Author: Adam Birch | Reviewed By: Melissa Maypole
Key Takeaways:
- Many colleges and universities offer laptop deals or discounts to students as part of their technology programs or initiatives to support students’ academic needs.
- Some common ways colleges provide laptop deals include: Technology Bundle Packages, Financial Aid Programs, Campus Computer Stores, Lease or Rental Programs, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Programs.
- When researching colleges and considering their laptop deals or technology initiatives, be sure to inquire about eligibility criteria, available options, and any associated costs or requirements.
In this ranking, we examine the best affordable online colleges that offer laptop deals, including free laptops for college students, discounted laptops, and laptop programs for online students. For online learners, a reliable computer is essential. Many affordable online colleges with laptops include them as part of tuition or offer free laptops to help students succeed. These online schools offering free laptops often partner with manufacturers to provide new or refurbished devices at discounted rates or include the cost in tuition, making it eligible for financial aid. Some colleges even provide laptops entirely free of charge. This guide highlights colleges that provide laptops to online students, ranked by affordability. All featured schools are regionally accredited, ensuring a high standard of education. Since laptop deals can change, we recommend checking directly with the school’s admissions office for the latest details.
Featured Programs
All of the colleges we feature are regionally accredited, which is the most important kind of accreditation. But we know you might be looking at colleges not featured in our rankings. If that’s the case, you want to be able to verify your potential choices are real colleges. For all the information on this topic check out our article on how to tell if an online college is legit.
Ranking Online Schools that Offer Laptops (discounted, included in tuition, or free computers)
#1. University of Southern Mississippi
Website
Tuition: $10,218
The University of Southern Mississippi offers fifteen undergraduate and more than thirty graduate programs online. Among the bachelor’s programs offered are industrial engineering technology, library and information science, medical laboratory science, and nursing (RN to BSN). Graduate programs include the following:
- Master of Public Health
- Dyslexia Therapy Education
- Economic Development
- Human Capital Development
- Music Education
Loaner laptops are available on both the Gulf Park and Hattiesburg campuses.
Pros:
- A great selection of academic programming
- Student diversity
Cons:
- Large class sizes
- Some issues with online education in some programs have been reported
#2. Dakota State University
Website
Tuition: $12,077
Dakota State University offers seven online master’s degrees and 14 online bachelor’s degrees. Certificates and associate-level degrees are also available. Among the available online bachelor’s degrees are programs in:
- Accounting
- Computer Information Systems
- Cyber Leadership and Intelligence
- Health Information Administration
- Network and Security Administration
Master’s degrees include:
- Analytics
- Cyber Defense
- Educational Technology
- Health Informatics
- Information Management
- Business Administration
Pros:
- Faculty is willing to work with students
- Technology focused institution
Cons:
- Some issues at the administrative level have been reported
- Some lack of financial aid accessibility has been reported
#3. Northwest Missouri State University
Website
Tuition: $12,908
Northwest Missouri State University offers undergraduate programs in business management, marketing, and RN to BSN. The more robust selection of online graduate programs includes:
- General Management
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Geographic Information Science
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Leadership K-12
- Health and Physical Education
Pros:
- A highly ranked public university
- Acceptance rate is higher than the national average
Cons:
- Graduation rate is lower than the national average
- High student-to-faculty ratio
#4. Pennsylvania State University
Website
Tuition: $13,988
Pennsylvania State University’s online degrees are primarily offered through its world campus, designed specifically to house its online degree programs. Their selection of bachelor’s degrees has expanded over the years to offer 34+ programs that include:
- Accounting
- Agribusiness Management
- Digital Multimedia Design
- Economics
- Energy and Sustainability Policy
- Health Policy and Administration
- Political Science
- Security and Risk Analysis
- Turfgrass Science
Pros:
- Excellent alumni network
- Diversity of student body
Cons:
- High tuition costs
- Large class sizes
#5. Clarion University
Website
Tuition: $15,636
Clarion University offers 22 online bachelor’s degrees in areas like:
- Library Science
- Women and Gender Studies
- Global Understanding
- Allied Health Leadership
- Medical Imaging
- Applied Science in Technology Leadership
Among the ten graduate degrees offered are programs like:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Applied Data Analytics
- Mass Media Arts and Journalism
- Business Administration
Pros:
- Faculty is accessible to students
- Decent student-to-faculty ratio
Cons:
- Lack of class availability since the merger
- Some lack of internship opportunities have been reported
#6. University of Florida
Website
Tuition: $16,560
The online degrees at the University of Florida are incredibly cheap, even for non-residents who pay over $10,000 less in tuition than they would when attending on-campus. The University of Florida offers a selection of 19 online bachelor’s degrees, including programs in:
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Environmental Management
- Health Education and Behavior
- Public Relations
Pros:
- Great campus diversity
- Fantastic alumni network
Cons:
- Very competitive admissions
- Large class sizes
#7. Texas Tech University
Website
Tuition: $18,652
Texas Tech University offers ten online bachelor’s degrees and thirty graduate degrees. Bachelor’s degrees include:
- Plant and Soil Science
- Wind Energy
- Human Sciences
- Political Science
- Digital Media and Professional Communication
Online graduate degrees offered by TTU include the following:
- English
- Technical Communication
- Educational Leadership
- Instructional Technology
- Engineering
- Public Administration
Pros:
- Great selection of academic programs
- Accepts AP and dual credits
Cons:
- TAs teach many of the classes
- Student to faculty ratio is high
#8. University of Toledo
Website
Tuition: $18,885
