Student Computer Requirements

Students at Iowa State University are required to own or obtain a laptop computer or other device appropriate to their discipline. The most current information about this requirement is available on the Information Technology Services computer requirement FAQ webpage.

First Year Student Computer Requirements

The first-year Core Design Program emphasizes hand drawing and manual skill building within studio courses, as well as digital literacy integration via our online Digital Design Literacy course. Students should purchase or bring a computer capable of running Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for the simple project they will complete at the end of the digital literacy class.

Most computers purchased within the past four years should be capable of running these programs. More specific recommendations can be found below:

The complexity of coursework increases as students advance through their degree program; therefore, we recommend waiting until the student is admitted to their chosen professional program (second year) before purchasing a more powerful computer. We recommend this so students go into their professional program with the right device and with the latest hardware to better serve them over the next 3 to 4 years.

Waiting to get a higher-end device will mean that, during their final year, students will have more processing power when they need it most. One year of computer hardware advancement can provide significant additional power that will save students time in opening, working on, and rendering files/projects.

Second Year Student Computer Requirements

Students in most of the professional programs are encouraged to purchase a laptop computer when they are accepted in their second year. The machines specified are typically high-end laptops that can be quite expensive.  In addition, students are responsible for purchasing or downloading the software they may need.

The college does provide a Laptop Program for students who are accepted into the professional programs and wish to make the purchasing process easier. You are not required to participate in this program.

Design-intensive professions have become reliant on high-performance hardware and experience with a variety of platforms and software. Since your degree program’s curriculum is preparing you to enter the professional world, purchasing a laptop that is capable of running the software you will be using can be crucial to your success.

Here are some specifications by major that meet or exceed the requirements of the commonly used software: