How to List Education on Your Resume (With Examples)

Soubhik Dawn Avatar
Soubhik Dawn

Illustration of a candidate listing their education in reverse chronological order

The education section of a resume seems straightforward- until you’re staring at a blank page wondering whether to include your GPA, how far back to go, or if that online certificate even counts. Get it wrong, and you might accidentally signal you’re overqualified, underqualified, or worse, trying to hide something.

In this guide you’ll learn:

Let’s cut through the confusion.

Where Does Education Go on Your Resume?

The placement of your education section isn’t arbitrary. It signals your strongest selling point.

Bottom Placement

Place education near the bottom (after professional experience) if:

  • You have 3+ years of relevant work experience
  • Your career progression speaks louder than your credentials
  • You’re a mid-to-senior level professional

Top Placement

Place education near the top (after your summary) if:

  • You graduated within the last 2-3 years
  • You’re applying to academia or research positions
  • The role explicitly requires a specific degree
  • You have an advanced degree (MBA, PhD) relevant to the position
  • You’re changing careers and your degree is more relevant than your work history

Here’s the reality: recruiters spend an average of 3-7 seconds on initial resume reviews. If you’re 10 years into your career, leading with your bachelor’s degree wastes prime real estate. Your professional achievements should take center stage.

What to Include in Your Education Section

1. Degree and Major (Required)

List your degree exactly as it appears on your diploma (and also include an abbreviated version, if space permits):

Correct:

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature
  • Master of Science (MS) in Data Analytics

Avoid:

  • B.A. English (too abbreviated)
  • Bachelor’s Degree (too vague)

Listing multiple majors and minors:

Include them if they’re relevant to the position. Here’s an example:

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration

Major: Finance | Minor: Computer Science

New York University | New York, NY | May 2020

Why use both full and abbreviated degree names?

If the job posting requires a certain educational qualification, Applicant Tracking Systems may reject your resume if you don’t list it exactly on your resume. Including both the full and abbreviated versions ensures that an ATS can find the exact version of the degree listed in the job description.

2. Institution and Location (Required)

List your full university/college name along with the city and state (country if international):

How to format institution name:

  • University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA
  • Indian Institute of Technology | Kharagpur, India

3. GPA (Conditional)

Include your GPA only if:

  • It’s 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • You graduated within the last 3 years
  • The job posting specifically requests it

How to format GPA:

  • “GPA: 3.8/4.0” (always include the scale)
  • If your major GPA is significantly higher than your overall GPA, you can list both: “Major GPA: 3.9/4.0 | Overall GPA: 3.6/4.0”

Once you’re 3+ years into your career, drop the GPA entirely. Your professional achievements matter more.

4. Graduation Date (Conditional)

Only list the year, if you have already graduated. If you are currently a student and have an expected graduation date in the future, include both the month and year, along with “expected” in brackets.

How to format graduation year:

  • “2020” – always use the 4-digit format
  • “May 2026 (Expected)”

When should you remove your graduation year?

You should remove your graduation year if:

  • You’re over 40 (to avoid age discrimination)
  • The degree is more than 15 years old

You should remove it earlier if you’re applying to tech startups (which often favor younger candidates).

5. Relevant Coursework (Conditional)

List relevant coursework only if:

  • You’re a recent graduate with limited work experience
  • The courses directly relate to the job requirements
  • You’re changing careers and the coursework bridges the gap
  • You did not complete complete your degree, and you don’t intend to. Use coursework to show your relevance to the role

Format it concisely:

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marketing

Boston University | Boston, MA | May 2023

Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing Analytics, Consumer Behavior, Brand Management, Marketing Research Methods

Don’t list: Generic courses everyone takes (Introduction to Business, English 101). Focus on specialized classes that demonstrate specific skills the employer needs.

