Below is some information to assist with your computer purchase decision. The following points should be noted:
- Students who are taking business courses (including both degree and certificate programs) should invest in a Windows computer as many applications are only available for Windows.
- Students who are enrolled in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Education may want to consider an Apple computer such as a MacBook, as many of the applications for this program are Mac-based.
- For all other students aside from those mentioned above, either a Windows or Mac laptop would be sufficient.
- Certain majors such as the sciences, math, computer science, animation, video editing, and other computer-intensive fields should consider a computer that meets or exceeds the recommended “High-end” column below.
- Many laptop manufacturers offer educational discounts for students. See Suggested Laptop Vendors section below for links directly to the vendor discount pages.
Note: In many cases, Chromebooks do not support the same applications as Windows and Mac laptops. As a result, we do not recommend the purchase of a Chromebook for students currently.
If you have any additional questions regarding a laptop purchase, please contact the Ramapo IT helpdesk at helpdesk@ramapo.edu.
Windows Laptop Requirements
Updated July 27, 2026
| Minimum | Recommended | High-end | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core 5 or AMD Ryzen 5 | Intel Core Ultra 5/7 or AMD Ryzen AI 5/7 | Intel Core Ultra X7/X9 or AMD Ryzen AI 9 (HX-class) |
| Memory/RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB or more |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Video Card | Integrated Video | Integrated Video or better | For Video/Animation students, Discrete Graphics:
2GB GPU min, 4GB GPU recommended |
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 or better | 1920 x 1080 or better | 1920 x 1080 or better |
MacBook Laptop Requirements
Updated July 27, 2026
| Minimum | Recommended | High-end | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | MacBook Neo | 13” MacBook Air or 14″ MacBook Pro | 14” MacBook Pro |
| Operating System | MacOS 26 Tahoe or MacOS 27 Golden Gate | MacOS 15 Sequoia, MacOS 26 Tahoe, or MacOS 27 Golden Gate | MacOS 15 Sequoia, MacOS 26 Tahoe, or MacOS 27 Golden Gate |
| CPU | A18 Pro | M3/M4 or higher | M5/M5 Pro or higher |
| Memory/RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more | 16 GB or more |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
Suggested Laptop Manufacturers
Please note that various education and consumer discounts may change. Vendor education pricing is not always the lowest price, so we recommend you research your options before purchasing.