The University of Toledo offers ten online bachelor’s degrees and twelve online graduate degrees. Bachelor’s degrees include:
- Applied Organizational Technology
- Criminal Justice
- Early Childhood Education
- Health Information Administration
- Marketing
Graduate degrees include education and science in:
- Biology
- Human Donation Science
- Recreation and Leisure Administration
Pros:
- Diverse and interactive student body
- Faculty is dedicated to student growth and success
Cons:
- Some issues with advisor availability have been reported
- Some challenges with student transfer have been reported
#9. Florida International University
Website
Tuition: $18,954
FIU offers a staggering 43 online bachelor’s degrees and 33 graduate degrees. Bachelor’s degrees include:
- Asian Studies
- Communication Arts: Organizational Communication Studies
- Computer Engineering
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Health Services Administration
Graduate degrees include the following:
- Real Estate
- Special Education
- Public Health
- Public Administration
- Logistics Engineering
- Human Resource Management
Pros:
- There are 200+ on campus and 75+ online degree programs
- A top college for awarding degrees to Latino students
Cons:
- The acceptance rate is lower than the national average
- A very high student-to-faculty ratio
#10. Northern Arizona University
Website
Tuition: $19,125
Northern Arizona University offers 51 online bachelor’s degrees (if you include the focus areas for interdisciplinary studies programs). Among these are:
- Speech-Language Sciences and Technology
- Technology Management
- Emergency Management
- Public Administration
- Parks and Recreation Management
Pros:
- Average student debt after graduation is lower than national average
- Accepts dual and AP credits
Cons:
- Graduation rate is lower than the national average
- Known by some as a party school
What Exactly Does an Online Bachelor’s Degree Get Me?
It might sound cliché, but a bachelor’s degree gets you employed. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2016, only 69% of people with just a high school diploma worked full-time, year-round. Compare this to 79% of people with a bachelor’s degree. Young adults with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $50,000 per year, 57% higher than the average of $31,800 earned by those with a high school diploma. So, bachelor’s degrees help with both reaching your potential of working full-time year-round and increasing the rate you are paid for that work. Now, not all majors are created equal. Some earn more on average than others. We’ll look at that next.
What Majors Should I Consider?
Well, it’s essential to do something that interests you. If you don’t want to be an engineer, I can’t recommend that you major in that, even though you make incredibly good money on a bachelor’s degree. However, your interests likely align with some of the best options on the market. Most of the top ten majors are available from one or more schools in this ranking. So I am going to provide you with the financial breakdown of the median earnings for professions related to each of the top ten college majors as ranked by The Princeton Review (I will also mention whether or not it requires a master’s degree to reach the top earnings potential in that field).
- Computer Science (Bachelor’s Degree): Software Developers: $103,000, Computer Programmers: $82,000
- Communications Bachelor’s Degree: Public Relations Specialists: $59,300, Technical Writers: $70,930
- Political Science Bachelor’s Degree: Government: Political Scientist: $115,110, Urban and Regional Planner: $71,490: Master’s Degree
- Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree: Managers (most fields): $80,000-$130,000
- Economics Bachelor’s Degree: Financial Analyst: $84,300, Financial Manager: $125,080
- English Language and Literature (Master’s or Doctorate Degree): Postsecondary Teacher: $76,000
- Psychology (Masters Degree): Psychologist: $77,030
- Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree): Registered Nurse: $70,000
- Chemical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree): Chemical Engineer $102,160
- Biology (Bachelor’s Degree): Microbiologist: $69,960
Paying for your Online Bachelor’s Degree
For most degrees, spending your first two years earning your general education credits at a community college makes sense. Earning your associate’s degree can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run. In many cases, community college tuition can be covered by just one or two federal grants. Good grades in community college will practically guarantee excellent financial aid and allow you to transfer into just about all the best state universities. So if you’re looking to get your college education for a great price, community college is a great place to start. Many community colleges offer online programs, so chances are you can attend community college without ever having to set foot in a classroom.
For financial aid, you should always start with FAFSA. Federal education grants are essentially free money, and federally subsidized student loans have low interest and provide you with tons of flexibility when paying them back. After that, private grants and scholarships should be where you look. Finally, if all else fails and it’s your only option, you can apply for private student loans. Private loans tend to be the worst and most expensive form of funding. So make sure you exhaust other sources first.
Is online learning right for you?
Online learning provides students with unparalleled flexibility. Most students who earn their degrees online right now are older than the traditional college age and require more flexibility to fit a degree into their already busy lives. However, with more and more degrees being offered online and the first generation to grow up with the internet hitting college age, the online option is going mainstream. How do you know if it’s the right fit? That’s not an easy question to answer, and you should ask yourself several questions before enrolling. Are you the kind of person who can learn by watching videos? Would you be comfortable taking tests online? Can you handle not having any face-to-face interaction with your professors and fellow students? Are you highly self-motivated and disciplined? While online education is a great option, it’s not ideal for all students. If you need flexibility and are comfortable with the format and technology, online education offers unprecedented flexibility. If you’re not sure online college is a good fit you might consider trying free online college courses for adults.
This feature article has been on the most affordable online colleges offering laptops.
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