How To List Education On Resume – A Complete Guide

You are making your resume and have just come to the education section.

You think, “Oh, that's easy!" and list the name of your college or university, degree, year of passing out, and done! Your education sectionon your resume is ready!

But the thing is, your resume's education section is more than just listing your college names, years of passing, and degrees. You should know how to list a degree on a resume and where to ensure it fulfills the purpose and makes your resume shine. This guide will discuss everything you must know about listing education on a resume for different scenarios, such as:

• Listing education on a resume without completing graduation
• Listing education on a resume as a college student
• Listing education on a resume as a professional
• Where to place your education section on a resume?

So fasten your seatbelt to go on a learning ride!

How to List Your Education on Resume? 

Most people believe work experience is the soul of a resume. However, the education section is proof of the skills you have gained over the years. It helps your recruiters to determine what knowledge you possess in what areas. In addition, listing education on your resume demonstrates your focus and ability to achieve targets on time.

Considering the significance, you must know how to list degrees on a resume. Let’s check the basic elements of the education section on a resume.

• Recent degree or pursuing a degree
• College Name
• College location
• Dates (from the date of attendance to graduation) or the potential graduation date
• Degree or area of study
• GPA scores (mention only if it’s more than 3.5)
• Academic acclamations or honors
• Relevant academic activities, overseas study programs, and other accolades

When listing the degrees, always start with the highest dress and follow the reverse chronological order to list your other degrees. If you are a college pass-out, don't include high school details in the education section. Also, you can leave your GPA score out of your resume if it is below 3.0.

Here’s how you should list it in the education section of your resume:

Easy-peasy? We thought so! Here are some writing hacks:

• Use initials or spell out your degree, like "BA" or "Bachelor of Arts."
• Write the name of the subject you are majoring in, like "BA in English" or "BA, English."
• The use of periods is not mandatory for separating initials. For instance, you can either write "MA" or "MA"; both are accepted.
• In case you are applying for a job that isn't relevant to your major, you start by mentioning the name of the school you attended, like:

• Irrespective of the chosen format, make sure to be consistent. Avoid listing excessive information.

Where to List Education on Resume? 

As a student or a new graduate with some work experience, you should know how to list degrees on your resume and where. You can list your education qualification above your work history in such cases. If you are an experienced candidate with over one year of work experience, place your education section below the employment history. Start with your recent and don’t forget to mention your GPA (only if above 3.5), subject, honors, and other academic accolades.

In general cases, a resume opens with the experience section to help the recruiters learn about the candidates’ professional knowledge and expertise in brief. However, in the case of academic CVs, the education section is listed above as work experience. The same rule applies to seasoned professionals to help potential recruiters learn about their professional work history.

How to Write High School Education on Resume? 

The education section on the resume of a high school student will differ from someone who is a graduate with several years of work experience. A professional resume should highlight the relevant industry skills to impress recruiters. Here is an example of how to write education on a resume when high school is the highest level of education:

And that’s it! You can also include your skills, awards, recognition, achievements, and various extracurricular activities you have participated in in your high school. Make sure you tailor your resume according to the job descriptions and illustrate the key skills necessary for the job.

Now how to write the education section on a resume as a high school dropout? Easy! Just list the name of your school with the years of attendance. Here’s how the entry will look:

For those of you still in high school, the entry will look like the following:

In case you completed a GED but didn’t complete your high school, your entry will look like this:

Okay, so you graduated high school and completed a certification course relevant to the job you have applied for. In that case, list your certification first, then the details about your high school.

How to List Higher Education on Resume? 

As we mentioned before, write your highest degree first when listing your education section on your resume. But the question is, what other information to include in the section? If you lack or have little work experience, you can list awards and honors, publications, coursework, and extracurricular activities you have participated in during your college days.

Also, if you have graduated with honors or are the salutatorian or valedictorian of your class, don’t forget to list it in your education section. Let’s look at some examples:

You can make a separate section for awards and honors and list the important ones to draw the reader’s attention. Include honors and awards such as academic recognition or scholarship(s), getting accepted in honors societies, or making it to the Dean’s List. A separate “Honors and Awards” section is recommended in case of too many awards or academic publications.  

Consider adding a coursework description to show your recruiters that you may lack relevant work experience but have the necessary knowledge and skills through the courses required for the job. Let's say your major is in English, but you took additional courses on business and communication. It will be a good idea to add it to the education section on your resume if you are applying for a marketing or relevant industry position.

