My wife needed to purchase a laptop for her university to access certain programs like blackboard which was necessary for particular coursework. Although the class was not solely online, would this computer purchase be designated as a necessary expense?

YES

If the laptop is required for her class,  you can claim the cost as an Education Expense.

If she also uses it for personal use, you will need to pro-rate the expense.

For instance, if it cost $400 and she uses it 25% for personal use, you could only claim $300