Minimum Student Laptop Requirements

Laptops are required for taking exams and other coursework and must meet the minimum requirements listed below. Students who do not have a laptop that meet the minimum requirements and need financial assistance purchasing a device may contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss options. 

The PNWU Help Desk is able to provide minimal assistance with personally-owned devices; a warranty and online backup service is highly recommended for students. 

Dell/PNWU Store

We recommend the Dell PNWU store for purchasing personal devices. Educational discounts, accessories, and PNWU-selected devices are available.

Networking
Min: 802.11g wireless card, USB Ethernet adapter (like this one)
Recommended: 802.11ac wireless card

Screen Size
13″ or higher

Operating Systems
Windows-based devices: Windows 10 or 11
Apple Mac devices:  MacOS 11 (Big Sur) or above

Accessories
HD webcam (typically built-in)
microphone (typically built-in)

Processor
Min: Core i5
Recommended: Core  i5 or i7

Memory
Min: 8gb RAM
Recommended: 16gb RAM

Hard Drive
Min: 250gb
Recommended: 500gb, Solid State Drive (SSD)

Required software that will be provided or discussed during student orientation

  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Anti-Virus Software – Mac or Windows
  • PaperCut printing client
  • Examplify secure testing client
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader & Adobe Flash (latest versions)

Recommended accessories

  • Warranty: 3 year parts and labor, on-site
  • Laptop Privacy Screen (example)
  • Online backup service for data backup in case your laptop fails. 
  • A password manager to store your passwords in an encrypted vault.
  • Personal printer for ease of printing from home. There are student printers available on campus, but a quota is assigned.
Contact Information

help@pnwu.edu ​​​​
509-249-7777

Tech Services Staff Listing

IT Support Hours:
Monday–Friday: 8:00am–5:00pm

Butler-Haney Hall
BHH 105, 200 University Parkway
Yakima, WA 98901