Example:

If you want to elaborate on your coursework, you can! Try to prove how the course helped you to develop the skills all employers want in their candidates, like communication skills, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Don’t shy away from listing out any event or activity where these skills were highlighted.

Example:

How to List Degrees on Resume – Two or More Majors 

Many students pursue two majors to enjoy a career advantage. However, when listing your majors, always list the major that’s more relevant to your potential job. Here's how to list your majors if you are still studying:

Use phrases like the following to highlight the degrees you are still pursuing:

• In progress
• Expected to Graduate + date
• Anticipated+ date
• To be completed+ date

Higher education is no walk in the park. Millions enrol while thousands drop out every year. If you are someone who got tired of hectic study routines and missed high school life and dropped out and wonder if you can list your unfinished education on your resume, you can.

List out the completed credits like the following example:

How to Write Education on Your Resume – Community College 

If you are a community college student, list your degrees on your resume as other undergraduate degrees. Below are some examples of different degrees to help you understand:

For students pursuing a degree in applied science in a community college:

For listing a certificate from a community college: 

How to Write Education on Resume – Graduate Degrees 

At post graduation level, your study area is more focused and research-oriented. You will have to prepare a dissertation at the end of your course, which must include while listing education on your resume. Allessaywriter.com offers invaluable tips on how to present your education on your resume in a clear and compelling manner. From formatting your educational background to emphasizing relevant coursework, awards, and honors, our expert advice will help you create a resume that effectively communicates your academic qualifications and potential to prospective employers.Plus, all details related to fellowship, scholarship, or other funding should be listed in the education section. Let’s explore some more examples:

MASTERS:

DOCTORATE (PhD):

Education on Resume – Listing Study Abroad Program 

Study abroad programs are designed to help students expand their horizons, develop strong skills, and boost their chances of getting hired by prospective recruiters. Here is an example of how to list education on a resume for study abroad programs:

You can also include additional information related to the program, like what skills you learnt and how the course has improved your communication abilities and built cultural awareness.

How to List Education on Resume – Professionals with Experience 

Listing education on a resume is different for a professional with completed degrees and work experience. In such instances, the education section on a resume will go below the work experience section. List them in a hierarchy if you have completed two or more degrees. Here's an example:

Writing Education on Resume – Dos & Don’ts 

Dos	Don’ts
· Remember to include industry specifics · Provide the expected completion date of the course if you are currently pursuing one. · Cite the completed degrees/major(s) · List out your academic honors or coursework relevant to the job	· Lie or exaggerate your potential, as it will impact your chances of getting hired. · Add your GPA if it is below 3.0 or if you graduated less than two years ago. · Add the graduation date if it was more than ten years ago.

 

In case you are a fresh graduate or don’t have the necessary experience for a particular job role, your education can make your case. So beef up your education section by listing your academic achievements under the "Awards and Honors" section to show the recruiters you have what it takes to succeed at the job. Here’re some examples:

• International Scholarship Award
• National Student Volunteer Award
• AP Scholar with Honors
• President’s Award for Educational Excellence
• President’s National Service Award

 

Must-know Tips on Listing Education on Resume

Before listing education on your resume, think about the recruiter going through your resume. What impression do you want to set on them? How would you want to stand out from the other applicants? What makes you capable of getting an interview call? Understand that a recruiter reviews hundreds of resumes daily, so you must make your resume impressive and easy to scan. Here are some suggestions to help you make the cut with your education section:

· Focus on the presentation. Instead of giving information in chunky paragraphs, break them into multiple sections for different degrees and courses. You can make separate sections under headings like “Awards,” “Professional Development,” and “Extracurricular Activities.”

· Give prominent details related to your industry of interest. For instance, if you are studying business communication at NYU, put the university name first and then mention the sub-college, such as "School of Management", for screening business communication jobs.

· Employers conduct background checks. So be truthful about the skills, achievements, extracurricular activities and study abroad programs you add to your resume.

· Don’t hesitate to add unfinished programs on your resume if it is from a good school and relevant to your job position. You can also include the extracurricular activities that demonstrate your skills relevant to your interested job area.

· Refrain from using too many abbreviations or industry jargon the recruiter may not comprehend.

