An associate’s degree is a valuable educational accomplishment that signals a strong foundation of knowledge and dedication to employers. Presenting this qualification correctly on your resume is a direct reflection of your professionalism and attention to detail. How you format and place your degree can influence a hiring manager’s perception of your qualifications before they even read about your skills or experience.
Where to Place the Education Section on Your Resume
The placement of your resume’s education section depends entirely on your professional background. For recent graduates or individuals with limited work history, the education section should be positioned prominently at the top of the document. This placement highlights your most significant and relevant achievement, immediately showing recruiters your academic qualifications.
Conversely, for professionals who have accumulated substantial and relevant work experience, the education section should be moved to the bottom of the resume. In this scenario, your career accomplishments and on-the-job skills are more pertinent to a potential employer. Placing your work history first allows you to lead with your proven track record, with your degree serving as a foundational supporting credential rather than the main event.
How to Format Your Associate’s Degree Entry
The format for listing your associate’s degree must be clear and consistent. Start with the full name of the degree, such as “Associate of Arts” or “Associate of Applied Science,” avoiding abbreviations on the first reference to ensure clarity. Using the full name is more formal and prevents any confusion about the credential you earned.
Following the degree name, list the full name of the institution you attended, along with its city and state. This provides the necessary context for the employer. The final component is your graduation date, written as Month and Year. Together, these elements form a complete and professional entry that is universally recognized by hiring managers and applicant tracking systems.
A standard and effective format groups this information logically. For example:
Associate of Science in Business Administration
Anytown Community College, Anytown, USA
May 2023
What Additional Details to Include
While the core information is sufficient, certain optional details can enhance your degree listing, particularly if you have limited work experience. Including your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a common addition, but only if it is 3.5 or higher. A high GPA can signal academic excellence and a strong work ethic to potential employers.
You can also list any academic honors you received, such as making the Dean’s List or graduating with Latin honors like cum laude. Another strategic addition is a short list of relevant coursework. This is most effective when the courses you highlight are directly applicable to the specific job you are targeting and are not obvious from your degree title alone.
Handling an Unfinished Associate’s Degree
If you are still enrolled in the program, you should list your degree as you would a completed one, but replace the graduation date with an expected graduation date. For instance, you would write “Expected Graduation: May 2026.” This shows employers that you are actively working toward completing your education.
If you have completed a significant number of credits but do not plan to finish the degree, you can still showcase that academic work. In this case, you would list the school and the program you were enrolled in. Instead of a graduation date, you can mention the number of credits completed in the relevant field of study.
Examples of Listing an Associate’s Degree
Each example serves a different purpose, from showcasing a straightforward completed degree to highlighting academic achievements or an in-progress education.
A standard entry for a completed degree would look clean and direct:
Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA
May 2024
To highlight strong academic performance, you might add honors and a GPA:
Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts
Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA
December 2023
Summa Cum Laude, GPA: 3.9/4.0
For a student who is still working toward their degree, the format is slightly different:
Associate of Science in Nursing
Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
Expected Graduation: May 2025