No matter what your going to college for, a laptop is a necessity for completing college work. It is important for writing papers, submitting work, and for keeping track of all the other work with college software like Canvas. However, college is expensive for everyone right now. According to the Education Data Initiative, “The average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century; the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of tuition is 4.04%.” (Hanson, March 8, 2025). It also says that the average in-state tuition for a four year school living on campus costs $27,148 for one year.

Laptops and other computers are great tools for college students because of their cloud storage SaaS solutions. These include tools like Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, Zoom, Canvas, Adobe Creative Cloud (which can be free depending on the university that you go to), and much more. Some great brands include HP, Lenovo, Google Chromebooks, and others. Some recommendations would be to stick to laptops with Windows 11 because it is the most modern and widely used operating system. A Mac OS laptop is good for security though because it is not as widely used and hackers do not usually create viruses for this operating system.

For a laptop, gaming laptops are also not a bad choice, but they are considered to be more expensive than budget work laptops. Also with a laptop, it should have at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. The best is 16GB for any computer, and is great for all computers including desktop workstations or gaming computers. Local storage is also not really that important, but the computer should have a solid state drive instead of a hard disk drive. These storage drives are still relevant, but if an operating system is installed on one, then is can be slow to load compared to an SSD.

Below are all good choices for college students, and they are all great presents for you kid going to college. Each laptop is under $700, and work great for accessing an online college portal and cloud tools.

1. Acer Aspire 5 (2025 Edition)

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• Price: Approximately $529
• Specifications:
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6” Full HD
• The Acer Aspire 5 offers reliable performance with its Ryzen processor, ample storage, and sleek design. It includes Wi-Fi 6, a backlit keyboard, and impressive thermals, making it ideal for multitasking and everyday computing.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i

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• Price: Approximately $399
• Specifications:
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6” Full HD IPS
• The IdeaPad Slim 3i offers solid build quality, a comfortable keyboard, and a vibrant display for the price. It boots fast and runs smoothly for web browsing, video conferencing, and office tasks.

3. ASUS VivoBook 15 (2025 Model)

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• Price: Approximately $600
• Specifications:
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6” Full HD
• With 16GB RAM, this laptop outperforms many competitors in its price range. It’s excellent for creators who need to run editing apps like Canva, Photoshop Express, or CapCut.

4. HP Pavilion Aero 13.3

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• Price: Approximately $809
• Specifications:
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Display: 13.3-inch 16:10 FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS
• The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is a premium 13-inch ultrabook weighing only 2.2 pounds. It boasts a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 6-core processor, fast SSD, and ample RAM. The vibrant display and long battery life make it an excellent choice for students on the go.

5. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i

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• Price: Approximately $345
• Specifications:
  • Processor: Intel Core i5
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Display: 14” Full HD Touchscreen
• Highlights: This 2-in-1 convertible laptop features Intel Arc graphics, making it perfect for note-taking via stylus. The 16:10 aspect ratio screen adds vertical space for coding or research, and its versatility suits various academic tasks.

Honorable Mention: Macbook Air Pro

A Macbook Air is a light and decent laptop from Apple that is good for college students. It is a bit more expensive than the other laptops, but has potentially better security than the other laptops. If apple products are great for you, check it out below.

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Conclusion

The best budget laptop for college students needs to have modern hardware that effectively loads modern software. For excess storage, it is recommended to get an external hard drive. While built-in SSDs are fast, they can fill up quickly with assignments, applications, and media files. Choosing a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and a recent processor ensures smoother multitasking and longer relevance. Also, consider screen size, battery life, and portability based on your daily routine—especially if you’ll be moving between classes, libraries, and study spaces.

Ultimately, a reliable laptop doesn’t need to be expensive. With careful selection, you can find a powerful and affordable device that meets all your academic needs without breaking your budget. Stick to well-reviewed models under $700, and you’ll have a dependable companion for your college journey.

Works Cited:

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college