Understanding how to present this experience on a resume is a common question for students and job seekers alike. Properly documenting your time at a community college ensures that you accurately represent your qualifications and skills to potential employers.
Where to List Community College on Your Resume
All academic experiences, including those from a community college, are placed in the “Education” section of your resume. This creates a clear and standardized location for hiring managers to find your qualifications. For recent graduates or those with limited work history, the Education section should be positioned near the top, just after a resume summary or objective.
Conversely, if you possess a more extensive professional history, the Education section is placed after your Work Experience. This structure allows you to lead with your most relevant and compelling professional accomplishments. Maintaining a dedicated section for all your academic credentials ensures consistency and readability.
How to Format Community College Based on Your Situation
If You Earned a Degree or Certificate
When you have completed a program and earned an associate degree or a professional certificate, it should be listed clearly. Start with the name of the credential, such as “Associate of Arts” or “Medical Assisting Certificate.” Follow this with the name of the institution and the years you attended or the year of completion.
For example:
Associate of Science, Business Administration
Community College of Denver, Denver, CO
August 2022 – May 2024
This approach ensures that the credential you earned is the focal point and demonstrates a completed course of study.
If You Transferred to a Four-Year University
If you attended community college before transferring to a four-year university to complete a bachelor’s degree, list the institution that conferred the degree first. The resume should prioritize the highest level of education achieved. You can list the community college afterward to provide a complete history, but it is not always necessary to include it.
A common way to format this is:
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, May 2026
Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO
Associate of Arts, Psychology, May 2024
If You Are Currently Enrolled
For individuals still attending community college, the format should indicate that your education is in progress. List the name of the school and the degree you are pursuing. Instead of a graduation date, include your expected graduation date to give employers a timeline for your completion.
An example of this format is:
Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
Associate of Applied Science, Computer Science
Expected Graduation: May 2026
This approach is transparent about your current status while still highlighting your ongoing studies and the field you are specializing in.
If You Took Courses But Did Not Graduate
You can still feature your academic experience even if you did not complete a degree. This is especially useful if the courses you took are relevant to the job you are applying for. In this case, you would list the school and the timeframe you attended.
You can highlight the relevant coursework to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you acquired.
Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, CO
2022 – 2023
Completed 30 credit hours towards an Associate of Science degree, including coursework in Advanced Microsoft Office and Network Administration.
What Information to Include
When listing your community college experience, several pieces of information are necessary for a complete entry. Always start with the official name of the institution and its location, including the city and state. Follow this with the full name of the degree or certificate you earned, such as “Associate of Arts” rather than just “A.A.” Include your dates of attendance or your graduation date to provide a clear timeline.
Beyond these basic components, you can include optional details to strengthen your resume. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) can be included if it is high, typically 3.5 or above, as this reflects strong academic performance. You might also add a short, bulleted list of “Relevant Coursework” if those classes directly align with the requirements of the job you are seeking.
Additionally, any academic honors or awards, such as making the Dean’s List or receiving scholarships, can be mentioned. These details provide further evidence of your dedication and success as a student. Be selective and only include information that adds value and is relevant to the prospective employer.
When You Might Omit Community College
There are specific situations where leaving your community college experience off your resume can be a strategic choice. If you have earned a more advanced degree, such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D., your earlier academic history becomes less significant. Employers will be more focused on your highest level of academic achievement, making the inclusion of community college unnecessary.
Another reason for omission is the passage of time. If many years have passed since you attended community college and the experience is not directly relevant to your current career path, it may be better to use the space on your resume for more pertinent information. The goal is to present a resume that is tailored and focused on your most compelling qualifications for the specific job you are targeting.