General Laptop Recommendations
The following recommendations are for departments at CCS that do not currently have a specific requirement for laptops. Before purchasing a laptop, we recommend contacting your department to confirm your choice.
If you have any additional technical questions after speaking with your department, please email the CCS Helpdesk at helpdesk@collegeforcreativestudies.edu.
Below are minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Information regarding software compatibility is available here: https://campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/its/software-requirements/
Apple MacBook Pro
Educational discount available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store (https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop).
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage or betterAppleCare 3-year protection plan: Highly recommended
Windows PC
- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit OS or Windows 11
- Processor: 64-bit Intel® Xeon, or i-Series processor with Intel® or AMD equivalent. Highest affordable CPU speed with multiple cores recommended
- Memory: 32GB of Memory
- Graphic Card: Supported NVIDIA® or AMD graphics card with OpenGL 4.3 support and a certified driver. 8GB Memory minimum.
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Required Software:
Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
Microsoft Office: Available for free at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office
Advertising Design and Communication Design
Advertising Design and Communication Design students enrolling at The College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. The information below provides the minimum hardware configuration and software requirements. Any Apple MacBook purchase made beyond the minimum requirements is your choice. This investment will remain current throughout your 4-year experience at
CCS. Our curricular approach blends this tool and software seamlessly into your learning experience and prepares you for working professionally. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your Department Chair.
Information regarding software compatibility is available here:
https://campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/its/software-requirements/
Apple MacBook Pro 16”
Educational discount available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store
(https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/16-inch).
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage
- AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Strongly recommended
Apple MacBook Pro 13”
Educational discount available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store
(https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch).
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage
- AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Strongly recommended
Required Software:
Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
Microsoft Office: Available for free at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office
Graduate studies
Please see the CCS Website for the Laptop Requirements for each of the following Graduate Studies Programs:
Color & Materials Design
Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS)
Transportation Design
User Experience Design (UXD)