How to List Education on a Resume: A Comprehensive Guide
The education section of your resume is essential for showcasing how your background and credentials align with your target role. This article covers everything you need to know about how to list education on your resume so that you can present your skills and qualifications in the best possible light.
Where to Place the Education Section
When writing a resume, you should always include an education section, even if you are a student or never completed a formal education. Where you put the education section of your resume depends on the format and template you choose, your work experience level, and the industry and role you are applying for.
If you're a recent graduate with a directly relevant degree, putting it higher on your resume can give you an advantage. If you have years of work experience, the education section is secondary and should be closer to the bottom of the document.
Formatting the Education Section
The best way to list education on a resume is in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent degree or school attended. Formatting education on a resume in reverse-chronological order makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly see your highest level of education. The education format on a resume can vary depending on your unique circumstances and stylistic preferences.
Basic Information to Include
As a general rule, you should typically include the following information:
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- Your degree, major and minor (if applicable).
- The name of the school you attended.
- The city and state where the school is located.
- Your GPA (if it is above 3.0 and relevant to the role).
- Job-relevant coursework or projects you completed.
Featuring Multiple Degrees
Include the name of each school you’ve attended, the city and state where each school is located, the degree you earned, and the year you graduated (if applicable).
Example:
EDUCATIONStanford University | Stanford, CA | 2018 - 2020Master of Arts, Public Policy, 2020GPA: 4.0Dean's ListResearch Assistant to Professor John SmithGraduate Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Public PolicyUniversity of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 2014 - 2018Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 2018GPA: 3.9Dean's ListMember of the Debate TeamHighlighting Relevant Coursework
Bulleted lists are useful if you have several schools to display or want to highlight specific courses.
Example:
EDUCATIONHarvard Business School | Boston, MA | 2017 - 2020Doctor of Business Administration, 2020Coursework included: Strategic Management, Marketing, Operations Management and LeadershipLondon School of Economics | London, United Kingdom | 2015 - 2017Master of Science in Finance, 2017Coursework included: Financial Markets, Corporate Finance, Investments and Derivatives.University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 2012 - 2015Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 2015Coursework included: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistic Econometrics, Game Theory and Behavioral Economics.Listing Transfer Schools
If you transferred from one school to the next, it might look like this on your resume:
Example:
EDUCATIONUniversity of Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | 2010 - 2011Bachelor of Arts in PsychologyGeorgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 2007 - 2010Psychology major, Writing minorRelevant Coursework or Projects
Customize your resume education section by highlighting coursework, awards, research, projects, papers, or theses relevant to the specific job or industry. Match your educational accomplishments to the job requirements and use resume keywords from the job description or for the industry when possible. For example:
- For a job in the tech industry, you might showcase coursework or projects in specific programming languages or software.
- For a job in the healthcare industry, you could emphasize clinical work, research, or lab work, along with your knowledge of medical terminology.
- For a job in the finance industry, you could highlight coursework in financial modeling and regulations.
- For a job in social work, you might include a research paper, a published report, or a community needs assessment project.
Academic Achievements
Highlighting accomplishments in the education section of your resume shows potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills required for the job. This can be particularly helpful if you have minimal work experience but extensive educational credentials and accomplishments relevant to the role you are applying for. Examples of accomplishments might include awards, honors, scholarships, and grants.
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Example:
EDUCATIONUniversity of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 2010 - 2014Bachelor of Science in Accounting, cum laudeAccomplishments:Dean's List every semesterPresident of the Accounting SocietyMember of the Beta Alpha Psi Honor SocietyReceived the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ScholarshipGraduated with honorsQuantify achievements in your resume education section whenever possible.
Example:
Accomplishments:Graduated magna cum laude with a 4.0 GPA.Ranked in the top 2% of my graduating class.Dean’s list 2012 and 2013.Listing an In-Progress Degree
When listing an in-progress degree on a resume, it’s important to clearly convey your current academic status and anticipated completion date. State the degree program you are pursuing, the name of the institution, and your expected graduation date.
