The education section of a resume provides necessary context for a candidate’s background. Employers rely on this information to quickly assess qualifications and ensure minimum requirements are met for a role. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) use the data within this section to categorize and filter applicants based on specific degree levels and institutions. Presenting this information clearly and accurately ensures a resume progresses past initial automated screening and into human review.
The Foundation of the Education Section
A standard, completed degree listing requires four specific components. The entry must begin with the full name of the educational institution, followed by its geographical location (city and state or country). Presenting the information in this structured manner helps Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) correctly parse the data and provides clarity to the hiring manager.
Next, the specific type of degree earned must be clearly stated, such as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Finally, the entry must include the graduation date or the date the degree was conferred. All education entries should be listed in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recently completed or highest degree earned appears first.
Enhancing Your Education Entry
Beyond the foundational requirements, specific academic achievements can significantly strengthen an education entry, particularly for candidates within the first five years of graduation. Grade Point Averages (GPA) should generally only be included if the cumulative score is 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. If the GPA is included, it should be placed directly after the degree type, making it easily noticeable.
Academic honors and distinctions indicate high achievement. Phrases such as Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude should be used to denote Latin honors. Similarly, listing consistent placement on the Dean’s List or President’s List indicates sustained high performance. These details should be integrated concisely, perhaps on the same line as the degree or GPA.
Recent graduates who lack extensive professional experience can strategically use the education section to highlight relevant skills through coursework and projects. A brief, curated list of “Relevant Coursework” can demonstrate specialized knowledge directly applicable to the target role. This list should be selective, containing no more than four or five specific, high-level courses.
Major projects or a capstone thesis can also be referenced to showcase practical application of academic learning. Instead of just listing the project title, a short, one-line description detailing the tools used or the tangible outcome achieved provides a much stronger impact. These optional details should be formatted consistently with the rest of the section.
Strategic Placement and Formatting
For recent graduates, typically those with less than five years of full-time professional experience, the education section should be placed near the top. This placement leverages academic achievement as the primary qualification for entry-level roles.
Conversely, for seasoned professionals who have accumulated significant work history, the education section should be moved toward the bottom of the resume. Experience becomes the dominant factor, and academic details serve primarily as background information. Adjusting the section’s placement shifts the reader’s focus to the most relevant qualifications first.
Consistent formatting across all entries ensures professional presentation. The institution name and the degree type are frequently bolded to draw the eye to the most important identifiers. Using a clean, standard font like Calibri or Times New Roman ensures legibility, and maintaining a consistent font size between 10 and 12 points is standard practice.
Descriptive details, such as coursework, honors, or minors, are generally presented as plain text or in a concise bullet point format underneath the main degree listing. Bullet points are effective for listing multiple, discrete pieces of information, such as academic honors. Plain text works well for a single detail like a GPA or a specialization.
Handling Special Situations and Exceptions
Education In Progress
Candidates currently enrolled in a degree program must clearly indicate their status. The entry should list the institution name, location, and the expected degree, just as with a completed degree. Instead of a past graduation date, the entry must include the phrase “Expected Graduation Date: Month, Year” or “Anticipated Completion: Month, Year.”
Listing the anticipated date confirms the current enrollment and provides a timeline for completion. It is important to avoid listing only the start date of the program. If the candidate is graduating within the next six to twelve months, they can also include a relevant GPA or academic honors earned so far.
No Degree or Incomplete Education
When a degree program was started but not completed, the resume entry should focus on the academic credit earned and the relevant skills acquired. Candidates should list the institution name and location, followed by the number of credits or years completed, for example, “Completed 90 credits toward Bachelor of Science in Finance.” This provides specific context without claiming a degree that was not awarded.
The emphasis should then shift to detailing any specific coursework or training that directly relates to the job target. Instead of listing the degree, focus on a specialization or major area of study, such as “Coursework in Advanced Data Modeling and Statistical Analysis.” This approach frames the incomplete education as relevant training.
When to Include High School Information
High school information should be removed once a candidate has earned any form of post-secondary degree, such as an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or higher degree. Once college-level education is complete, the high school diploma is superseded information on a professional resume.
In cases where a candidate has no college experience, the high school diploma should be included, listing the school name, location, and graduation date. However, once a professional has accumulated approximately five years of substantive work experience, the high school information can typically be removed to save space for more relevant work history.
Certifications, Training, and Professional Development
Achievements that do not result in a traditional academic degree, such as professional certifications and vocational training, should be clearly differentiated from formal education. These non-degree credentials demonstrate specialized, often industry-specific competency. Examples include the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, or various technical vendor certifications.
Each certification listing must include the name of the credential, the issuing body or organization, and the date of completion or renewal. Including the date is necessary because many professional certifications require renewal to remain valid. If a candidate holds numerous certifications, they are best placed in a separate section titled “Certifications” or “Professional Credentials.”
Less formal training, such as online courses, bootcamps, or specialized workshops, can be grouped under a “Professional Development” section. These entries should be concise, focusing on the title of the course and the skill learned rather than the duration. When a candidate has only one or two such items, they can be placed at the very end of the education section, listed separately from the primary degree entries.