Why Colleges Offer Free Laptops?

Are you looking to go to college online? Then you need to know that most online college programs offer deeply discounted, and sometimes free laptops to students who enroll. Others offer free iPads to their students.

Of course, it is imperative that you get yourself a reliable and affordable computing device. This is the only way you are going to go through your years of college studies in an online program. The computing device will allow you to access word processing software, learning management systems, lectures, and so much more.

Online colleges are now savvier than they were some time back. They have even started creating lists of minimum requirements for the computers that their students must have. Before you are enrolled, you have to prove that your computer meets these requirements and standards.

Additionally, most web — based college degree programs are offering to send new students devices that match these computing requirements. This way, the colleges can be certain that students will not be prevented from completing their online education due to technological barriers.

The Catch

Of course, there is a catch to this offer for free laptops, iPads, and other computing devices. Like every promise of anything offered free of charge (such as a free lunch), there are some stipulations and strings attached.

You cannot just sign up for an online degree program for a couple of weeks to get the free laptop. Therefore, one of the stipulations is that you need to stick to the course of your choosing. Similarly, you must graduate from that program before the online college grants you full ownership of the laptop or another computing device.

It is also important to note that some online colleges will allow you, as alum, to keep your laptop after graduation. Others, like Wake Forest University, which have these free student laptop programs, will ask you to return the laptop on graduation.

A good way to think about such a situation is that you will get a brand new computer for your use when you enroll in the school. After you graduate, the lifetime of the laptop will have gone overboard. This means that the computer will probably be at the end of its functionality. Therefore, you would still have to buy a new one.

Free Laptops?

In some instances, the online colleges with these offers give out laptops free of charge. However, this is not always the case. Therefore, ensure you read in between the fine print. As you do so, consider all the factors that will be involved.

Programs that promise free laptops do offer them without asking enrolled students to pay. However, other schools with these programs only offer steeply discounted prices. This allows the student to get quality computers at extremely low prices.

On the other hand, there are online colleges that will give you a free laptop when you enroll. Still, to make up for the cost of the computers issued to students, these colleges will charge a bit more for tuition fees. With this in mind, ensure that you compare the total costs that will be involved before you choose the right school to attend.

Bottom line, irrespective of your choice, keep in mind that education is the reason you decided to go to school. The free laptop offers are only designed to help you learn better, and more conveniently. Use the opportunity to bolster your educational experience, and to get the most out of it. c