Education level refers to the highest degree or stage of schooling you have completed. You’ll see this question on job applications, government forms, surveys, and census questionnaires. The key word is “completed,” meaning the degree or program you finished, not one you’re currently working toward or started but didn’t finish.
The Standard Categories
The U.S. Census Bureau measures educational attainment by asking one question: “What is the highest degree or level of school this person has completed?” The answer options form a ladder that most forms and applications follow, even if they simplify the wording. Here are the recognized tiers, from lowest to highest:
- No schooling completed
- Some schooling, no diploma (grades 1 through 12 without graduating)
- High school diploma or GED (a GED or alternative credential counts the same as a traditional diploma for reporting purposes)
- Some college, no degree (you attended college or earned credits but didn’t finish a degree program)
- Associate degree (a two-year degree such as an AA or AS)
- Bachelor’s degree (a four-year degree such as a BA or BS)
- Master’s degree (such as an MA, MS, MBA, or MEd)
- Professional degree (a degree required for a licensed profession, such as an MD for medicine, JD for law, or DDS for dentistry)
- Doctorate degree (such as a PhD or EdD)
Most job applications and surveys use some version of this list. Some condense it into five or six choices; others break it out in full. Regardless, the logic is the same: pick the single highest level you finished.
“Completed” vs. “Attending”
The distinction matters more than most people realize. If you enrolled in a bachelor’s program but left after two years, your education level is “some college, no degree,” not “bachelor’s degree.” The Census Bureau explicitly separates the level of education a person has completed from the level they are currently attending. On a survey or government form, always report what you’ve finished.
Job applications sometimes handle this differently. On the federal jobs portal USAJOBS, for example, you can select a degree you haven’t yet earned and enter your expected completion date. Many private employers do the same, letting you note that a degree is “in progress.” If a form doesn’t offer that option, select the highest level you’ve already completed and mention your current program in a cover letter or notes field.
What About Certificates and Licenses?
Certifications, professional licenses, and trade certificates (think a commercial driver’s license, a certified nursing assistant credential, or a project management certification) do not change your education level. They’re tracked separately. The Census Bureau records them through a different question on national surveys, and most job applications have a separate section for them. So if you have a high school diploma plus a welding certification, your education level is still “high school diploma.” The certification is valuable, but it goes in a different box.
How to Answer on a Job Application
When a job posting lists a required or preferred education level, it’s asking about formal degrees. “Bachelor’s degree required” means the employer expects a completed four-year degree. Here’s how to handle a few common scenarios:
- You have college credits but no degree. Select “some college” or “some college coursework completed.” If the form asks, include the total number of credit hours you earned and whether they were semester or quarter hours.
- You’re finishing a degree soon. Select the degree type and note the expected completion date if the form allows it. If it doesn’t, select “some college” and explain in your resume or cover letter.
- You have a GED instead of a traditional diploma. Select “high school diploma or equivalent.” For most employers and government agencies, these are treated the same way.
- You have multiple degrees. Select the highest one. If you hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s, your education level is “master’s degree.”
Why Employers and Agencies Ask
Education level serves as a quick screening tool. Employers use it to filter applicants who meet minimum qualifications. Government agencies use it to track workforce trends, measure economic outcomes, and allocate funding. Researchers use it to study connections between schooling and things like income, health, and employment rates. When you see the question on a form, the goal is almost always statistical or administrative, not a judgment on your worth. Answer it factually based on the highest credential you’ve earned, and move on.
International Comparisons
If you earned a degree outside the United States, you may wonder how it translates. UNESCO maintains a framework called the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), which maps every country’s education system into comparable categories. It allows governments and researchers to compare a three-year bachelor’s degree from one country with a four-year degree from another. For practical purposes, if you’re filling out a U.S. form with a foreign degree, select the closest equivalent (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate). Some employers or licensing boards may ask you to get a formal credential evaluation from a recognized agency, which verifies how your degree maps to U.S. standards.