“What kind of computer do I need?” is a common question from incoming students.

While some schools and colleges don’t require a personal computer, having one makes college life much easier. If you decide to bring a computer to Mizzou, it’s important to get the right computer for you and your major. Be sure to check Let Your Major Be Your Guide for recommendations.

Since college students are always on the move, bringing a laptop is the popular choice on campus. Some students prefer to use a tablet for digital textbooks, in addition to using a laptop. DoIT provides computing sites for student use across campus and in residence hall groups, where desktop computers, printers, and specialized software are available.

You can bring your computer from home or purchase a new one. Check out the recommendations below to help you make the right laptop decisions.

I Already Have a Laptop

Bringing your laptop from home is perfectly acceptable. Most laptop computers purchased within the last few years will connect to our network. To ensure that you can utilize all the technology resources on campus, your laptop should meet certain hardware and software minimum standards.

Minimum Laptop Requirements

Software Recommendations:

If you already have a laptop, be sure it has the following software.

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

The following hardware will provide a 1- to 2-year lifespan at MU. You will likely have to replace your laptop during your tenure at Mizzou.

Let Your Major Be Your Guide

Let Your Major Be Your Guide is a program developed by The Mizzou Store – TigerTech in collaboration with academic departments at the University of Missouri, designed to provide every student with an appropriate and accurate computer recommendation based on their major. Each department or school has specific requirements.

The Let Your Major Be Your Guide program allows TigerTech to compile these requirements and present them to you. It is important that you have a system that can be supported on campus, therefore all computers at TigerTech meet the minimum requirements of the University.

I’m Buying a Laptop

If you decide to purchase a new laptop, TigerTech is an excellent option – they sell both Mac and Dell machines with an optional purchase plan. The Tech Supply Bundles come with the accessories necessary for a student living on campus, like a warranty, an Ethernet cable and adapter, surge protector, a backpack and more. TigerTech offers competitive pricing, plus educational discounts for all students.

If you decide to purchase during Summer Welcome, you can order your laptop on Day One, then pick it up on Day Two. After pickup, visit the Tech Stop to get it set up with all your Mizzou technology resources. At the Tech Stop, the student will sit down with a technician for 3-40 minutes; walk in any time from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Student Purchase Plan

The Computer Purchase Plan allows eligible students to spread the cost of a computer over four payments (semesters). The first payment is charged to your University of Missouri student account in the thirty days after you receive your computer. The remaining payments are billed in subsequent December and June billing cycles. The administrative fee is 7.8 percent of the purchase price, which is a one-time charge added to your total; there is no accruing interest.

Criteria for approval:

• No financial holds on the student’s account.
• Student must be enrolled for the current semester, or in the case of Summer Welcome customers, enrolled for the fall semester.
• The student must have a University A/R balance that does not exceed $7,500 which includes outstanding provisional aid.
• The student’s GPA must be a 2.0 or higher.
• The student must have at least four semesters left before completion of their studies. If the student might not have four semesters left before completion of their studies, a letter from the student’s academic department is required to state the length of the time the student has left before completion of their studies.

A short application must be filled out for approval. The completed application should be submitted to TigerTech, either in-person; via email: themizzoustore@missouri.edu; or via US Post: The Mizzou Store, 911 E. Rollins, Columbia, MO 65211.

Hardware and Software Recommendations

Software Recommendations:

Minimum Hardware Requirements: 3 to 4 year lifespan at Minimum