A clearly formatted education section on a resume offers a quick summary of your qualifications to a potential employer. How you present this information can influence a recruiter’s impression of your background and attention to detail. Properly organizing your academic history ensures this snapshot is easy to read and highlights your credentials, setting a foundation for the rest of the document.
The Essential Information to Include
When listing a degree, there are several core pieces of information that recruiters and hiring managers expect to see. First, include the full name of the institution you attended, followed by its city and state to clarify its location.
Next, you must state the official name of the degree you earned, such as “Bachelor of Science” or “Master of Arts.” It is best to write out the full name for clarity with both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Directly following the degree, list your major or field of study, and provide your graduation date, including the month and year.
Where to Place Your Education Section
The placement of your education section depends on your professional background and how recently you graduated. For students, recent graduates, or individuals with limited work history, the education section holds significant weight. It should be positioned prominently near the top of your resume, just after a summary or objective statement, to showcase your most relevant qualification.
For professionals with several years of established and relevant work experience, the emphasis shifts to on-the-job accomplishments. Your career history becomes the primary focus. For these individuals, the education section should be moved to the bottom of the resume, allowing recruiters to engage with your professional timeline first.
How to Format an In-Progress Degree
Listing a degree you are still working on requires a slightly different approach to ensure transparency with potential employers. Format the entry similarly to a completed degree, with the university name, location, and the full degree name and major. The key distinction is how you represent the completion date.
Instead of a past graduation date, you will list your anticipated or expected graduation date. For example, you would write “Expected Graduation: May 2026” to clearly communicate your student status. This approach allows you to showcase your current academic pursuits without misrepresenting your qualifications.
Adding Optional Details to Your Degree Listing
Beyond the required information, you can include optional details to strengthen your education section, particularly if you are a recent graduate. One common addition is your Grade Point Average (GPA), but this should only be included if it is strong, generally considered 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. A high GPA can signal academic excellence to employers.
Academic honors also serve as indicators of achievement. Information such as graduating cum laude, making the Dean’s List for multiple semesters, or receiving other specific academic awards should be listed.
For those with limited professional experience, a “Relevant Coursework” subsection can be beneficial. Listing specific upper-level classes can demonstrate specialized knowledge that aligns with the requirements of the job you are applying for.
How to List Multiple Degrees
When you have earned more than one degree, the standard convention is to list them in reverse chronological order. This means your most recently completed degree should appear first in the education section. This format allows employers to quickly see your highest level of academic attainment.
Each degree should have its own distinct entry, following the same formatting rules for essential information. For instance, your Master of Business Administration from 2024 would be listed before your Bachelor of Arts from 2022. This approach highlights your most advanced credentials first.