Listing education you are currently pursuing demonstrates your commitment to personal growth and highlights up-to-date qualifications. It signals that you are actively acquiring new knowledge and skills, making it a valuable component of your professional profile. How you present this ongoing education can influence an employer’s perception of your qualifications and timeline.
Where to Place Your Education Section
The placement of your education section depends on your professional background. For current students or individuals who have graduated within the last few years, this section should be positioned at the top of the resume. It is often placed directly after your contact details and a summary statement, as your academic work is likely your most significant qualification.
For professionals with an established career, the education section has a different role. It should be located at the bottom of the resume, following your detailed work history. Recruiters will be more interested in your proven on-the-job accomplishments and skills. Your professional experience becomes the primary focus, while your education provides supplementary context.
Essential Information to Include
When detailing your current education, start with the official name of the institution you are attending, whether it is a university, college, or vocational school. Following the institution’s name, include its location, specifically the city and state. This provides clear geographical context and prevents confusion with similarly named schools.
Next, you must provide the full name of the degree or certificate you are pursuing. For instance, instead of writing “Marketing,” specify “Bachelor of Science in Marketing.” This level of detail clarifies the academic scope and level of your studies.
The most defining element for an in-progress education entry is your expected graduation date. This information signals to employers that you are a current student and provides a timeline for your availability. Stating when you anticipate graduating helps employers understand your current commitments.
Formatting Your Current Education Entry
The format of your ongoing education is important for presenting the details in a clear and easily scannable way. Always list your most recent educational endeavor first, following a reverse-chronological order. This ensures the most relevant information is seen first.
A standard and widely accepted format is to state your anticipated graduation clearly. For example, you can write “Expected Graduation: May 2025.” This phrasing is direct and unambiguous, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Expected Graduation: May 2025
An alternative is to use wording such as “Anticipated May 2025,” which conveys the same meaning. Some applicants may list the date, like “May 2025,” directly next to the degree information. Adding a qualifier like “Expected” or “Anticipated” provides an extra layer of clarity.
Another option is to use the phrase “In Progress,” but this is less effective. For instance: “Bachelor of Arts, In Progress.” This tells an employer that you are currently studying but omits the timeline. Including an expected graduation date is the better choice because it gives employers a definitive timeframe.
Adding Optional Academic Details
Beyond the core components, you can include other academic details to strengthen your resume, provided they are relevant and impressive. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is one such detail. The general guideline is to include your GPA only if it is high, typically 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. A strong GPA can be a positive indicator of your work ethic and academic success.
Including a “Relevant Coursework” subsection can be particularly useful if you have limited professional experience. This allows you to highlight specific classes that have prepared you for the job you are targeting. List courses that directly align with the skills mentioned in the job description to show you have a foundational knowledge in the area.
Academic honors and awards should also be mentioned to showcase your achievements. This includes making the Dean’s List, receiving scholarships, or graduating with Latin honors like summa cum laude. These distinctions can set you apart from other candidates by demonstrating a high level of academic performance and recognition from your institution.
Addressing Special Scenarios
One scenario is having an unfinished degree that you do not plan to complete. This is different from a degree that is currently in progress. In this case, list the name of the school, the program of study, and the dates you attended. Instead of a graduation date, mention the number of credits completed, for example, “Completed 90 credits toward a Bachelor of Science.”
Another consideration is your high school diploma. Once you begin attending college or any post-secondary institution, you can remove your high school information from your resume. Your college-level work is more recent and relevant to employers. The only exception is if a specific job application explicitly asks for your high school diploma details.