Best Laptops for College Sophomores in Fall 2025: A Parent’s Guide by Major
If your child is heading into their sophomore year this fall, buying the right laptop can make a big difference in their studies. The “best” choice isn’t always the most expensive one — it’s about matching the laptop to their field of study and ensuring it’s powerful enough to last for the next few years. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right fit for their major. For Engineering Students Engineering programs often require software like AutoCAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, or coding environments that need a powerful processor and plenty of RAM. Recommended specs: Processor: Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 RAM: 16GB or more Storage: 512GB SSD Dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX) Sturdy build and good cooling system Top Picks: Dell XPS 15 HP Envy 16 Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (great for CAD work) For Finance, Accounting, and Business Students These majors don’t require heavy graphics but do involve multitasking, spreadsheets, data analysis, and sometim...