For New Students and Parents

Getting Started Getting Help Technology Resources

Hardware & Software Information

ITS supports a variety of computer platforms and encourages you to select the device that best fits your needs, preferences, and budget. The recommendations below are designed to help you select a system that should provide solid performance and reliability for about four years.

NCC students automatically receive a subscription to the Microsoft 365 suite! Check out the information below about educational discounts available on other software and hardware.

Hardware & Software Recommendations

Windows PC
  • Windows 11
  • Intel Ultra Core 5 or AMD Ryzen 5 (or better)
  • 8+ GB RAM (16 GB preferred)
  • 256 GB SSD (512 GB preferred)
  • Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Office (available for free via NCC M365 account)
     
Apple
  • MacOS 26
  • Apple M4 processor (or newer)
  • 8+ GB RAM (16 GB preferred)
  • 256 GB SSD (512 preferred)
  • Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Office (available for free via NCC M365 account)

Software Discounts

North Central College has partnered with "On the Hub" to provide students, faculty and staff with academic software at discounted prices.  To view a list of available software, please visit the "On the Hub" storefront.

Web Store: On the Hub

  • To purchase software, you will need to create an account with "On the Hub."
  • You must be a member of an academic institution to qualify for the academic discount.
  • You will be required to provide proof of your academic affiliation during the registration process to qualify for academic pricing. 
  • An email address ending in .edu will be required.

NCC does not maintain the "On the Hub" storefront. Please contact "On the Hub" support for any purchasing questions.

Hardware Discounts

Eligible college students can take advantage of special savings through the Dell Student Purchase Program. Students may receive exclusive discounts on select Dell laptops, desktops, accessories, and more. 

To participate, students must verify their student status and register for Dell Rewards. Once enrolled, students can access available offers and earn rewards on qualifying purchases through Dell.

Offers, eligibility requirements, and available discounts are determined by Dell Technologies and may change over time.