6. Academic Honors and Awards

Include distinctions that signal exceptional performance:

  • Dean’s List
  • Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude
  • Honor societies (Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi)
  • Academic scholarships
  • Departmental awards

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics

Duke University | Durham, NC | May 2022

Magna Cum Laude | Dean’s List (6 semesters)

7. Study Abroad (Conditional)

Include study abroad experiences if they:

  • Demonstrate language skills required for the job
  • Show cultural competency for international roles
  • Involved specialized coursework in your field

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations

Georgetown University | Washington, DC | May 2021

Study Abroad: Sciences Po, Paris, France (Fall 2019)

48 lightbulb

AI resume assistants like Upplai can help you automatically determine the right amount of educational qualifications to include in your resume based on your career level and target role.

How to Format The Education Section of your Resume

Here’s the standard way to format the education section: 

  • List degrees or qualifications in reverse chronological order. Start with your most recent and advanced qualification first.
  • If you’re still in college, list your college degree with an expected graduating date. Include your high school as the highest level of completed education.
  • If you have completed college education, skip your high school.
  • If you have master’s and bachelor’s degrees, include both.
  • If you have a PhD, include your PhD and your master’s degree, skip your bachelor’s degree.
  • Have a clear heading. Title the section “Education” and use a larger font size than the rest of the contents for visual emphasis. Additionally use a separator or extra space to visually separate your education section from other sections.
  • Use bold fonts to highlight degree names so that it stands out.
  • Keep it concise. Focus on the essentials—degree, institution, and location. Only include extra details like honors or relevant coursework if they add value. (This leaves more room to highlight your professional background, which is what recruiters are most interested in).

The basic structure for listing education on a resume follows this pattern:

Degree Name | Major/Field of Study

Institution Name | Location | Graduation Date

However, you may want to format the education section a bit differently depending on your situation: 

  • If you’re still in college:
  • List your college degree with an expected graduating date.
  • Include your high school as the highest level of completed education.
  • If you have completed college education: skip your high school.
  • If you have master’s and bachelor’s degrees: include both.
  • If you have a PhD: include your PhD and your master’s degree, skip your bachelor’s degree.

Resume Education Section Examples by Career Stage

Example 1: Recent Graduate (No Experience)

For new graduates with limited professional experience, the education section should be detailed and positioned prominently (immediately after your ‘Objective’ section).

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL | May 2025

Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems, Software Engineering

Senior Capstone: Developed a machine learning model to predict student retention rates with 89% accuracy using Python and TensorFlow

Example 2: Current Student

For current students with limited or no professional experience, list your education section at the top (immediately after your ‘Objective’ section), and include as much detail as possible to show your relevance to the role

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL

Expected Graduation: June 2027

Current GPA: 3.9/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems, Software Engineering

Example 3: Unfinished Degree

For early career professionals (0-5 years) without a college degree, list relevant coursework that you completed during your studies before you left.

Coursework toward Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL

Completed 68 Credits: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems, Software Engineering

If you have substantial work experience, for example10+ years, an incomplete degree adds little value. Focus on what you’ve accomplished professionally and completely skip the education section.

Example 4: Mid-Career Professional

For mid-career professionals (3-10 years of experience), keep education concise and place it after work experience.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management | Evanston, IL | 2023

Concentration: Marketing Strategy

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration
University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 2019

Example 5: Senior Professional

For senior-level professionals (10+ years of experience), education becomes a brief credential check.

Master of Science in Engineering Management | Stanford University | 2012

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering| MIT | 2008

Example 6: Career Changer

When pivoting careers, emphasize educational qualifications that bridge to your target role.

Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Google Career Certificates | Coursera | 2024

Completed 8-course program covering data cleaning, visualization, SQL, R programming, and Tableau

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 2020

Special Cases: How to Handle Tricky Education Scenarios

Multiple Degrees

List in reverse chronological order (most recent first):

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management | Evanston, IL | 2023

Concentration: Marketing Strategy

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration
University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 2019

Currently Pursuing a Degree

Be explicit about your expected graduation date:

Master of Science (MS) in Data Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL

Expected Graduation: June 2027

Current GPA: 3.9/4.0

Online Degrees and Bootcamps

List them exactly as you would traditional degrees. Accredited online programs from recognized institutions carry the same weight:

Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science
University of Texas at Austin (Online) | Austin, TX | 2024

Full-Stack Web Development Certificate
App Academy | San Francisco CA | 2022

1000-hour intensive coding bootcamp covering JavaScript, React, Python, and SQL

International Degrees

Include the U.S. equivalent if it’s not obvious:

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Mumbai, India | 2019

U.S. Equivalent: Bachelor of Science

Resume Writing Tips: Making Your Education Work Harder

Your education section shouldn’t just list credentials—it should reinforce your narrative and demonstrate fit for the role.

