The laptops and specifications listed on this page are good, general recommendations for any incoming undergraduate student coming to Washington University in St. Louis.
Some schools and programs require you to be able to run certain software packages, so they may have additional computer requirements or recommendations. To ensure you buy the laptop that’s the best fit for your program please visit the page for your school.
Purchasing Options
Both Apple and Windows laptops can be purchased from the WashU Campus Store’s e-commerce site, which can ship your order.
WashU requires that you purchase a three-year warranty with your laptop. Learn More.
University Minimum Requirements
| Feature | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | +i5 or AMD equivalent | +i5 or Apple Silicon (M1, M2) Note: Students need to check their school-specific IT page to see if there are any program-specific limitations on Apple Silicon |
| RAM | 8 GB minimum | 8 GB |
| Graphics | n/a | n/a |
| OS | Windows 10 | Currently supported macOS version |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD |
| Display | n/a | n/a |
| Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless |
| Other | Webcam+mic | Two USB-C Webcam+mic |
These Meet the University Minimum Requirements
Dell Inspiron 14 7000
This machine meets all of the Wash U minimum requirements. It can be purchased from the Wash U Bookstore.
MacBook Air 13” Laptop (M1)
This machine meets all of the Wash U minimum requirements. It can be purchased from the Wash U Bookstore.
Note: The 3-year warranty is currently a separate purchase, please contact the bookstore for additional information.