A good mini PC for students needs to do more than chunter along running Microsoft Word and a browser full of tabs. As hardware editor, my team and I have put hundreds of mini desktop PCs to the test - but I wanted to highlight the best all-rounders for schoolwork. As I say, we've reviewed all the best mini PCs. But out of all those machines, these 6 models here stand out to me as top picks for college and university thanks to their ability to tackle office software, content creation, and even some gaming. Click View details to find out why each mini PC shines for students, and read our review notes. I've specifically selected compact PCs that deliver great performance across a range of tasks at a range of prices, from top budget picks to slightly more expensive powerhouse machines (but nothing that'll wipe out your student loan). For more school-ready devices, we've also rounded up the best cheap back-to-school laptops you can get right now.My top back-to-school mini PCs Apple Mac mini (M4 2024) Why it's good for students. One of the best performers around for everything from office projects to photo and video editing, especially if you get the M4 Pro variant. Even with Apple's recent price hike, it's still excellent value. Read our full review ProsGreat performanceMore compact designAwesome valueConsStruggles with modern gamesFront USB-C ports are slower than rearPower button placement is awkward Geekom A6 Why it's great for students. The Geekom A6 delivers an impressive amount of power, making it more capable of tackling Office software and light use of Adobe's creative suite. A rock-solid dorm room choice.Read our full review ProsUltra-compact mini PCLots of power for creative applicationsPlenty of connection optionsConsVery expensive for the specificationsSlightly noisy fansLimited expansion options GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus Why it's good for students. This machine showed serious potental right out of the box, and serves up loads of upgrade options to future-proof it throughout your time at college or university. A great all-rounder for office and creative tasks, and even gaming.Read our full review ProsOCulink PCIE4.0High-speed connection optionsFunctional designConsExpansion can get expensive Geekom A8 Max Why it's good for students. If the Geekom A9 Max is too expensive, the A8 Max is my alternative of choice - it may not be quite as powerful, but it's still an impressive AI mini PC that offers stunningly good performance across the board. Read our full review ProsPlenty of connection optionsPowerful CPU and GPUBuilt-in AI chipConsExpensive for a mini PCLoud cooling under loadLimited internal expansion GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Why it's good for students. Our top pick mini PC for most people, this is a real all-rounder computer. It's seriously affordable, and in tests delivered performance across office tasks, creative projects, and casual gaming.Read our full review ProsCompact minimalistic designEasy upgrade optionsAffordableConsNo discrete GPULimited upgrade pathsThermal cooling limited AceMagic K1 Why it's good for students. A solid budget pick if you just need a mini PC that can handle office apps and very light content creation, like editing photos for social. It's not ultra-powerful, but it's stylish and more compact than most mini PCs.Read our full review ProsDecent everyday performanceTriple 4K display supportExpandable to 64GB RAM and 4TB storageCons16GB RAM in a single channelIris Xe graphicsInternal upgrade access is fiddly