As tuition costs continue to rise, many of today’s online schools are helping students ease their financial burden by incorporating the cost of a computer or tablet into their enrolment fees. Here are six online schools currently offering free or discounted laptops, tablets, and iPads to new students by eduref.net.
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University was founded in 1905 as a teachers’ college. Today, the school comprises 11 departments school offering Bachelor, Masters, and Post-Masters Certificates in dozens of fields of study. Online courses are available and include Business Management, Marketing, Nursing, and Special Education. In addition to providing free textbooks, Northwest Missouri Tate University also provides incoming students with a free laptop rental, the laptop must be returned to the school either in person or by mail upon graduation. To qualify for a free laptop, students must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate (12 credit hours) or graduate (minimum 9 credit hours) program.
Independence University
Independence University is the online division of Stevens-Henager College. The school offers accelerated online degree programs in business, graphic arts, healthcare, and technology. All new IU students receive a brand-new tablet and laptop at the beginning of their program’s courses. Both the tablet and laptop come loaded with the necessary software for completing the school’s online sources Tech support is provided for the duration of the course, and students can keep their devices after graduation.
Full Sail University
Full Sail University offers online degree programs in highly specialized fields of study such as digital cinematography, music production, and sports journalism. As part of its Project Lunchbox Initiative, the school offers students a merit-based scholarship that covers the cost of a current generation MacBook Pro or HP laptop. Project Lunchbox also provides students with other technology and software to aid in their studies. Sports media students, for example, receive photographic equipment and editing software, while game design majors will receive a virtual reality headset and game development software. Students can keep all of their equipment and software after graduating.
Rutgers University Newark
Rutgers University Newark is renowned for its Business School, which has featured in top 10 and top 20 rankings by Bloomberg, Business Week, Financial times, and Princeton Review. Students who are enrolled in the school’s Mini MBA program receive a free iPad that is pre-loaded with the necessary course materials and software.
Seton Hill University
Seton Hill University is known for its excellent online degree programs in the fields of business, law, and medicine. The university offers a free 13-inch MacBook Air or current-generation iPad to all fulltime undergraduate students as part of the Mobile Learning at the Hill program. Devices are upgraded after students have completed two consecutive years of study, and they can keep the new devices after graduation.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois institute of Technology offers online degrees in technology-focused fields of study like architecture, design, and human sciences. As part of the school’s IIT Mobile computing initiative, each new student receives an iPad pre-loaded with course software and materials, iTunes, and the iTunes University app.
