An APA cover page, formally called a title page, is the first page of any paper formatted in APA style. It displays your paper’s title, your name, and your institutional affiliation, all centered and double-spaced. APA’s 7th edition defines two versions of this page: one for student papers and one for professional manuscripts submitted for publication. The formatting rules are precise, so getting them right upfront saves revision headaches later.
What Goes on a Student Title Page
Most people searching for APA cover page formatting are writing a college assignment. The student version is simpler than the professional version. Here is the vertical order of elements, all centered on the page:
- Paper title. Place it three to four lines down from the top of the page. Type it in bold, using title case (capitalize major words). Keep it concise but descriptive.
- Author name(s). Leave one double-spaced blank line below the title. List your full name as you would for academic work (first name, middle initial if you use one, last name). If you have a co-author, list both names on the same line separated by “and.”
- Affiliation. On the next double-spaced line, type the name of your department and university (for example, “Department of Psychology, University of Michigan”).
- Course number and name. On the next line, type the course the paper is for (for example, “PSY 301: Research Methods”).
- Instructor name. On the next line, list your professor’s name in the format they prefer.
- Assignment due date. On the next line, write the date the paper is due.
All of these lines are double-spaced and horizontally centered. Only the paper title is bold. The page number “1” appears in the top-right corner of the header, just as it does on every subsequent page.
What Changes on a Professional Title Page
A professional title page is used when submitting a manuscript to a journal or conference. It shares the same basic layout (title, author names, affiliations) but swaps the student-specific lines for elements publishers need.
The paper title, author names, and affiliations follow the same placement and formatting rules. When there are multiple authors with different affiliations, each affiliation gets its own centered line. Below the affiliations, a professional title page adds an author note, which is a short block of text that can include an ORCID identifier, any changes in affiliation, disclosures or conflicts of interest, and contact information. The author note is centered on the lower half of the page with the label “Author Note” in bold.
Professional papers also require a running head, which student papers typically do not. The running head is an abbreviated version of your title (or the full title if it is already short enough) typed in all-capital letters. It must be no more than 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Align it to the left margin of the page header, on the same line as the right-aligned page number. The running head appears in this same format on every page of the paper. Do not include the label “Running head:” before it.
Font, Spacing, and Margin Rules
APA 7th edition allows several font options. The most commonly used are 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, or 11-point Arial. Whichever font you choose for the title page, use the same one throughout the entire paper.
Every line on the title page is double-spaced, with no extra spacing added between elements. Set all four margins (top, bottom, left, right) to 1 inch. The page number sits in the header area, flush right. For student papers, the page number is the only element in the header. For professional papers, the running head sits flush left in the same header line.
Formatting the Title Itself
Your paper title should be a focused summary of the main topic, ideally no longer than 12 words, though APA does not set a strict word limit. Use title case: capitalize the first word, the last word, and all major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Do not capitalize short prepositions, conjunctions, or articles unless they start the title. The title should be bold and centered. If it runs longer than one line, break it naturally and keep both lines centered.
Avoid abbreviations in the title unless the abbreviation is more widely recognized than the full term. A subtitle is fine and follows a colon (for example, “Sleep Deprivation and Academic Performance: A Meta-Analysis of College Students”).
Quick Setup in a Word Processor
Setting up the title page takes only a few minutes if you adjust the document settings first. Start by setting your margins to 1 inch on all sides and your line spacing to double with no extra space before or after paragraphs. Insert a page number in the top-right header. If you are writing a professional paper, type the running head in the same header area, aligned left and in all caps.
Press Enter a few times to move your cursor three to four lines below the top margin of the body area. Type your title in bold, centered. Press Enter twice (which, at double spacing, creates one blank line), then type your name. Continue pressing Enter once between each remaining element: affiliation, course, instructor, and due date. None of these lines should be bold, italic, or underlined.
One common formatting mistake is adding extra blank lines between elements to push everything toward the vertical center of the page. APA style does not require vertical centering. The title starts three to four lines from the top, and the remaining elements simply follow in order with standard double spacing. Resist the urge to space things out for visual balance.
When Your Instructor’s Rules Differ
Some instructors modify APA requirements for their courses. They may ask for a running head on student papers, request a specific date format, or want additional elements like a word count. When your assignment guidelines conflict with official APA rules, follow your instructor’s version. The APA manual itself acknowledges that instructors and institutions may adapt its guidelines. Check your syllabus or rubric before finalizing your title page, especially if the course uses a hybrid style guide.