How to List Education on a Resume
Give each degree one entry, newest first: school and city, degree and major spelled out, and the month and year you graduated. Students and new graduates put Education near the top. Once you have relevant work experience, it moves below it and GPA comes off.
- Newest first
- Month and year
- Top for new grads
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New graduate: Education at the top
Education
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in Chemistry | May 2025
GPA: 3.6/4.0 | Dean's List, 5 semesters
Study Abroad: Tropical Ecology field program, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Summer 2024
The degree is the strongest qualification so far, so this sits right under the contact header. GPA, honors and study abroad earn their lines here.
Experienced: two degrees, below your work history
Education
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | Master of Business Administration
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI | Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
No GPA or coursework. Graduation years are optional for older degrees: Binghamton advises dates only within the last five years, while other centers always show them. Both are fine.
College credits without a finished degree
Education
Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Coursework toward Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, 45 credits | 2019 – 2021
Say plainly that no degree was awarded. Career centers differ on listing it at all: include it when the credits relate to the job, leave it off when they do not.
What to include at each stage
| Your situation | What the entry shows |
|---|---|
| Student or new graduate | School, city, degree, graduation date; GPA if strong, honors, relevant coursework |
| Still enrolled | The same, with "Expected" before the graduation month and year |
| Several years of relevant work | School, degree and major, with or without the year. No GPA; only top honors such as summa cum laude |
| Credits but no degree | School, field, credits and years attended, with no degree claimed |
Rules for the education section
- Write the school's full name and city, the degree and major spelled out, and the graduation month and year.
- List degrees newest first. Once you have a college degree, leave high school off.
- GPA is optional. Many career centers say list it if it is above 3.0, and always list it when a posting asks.
- If you show a GPA for one school, show it for every school.
- Put Education above Experience while it is your strongest qualification, and below it once relevant work takes over.
Common mistakes in the education section
Showing years attended for a finished degree (2021 – 2025)
Give the month and year you graduated: "May 2025". A start year adds nothing once the degree is done.
Abbreviations a reader may not know
"BSBA, CAS, UGA" saves space and costs clarity. Spell out the degree, the major and the school's name.
Listing high school next to a college degree
Drop it. High school belongs on a resume only when it is your highest level of education or you are in your first year of college.
Leaving Education at the top years into your career
Move it below Experience so the first thing a reader sees is your recent work.
Frequently asked questions
Where does education go on a resume?+
Near the top, under your contact details or summary, if you are a student or recent graduate. Below your work experience once you have relevant jobs to show. Academic CVs are the exception: education stays first.
Is a 3.3 GPA worth putting on a resume?+
Most university career centers would say yes: Purdue, Indiana and Drexel draw the line at 3.0. Some resume guides set it at 3.5. If the posting asks for a GPA or sets a minimum, list it either way.
Should I include my high school?+
Only if it is your highest level of education, or you are in your first year of college. UC Davis advises dropping it after your first year, and Indiana University after your sophomore year.
Should I list a degree I am still working on?+
Yes. List it with the word "Expected" or "Anticipated" before the month and year you plan to finish, so it does not read as already earned.
Do certifications go in Education?+
Usually in their own Certifications or Licenses section, so they are easy to find. A certificate program from a college can sit in Education.
Sources
- Purdue OWL: Education Section · read 2026-11-14
- Texas A&M Career Center: Building Your Resume · read 2026-11-14
- Indiana University CESE: Resume Education · read 2026-11-14
- Binghamton University: Format and Layout of Resumes · read 2026-11-14
- UC Davis Career Center: Resume, CV and Cover Letter Guide · read 2026-11-14
- Sinclair College: Resume Basics · read 2026-11-14
- Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center: Writing Your Resume · read 2026-11-14
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