Align with job requirements: If the posting emphasizes “strong analytical skills,” highlight quantitative coursework or a thesis involving data analysis.

Show progression: Multiple degrees in the same field demonstrate commitment and deepening expertise.

Bridge gaps: Returning to school after a career break? Frame it as intentional skill development, not a gap.

Combine with certifications strategically: If you have both formal education and professional certifications, consider a combined “Education & Certifications” section to show continuous learning.

Tailor for each application: Yes, even your education section benefits from tailoring. If you took electives relevant to the specific role, mention them. If you completed a capstone project that mirrors the job responsibilities, include it.

Quick Checklist: Education Section Essentials

Before you submit your resume, verify your education section includes:

  • Full degree name (spelled out, not abbreviated)
  • Complete institution name and location
  • Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
  • GPA if above 3.5 and you graduated within 3 years
  • Relevant honors, awards, or distinctions
  • Consistent formatting with the rest of your resume
  • ATS-friendly structure (no tables or graphics)
  • Reverse chronological order (most recent first)
  • Relevant coursework (only if you’re a recent grad)
  • No high school information (unless you have no college degree)
  • Accurate information (never lie about credentials)
  • Tailored emphasis based on job requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but be transparent. List “Coursework toward [Degree]” with the dates attended and credits completed. Never imply you earned a degree you didn’t finish. If you have extensive work experience, you may choose to omit incomplete education entirely and let your professional achievements speak for themselves.

List all degrees in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include degree name, institution, location, and graduation date for each. If you have more than three degrees, consider including only the most advanced or relevant ones to save space.

Include your GPA only if it’s 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale and you graduated within the last 2-3 years. Once you have substantial professional experience, your work achievements matter more than your academic performance. If your major GPA is significantly higher than your overall GPA, you can list both.

Place education near the top (after your objective) if you’re a recent graduate or if your degree is your strongest qualification for the role. Place it near the bottom (after professional experience) if you have 3+ years of relevant work experience. Your resume should lead with your strongest selling point.

Yes, especially if you graduated more than 15 years ago. While age discrimination is illegal, omitting dates can help focus attention on your skills and experience rather than your age. However, if you’re a recent graduate, include dates to show your credentials are current.

You can either create a separate “Certifications” section or combine them into “Education & Certifications.” List certifications with the issuing organization, completion date, and credential ID if applicable. Prioritize certifications that are current, recognized in your industry, and relevant to the target role.

Include online courses from recognized platforms (Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning) only if they’re directly relevant to the job and you’ve completed them recently. Treat completed certificate programs with the same weight as traditional education. Avoid listing individual courses unless they demonstrate specific skills mentioned in the job description.

Emphasize transferable skills through relevant coursework, projects, or minors that connect to your target role. Consider adding a “Relevant Skills” or “Additional Training” section to highlight courses, certifications, or self-study that bridge the gap. Your professional experience section should do the heavy lifting to demonstrate your qualifications for the career change.

Soubhik Dawn Soubhik Dawn is the founder of Upplai and a Stanford alumnus with nearly two decades of leadership experience in Silicon Valley tech companies, from startups to publicly traded firms. Having hired hundreds of candidates across product, engineering, design, and go-to-market roles, he’s seen the hiring process from both sides, and experienced its frustrations firsthand. Soubhik has worked extensively with multiple Applicant Tracking Systems as a hiring manager and collaborated with recruiters to understand what actually works in today’s job market.

Ready to get 6X more interviews?

Join thousands of job seekers who use Upplai’s AI-optimized resumes and cover letters to land more interviews and job offers.

Optimize Your Resume
Image showing multiple resumes, with the selected one optimized for ATS