How to List Education on a Resume

The education section tells the employer what qualifications you hold. For experienced candidates it is a short confirmation. For students and graduates it is often the strongest part of the resume and deserves more detail.

What to include

• Degree or qualification, such as Bachelor of Science or Associate of Applied Science
• Field of study or major
• School name and location
• Graduation month and year, or expected graduation date
• Optional: honors, GPA, relevant coursework, thesis, study abroad or activities

Where to put education

Should you include your GPA?

Include your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and you graduated recently, or if the employer asks for it. Remove it once you have a few years of experience. Outside the US, use the grading system of your country, such as a UK degree classification ("First Class Honours" or "2:1").

Relevant coursework, projects and honors

Students and graduates can add a line of relevant coursework. Choose three to five courses that relate to the job. Add a capstone project or thesis if it shows relevant skills. Scholarships, dean's list and academic awards can go on a single line under the degree.

Special situations

Degree in progress

Write "Expected" followed by your graduation month and year. This makes it clear you are still studying.

Unfinished degree

List the school, field and the years you attended, and state what you completed honestly, for example "Completed 90 credits toward a BA in Economics". Do not list a degree you did not receive.

No degree

List your high school diploma or equivalent, plus any vocational training, apprenticeships, bootcamps or certifications. Many roles value these as much as a degree.

Multiple degrees

List them in reverse-chronological order with your highest or most recent degree first.

Older graduation dates

You can leave out the graduation year for degrees completed many years ago. It is your choice and is common practice.

International qualifications

Use the official name of the qualification and, if helpful, add a short equivalent in brackets, such as "Licenciatura in Business (equivalent to a US bachelor's degree)", only when you know the equivalence is accurate.

Certifications and licenses

Professional certifications and licenses usually go in their own section. Include the credential name, issuing organization and the date earned or the expiry date. For licensed professions, such as nursing, list your license type and state. You do not need to include license numbers on a resume.

High school on your resume

Include high school if it is your highest completed education or you are in your first year or two of college. Once you have a college degree, remove it.

Frequently asked questions