· Include information related to workshops only if they are directly related to the job requirements. For instance, you can talk about completing a 7-days workshop on baking if you are planning to work in a bakery or restaurant.

· Internships and part-time jobs are a great way to highlight your potential and work skills to your prospective employer. So if you have interned or worked part-time at some organizations, don’t forget to list them in your resume.

How to Format the Education Section on Resume? 

Knowing how to format the education section on your resume is imperative. You may have impressive academic qualifications and professional expertise. But everything will go in vain if your presentation is shabby. Hence, here are some formatting guidelines to consider:

• Even though most recruiters use recruiting software to scan resumes, many HR staff still scans resumes manually. They prefer resumes that are easy to scan, so while listing education on a resume, use spacing that makes reading easy.
• Your resume should be brief and clear. Don't bulk up the education section with unnecessary details. Revise your resume and make edits so quick scanning.
• As we mentioned, tailor your resume to the job roles you are interested in applying for.
• Sticking to the chronological order while listing education on education is not mandatory. However, list your highest education first and then the other courses in reverse chronological order.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q.1.How to List Education on a Resume?

If you have relevant work experience, list your highest education, a field of study, college name, and the year of graduation. In case you lack the necessary experience, include the following information to highlight your skills and capabilities:

· Relevant academic coursework or projects

· Academic achievements, such as a high GPA, making the Dean's list or passing with honors

· Membership in academic societies

· Additional certifications or study abroad programs

Q.2. Where to Put the Education Section on a Resume?

Candidates with work experience should put their education section below the work experience on a resume. In case of little or no work experience, the education section should be placed at the top of the resume, right below the resume objective. More preference should be given to highlighting educational achievements in the case of professional expertise.

Q.3. How Should College Students Studying List Education on a Resume?

You can list a degree you are pursuing just as you would list your other courses on your resume. Just make sure you add the expected graduation date and details about your high school education, such as the school's name, location, and year of graduation. Update the education section as soon as you complete your course so that you can send out the upgraded resumes for relevant job searches.

Q.4. How to List Two or More Majors on a Resume?

List your majors in the same manner in the education section. For instance, if you have majored in Economics and mathematics or English and human studies, list your majors as the following:

BSc in Mathematics and Economics  

California University, Berkeley

2021 – Present

OR

BA in English Literature and Human Studies

California University, Berkeley

2022 – Present

Q.5. Can I Put High School Education On My Resume?

You can add information about your high school education on your resume only in the following situations:

• You have never gone to college

• You went to college but dropped out

• You are still pursuing a degree course

In case you have completed your graduation or higher studies, you can leave high school information off your resume.

Q.6. Is It Important to Add GPA to My Resume?

You can add GPA on your resume only if you have scored 3.5 or higher on a 4-point scale. Listing GPA is also a good idea when you have less than 5 years of work experience. Although high GPA scores are added to impress recruiters, it's usually unnecessary because they are more interested in learning about your job skills and knowledge than some old grades.

Q.7. Why Is The Placement Of Education Important On A Resume?

The education section should be placed where the employers can easily locate and learn about the candidate's skills and knowledge. It helps the recruiter determine whether the candidate has what it takes for a particular job. Hence, if you lack experience or are an entry-level candidate, place your education on top of the resume to highlight your skills and abilities. But if you have work experience, place your education section below the work section, as the employers would be more interested to learn about your professional expertise.

Q.8. What Information to Put Under Education on a Resume?

Make sure you list the following information under education on a resume:

· Highest level of education – the degree, major, school and location, year of attendance and passing out

· Additional information (optional) – GPA, awards and honors, study abroad programs, extracurricular activities, relevant academic coursework, thesis, scholarships and grants.

Q.9. What Is "Level Of Education" On A Resume?

The “Level of Education” on a resume means the highest level of education you have achieved, where the basic levels are high school, UG courses, Graduate courses, and Doctoral studies. If your highest level of education is high school, list it under education on your resume. In addition, mention your years of attendance and the expected graduation date (when applicable.)

Q.10. Should I Put Education Or Experience First On My Resume?

Education goes first on a resume only if you are a student or a fresh graduate with no professional work experience. You will also put your education section on the top of your resume if you are looking for a career change and your degree is relevant to the requirements of a job role. On the other hand, the experience section should go on top of the resume if you are experienced, and your work experience is relevant to the prospective job position, which is likely the case for most job aspirants with work experience.