University of Michigan: recommended laptop specification

No — this is a recommendation, not a requirement. University of Michigan (College of Engineering) publishes a suggested configuration. You are not obliged to buy a machine that matches it.

💡 Recommended only. University of Michigan publishes this as guidance. An existing laptop that does the job is usually fine — do not buy a new machine on the strength of this page alone.

The published specification

Operating system: Windows: 11 Education or Professional; macOS: Latest version available. Footnote: "Some applications may not be usable with the Windows Home edition."

Processor: Minimum Recommendation — PC: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7; Mac: M2. Suggested Recommendation — PC: Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9; Mac: M4 (or newer)

Memory (RAM): Minimum Recommendation: 16 GB. Suggested Recommendation: 32 GB (PC), 24 GB (Mac)

Storage: Minimum Recommendation: 512 GB SSD. Suggested Recommendation: 1 TB SSD

Graphics: Minimum Recommendation: Integrated graphics card with 1920x1080 or better resolution. Suggested Recommendation: Discrete graphics card with a dedicated GPU (PC). Footnote: "Apple does not currently offer discrete graphics cards."

Warranty: 4 years. Footnote: "Extended warranties are highly recommended. These will normally cover hardware, as well as system troubleshooting from the vendor. Additional accidental damage coverage may also be available."

Also listed on the same page

Camera: minimum 720p, 1280x720 at 30 fps; suggested 1080p, 1920x1080 at 60 fps. Backups: external hard drive or a subscription to a cloud-based solution (U-M offers Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive at no cost). Other recommended options: headphone/microphone headset, adapters for external displays (USB-C or HDMI), an anti-theft lock device. Page notes all software required for Engineering coursework is provided in on-campus CAEN labs and via remote connection, so "there is no requirement for students to install course-related software directly."

Source

Taken from University of Michigan's own published page: https://caen.engin.umich.edu/percomps/. Verified 2026-08-25. Specifications change every intake, so confirm against that page before you buy.

Laptops that meet this specification

Product links go to Amazon search — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Links never change the checklist.

Search Amazon for laptop →

The search is built from the capacities University of Michigan actually prints, so compare each result against the published specification above before ordering — listings change and this page does not track stock or price.

Packing for University of Michigan

A laptop is one line on a longer list. See the full University of Michigan dorm packing list for bedding, storage and the rest of move-in.

Laptop requirements at other schools: University of Minnesota · University of Missouri · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · University of North Texas · University of Oklahoma · University of Oregon