applications that will be uninstalled to prevent infringement of certain licensing agreements.  

Full Sail University

This university teamed up with Apple to offer students the latest-generation MacBook Pro laptop and the necessary software needed for students to attain the success they desire while pursuing their specific degree.

However, students enrolled in programs like Software Development, Simulation & Visualization, and Game Development, receive a Hp Laptop.  The cost of the laptop program is $3,000, but if a student can maintain a GPA above 1.0, he or she can get awarded a $3,000 scholarship to cover the laptop costs.

Laptop options include:

• HP Laptop
• Apple MacBook Pro

Seton Hill University

Seton Hill University has offered students tablets and laptops from 2010. This is part of the Mobile Learning at The Hill Program.  Both on-campus full-time undergraduates and students pursuing a master’s degree in physician assistant, receive a latest-generation iPad and 13” MacBook Air.

Students of Masters in Orthodontics and Marriage and Family Therapy receive an iPad, and those of Master’s in Art Therapy receive a MacBook.

The university often replaces these devices after the students have completed two consecutive years in school. The student can remain with the replacement iPad or MacBook after graduating.

Conclusion

If you can’t pursue your favorite degree because you lack enough funds to purchase a laptop, don’t worry. Most universities and colleges today are offering their students free laptops.  This means you can now register for your degree course, whether online or on-campus, and enjoy the flexibility of studying brought about by owning a laptop. 

Besides the ones we’ve mentioned, there are other several schools out there that are willing to help you secure a laptop for your education, you just have to search for them.