How To List Your Education on a Resume

Almost half of job postings require formal education; many seek candidates with advanced degrees or certifications. Highlighting your academic background and accomplishments on your resume can help you match job qualification requirements and get closer to an interview request. This guide explains the best way to list your education on your resume and provides examples for various scenarios.

Why Your Education Section Matters on a Resume

While employees always need to learn about a company’s processes and products once hired, already having a solid understanding of the industry and practical experience can boost success. Many companies seek candidates with the knowledge and background necessary to contribute to the business’s success.

One way employers evaluate this is by checking for relevant education credentials. For example, a financial firm hiring an accountant will likely require a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Leaving your degree off of your resume can negatively impact your application. 

Including your education on your resume can qualify you for potentially higher-paying positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that someone with a bachelor’s degree earns almost $600 more per week than someone with only a high school diploma. And these earnings increase the more advanced your degree.

What To Include in the Education Section of a Resume

Basic information

The education section of your resume should always include the technical details of your degree. This consists of the degree type, such as a Bachelor of Science or a Master of Arts, and your major. If you had a minor or concentration, list this as well. For example, an English major may have a minor in writing, and a computer science major may have a concentration in data analytics. Include the name of the institution and your graduation date — or expected graduation date.

Optional details

While not required, there are times when including other details, such as your GPA, honors, awards, or relevant coursework, can be helpful. GPA should only be included if it is exceptional and is generally only used for recent graduates who may be applying for an internship or graduate school.

How To Format Your Education on a Resume

If you only have one degree, the education section on your resume will be pretty straightforward. Those with multiple degrees will need to spend more time on formatting. List your degrees in chronological order, starting with the most advanced. Suppose your most recent degree isn’t the most relevant to the position. Consider listing the most appropriate first or mentioning it in your profile summary to ensure the hiring manager sees it.

How To List Incomplete or Ongoing Education

You may wonder how to include your education on your resume if you’re still in college or have yet to finish your degree. Both of these situations can be addressed by including the degree but putting an asterisk and a footnote that indicates it is still in progress or has yet to be completed. If you’re currently enrolled, add an expected graduation date for your degree.

Another option for showing an incomplete degree on a resume is to list the relevant coursework instead of the degree itself. If you choose this method, change the course names to indicate the subject matter and provide bullet points showing what the course covered.

Tailoring Your Education Section to Different Job Applications

Entry-level positions

When applying for an entry-level position, formal education may not even be required. However, it’s still good to include and can give you an advantage over other candidates without a diploma or degree. List your education near the bottom of your resume, and consider adding relevant coursework or academic projects if they helped you learn applicable skills.

Mid-level and senior positions

At the senior level, it’s common for employers to require an advanced degree. List your most recent degree first, and keep the formatting consistent. Because you also have years of professional experience, omit other details like relevant coursework or GPA. 

Career change scenarios

Changing careers is common, but it presents some specific challenges. Utilizing the education section of your resume to your advantage can help you highlight transferable skills from your educational background. If your degree isn’t related to the new job but you took some classes as electives, list these as well. The cover letter is another place to highlight transferable skills and knowledge from your education.

Special Situations in Listing Education

No college degree

Listing your education on your resume doesn’t have to mean a college degree. Many jobs only require a high school diploma. Others may be more interested in your skills, which can be demonstrated with a certificate or by completing a coding bootcamp. If your education section seems thin, put it at the end of your resume to emphasize your skills and professional experience.

Including study-abroad experiences

Having international experience can be a significant advantage if the job you’re applying for has a global workforce. In the education section, list applicable study abroad experiences independently or as a sub-bullet under the degree.

Certifications and licenses

On your resume, certifications and licenses generally have their section, but they can be listed with or right next to the education section. When listing a certification on a resume, include the awarding organization and, if applicable, when the certification expires.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Listing Education on a Resume

• Including irrelevant information: Leave them out if coursework or extracurricular activities are highly relevant to the position.
• Falsifying educational credentials: Never lie or misrepresent your education on your resume. If you still need to complete a degree, ensure this is clear.
• Not following a consistent format: Each degree listed should follow the same format, and the education section should match the rest of your resume.
• Not proofreading and double-checking for accuracy: Always triple-check your resume for accuracy and any typos or other errors. Enlist a trusted friend or mentor to look through it as well.
• Not keeping the education section up-to-date: As you advance, ensure this section of your resume is updated to include your most recent accomplishments.

Well-Written Resume Education Section Examples

Example for candidates with certifications or online courses

Well-Written Education Section Resume Example

Additional Resources

• College Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
• How To Build A Professional Resume (Plus Examples and Templates)
• Student Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.