We get so many questions in our Dorm Shopping Recommendations Facebook group about where and when to buy a MacBook for college, so we decided to create a tracker to keep up with sales and offers. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can refer back regularly.
2 things to do before purchasing any computer for college:
There are just too many Windows PCs on the market to track, but here’s what I suggest.
After checking with your University Bookstore about requirements and any institutional discounts offered, start by researching education discounts for these Windows laptop manufacturers.
Also check with Best Buy, Amazon or Costco for additional deals. These links will take you right to their laptop categories.
Best current price is highlighted in yellow.
Last Updated: May 5, 2026
| Chip | Size | RAM/Storage | Apple Education Price | Costco | Best Buy | Amazon |
| NEO A18 Pro | 13" | 8GB/256GB | $499 | $589.99 | $599 | $589.99 |
| NEO A18 Pro | 13" | 8GB/512GB | $599 | $689.99 | $699 | $689.99 |
| M5 | 13" | 16GB/512GB | $999 | $949.99 | $949 | $949 |
| M5 | 15” | 16GB/512GB | $1199 | $1149.99 | $1149 | $1149 |
| M4 | 13" | 16GB/256GB | $842.78 | $999 | ||
| M4 | 15” | 16GB/256GB | $1099 | $1149 |
* This is not a standard configuration, so I customized to this on the Apple website to enable price comparison across models.
Best current price is highlighted in yellow.
Note that Amazon prices seem to fluctuate by laptop color. You may see higher prices if you choose a different color than the one linked.
Last Updated: May 5, 2026
Please validate Costco’s in-stock/shipping availability for your location; several appear to be out of stock as of 4/29.
| Chip | Size | RAM/Storage | Apple Education Price | Costco | Best Buy | Amazon |
| M5 Pro | 14” | 16GB/512GB | $1599 | $1599 | $1437.71 | |
| M4 Pro | 14” | 24GB/512GB | $1799 | $1726.60 | ||
| M4 Pro | 16” | 24GB/512GB | $2299.97 | $2499 | $2499 |
Apple Pencil Compatibility Note
Be sure to choose an Apple Pencil that is compatible with your selected iPad model before purchasing. Apple Pencils are not interchangeable across all iPads, and not every Pencil works with every device. Always double-check compatibility before buying to avoid purchasing the wrong model.
Last Updated: May 5, 2026
| Chip | Size | Storage | Apple Education Price | Costco | Best Buy | Amazon |
| iPad A17 Pro | Mini | 128GB Wi-Fi | $449 | $479 | $479 | |
| iPad A16 | 11” | 128GB Wi-Fi | $329 | $299.99 | $299 | $299 |
| iPad A16 | 11” | 256GB Wi-Fi | $429 | $399.97 | $399 | $399 |
| iPad Air M4 | 11” | 128GB WI-Fi | $549 | $559.99 | $559 | $519.99 |
| iPad Air M4 | 13” | 128GB WI-Fi | $749 | $749.99 | $799 | $749 |
| iPad Air M3 | 11” | 128GB WI-Fi | $399.97 | $499 | ||
| iPad Air M3 | 13” | 128GB WI-Fi | $599.97 | |||
| iPad Pro M5 | 11” | 256GB Wi-Fi | $899 | $949.99 | $999 | $899 |
| iPad Pro M5 | 13” | 256GB Wi-Fi | $1199 | $1249.99 | $1299 | $1,182.81 |
| Apple Pencil Pro | $119 | $124.99 | $99 | $99 | ||
| Apple Pencil USB-C | $69 | $69 | $69 | |||
| Apple Pencil 2nd Gen | $119 | $129 |
If you see any different pricing or other issues, please email us.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I only recommend products I do or would use myself. All opinions expressed are my own. I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, for purchases made through the links in this post. Please see our full disclaimer for details.
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