Example:
EDUCATIONUniversity of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CABachelor of Arts in EconomicsExpected Graduation: June 2023Relevant coursework: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, EconometricsContinuing Education
Listing continuing education on your resume can enhance your qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.
Certifications and Professional Courses
Listing certifications and professional courses on your resume can enhance your qualifications and demonstrate ongoing professional development. Place certifications and professional courses under a distinct section, typically titled "Certifications" or "Professional Development," near the education section of your resume.
Example:
CERTIFICATIONSCertified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Alliance, OnlineAugust 2023Project Management Professional (PMP)Project Management Institute (PMI), Washington, D.C.July 2022Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ)Google, OnlineApril 2022Prioritize listing certifications and courses that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for. This helps demonstrate your technical skills and expertise in specific areas.
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Online Courses and Self-Learning
Ongoing education through online courses or self-guided study is a great way to show that you are committed to lifelong learning and are up to date on industry trends. Create a subsection called “Continuing Education” or “Professional Development” under the education section of your resume.
Example:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTNorthwestern University, Center for Public Safety, Evanston ILLaw Enforcement Management and Leadership Education CertificateAnticipated completion date: April 2025.Courses include Contemporary Policing, Decision Making, Problem Solving and Resource Allocation.Additional Considerations
High School Education
Do not list your high school education on your resume if you have completed a college degree or if it has been more than three years since you graduated high school. However, if you haven't completed college, list your high school education and highlight any accomplishments if possible.
GPA
Most candidates can leave their GPA off a resume for a job. However, a GPA may be required when applying for an internship or graduate program. Include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher, but consider leaving it off if it's 3.4 or lower.
Incomplete Education
If your resume includes any incomplete education, it’s important to avoid words like “unfinished” or “incomplete” as they could cast a negative shadow over your qualifications. If you're in the process of completing your degree, include your expected graduation date. This lets employers know that you are still working on your degree while avoiding any confusion or misrepresentation of your qualifications.
Example:
University of MichiganBS in Computer Science candidateExpected to graduate in 20233.9 GPAIf you’re wondering how to list education on your resume when you don’t have a degree, there’s a format for that, too. Say you’ve completed part of a degree but do not intend to finish. You can still use it on your resume. List the number of credit hours completed toward a degree in place of graduation date, and include any courses relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Example:
University of MichiganCompleted 30 credit hours toward a BS in Computer ScienceRelevant coursework: Web development, Object-oriented programming, Agile software projectsIf you have not attended college but have completed trade school or a certification program, it’s good to include that information under the education section of your resume.
Complex Educational History
Whether you attended multiple schools to earn one degree or earned multiple degrees from multiple schools, listing your education is only as complex as its formatting.
Attending a few different colleges before landing at the one you graduated from does not mean you have to list every school. Employers are mainly interested in the school from which your degree was earned. It is, however, a good idea to list every school that you have received a degree from.
If you have earned multiple degrees at the same level, you should list all of them. In terms of order, it is okay to list either your most recent or most relevant first.
Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
If you’re applying for a PhD or research program or a job in academia, you may be asked to submit a curriculum vitae or CV instead of a resume. If this is the case, your education section should come before your work experience. CVs are generally longer than resumes, so you can include your complete academic history, including all certifications and achievements.
International Experience
Having international experience can be a significant advantage if the job you’re applying for has a global workforce.
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.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Falsifying educational credentials: Never lie or misrepresent your education on your resume.
- 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.
Expert Tips
- Use action verbs to describe your educational accomplishments. For example, “Achieved Dean's List status for three consecutive semesters.”
- If you have an incomplete or in-progress college degree, it can help to indicate how many credits you earned.
- Read the job description closely for educational requirements and match your education on your resume to the job description.
- Ensure you create an ATS-friendly resume education section by using keywords from the job description, bullet points to break up information, and clear formatting.
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