Laptop Requirements & Recommendations
General & Undergraduate
Students in departments that do not have a specific requirement listed below should follow the general recommendations. Before purchasing a laptop, we recommend contacting your department to confirm your choice. Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
General Laptop Recommendations
The following are recommendations for departments that do not have a specific laptop requirement. Before purchasing a laptop, we recommend contacting your department to confirm your choice. Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
These are the minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Additional information regarding software compatibility.
Apple MacBook Pro
Educational discounts are available at Apple Stores or the Apple Education Store.
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage or better
- AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Highly recommended
Windows PC
- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit OS or Windows 11 (Note: Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025)
- 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 4.6 support and a certified driver. 8GB Memory minimum.
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- 3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Required Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
- Microsoft Office: Available for free (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
Communication Design & Strategy Requirements
Communication Design & Strategy students enrolling at the College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies.
The following information 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.
Please note: new guidance will be available during or soon after October 2024.
Apple MacBook Pro 16”
Educational discount available at Apple Stores or the Apple Education Store.
- 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 Education Store.
- 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 (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
Graduate
Color & Materials Design
Graduate students enrolling at the College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your department.
Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
These are the minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Additional information regarding software compatibility.
Apple MacBook Pro
Educational discounts are available at Apple Stores or the Apple Education Store.
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better (8 core recommended for rendering)
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage or better
- AppleCare 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 (8 core minimum)
- 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 SSD
- 3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Required Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
- Microsoft Office: Available for free (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
- Rhino3D: Purchase Rhino3D
- Keyshot: Purchase Keyshot
Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS)
Graduate students enrolling at the College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your department.
Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
These are the minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Additional information regarding software compatibility.
Apple MacBook Pro
Educational discounts are available at Apple Stores or the Apple Education Store.
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better (8 core recommended for rendering)
- Memory: 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD storage or better
- AppleCare 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 (8 core minimum)
- 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 SSD
- 3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Required Software
Please note that only the basic software requirements are listed. As Interdisciplinary Design Studies is a customizable degree, some additional software may be required.
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
- Microsoft Office: Available for free (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
Transportation Design
Graduate students enrolling at the College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your department.
Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
These are the minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Additional information regarding software compatibility.
Windows PC
- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit OS or Windows 11
- Processor: 2 GHz 64-bit Intel® Xeon, or i-Series processor with Intel® or AMD equivalent. Highest affordable CPU speed with multiple cores recommended (8 core minimum)
- Memory: minimum of 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 SSD
- 3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Recommended Tech
Required Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
- Microsoft Office: Available for free (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
- Autodesk Alias: Available for free (Get started with Autodesk Alias.)
- Blender: Available for free (Get started with Blender.)
Recommended Software
- Unreal Engine (Get started with Unreal Engine.)
User Experience Design (UXD)
Graduate students enrolling at the College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your department.
Contact the CCS Helpdesk at [email protected] with questions regarding laptop build requirements.
These are the minimum suggested specs; better/faster/larger/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software. Additional information regarding software compatibility.
Apple MacBook Pro
Educational discounts are available at Apple Stores or the Apple Education Store.
- Processor: M1 Pro or Better (8 core recommended for rendering)
- Memory: minimum 32GB unified Memory
- Hard Drive: minimum 512GB SSD storage or better
- AppleCare 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, 8 core minimum
- 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: minimum 512GB SSD
- 3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended
Required Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Provided through CCS for all registered students
- Microsoft Office: Available for free (Get started with Microsoft Office.)
