If you’re wondering how to list your education on a resume, this guide is for you. No matter your career stage or field of study, your academic achievements must be presented clearly and effectively. We’ll share ways to highlight your learning experiences in your resume education section and help hiring managers understand that you’re qualified for the job.
Understanding the Importance of the Education Section on a Resume
Why the education section matters
Whether you’ve just graduated high school or finally achieved your doctoral degree, your hard work deserves a spot on your resume. This is where employers gain important insights into your academic history to better understand the extent of your formal training. Every job will have its own educational requirements, and employers expect to see proof of your qualifications in this section.
Placement of the education section
If you’re a recent graduate, your education is likely your strongest asset. Placing it right below your resume summary will make it the focal point of the document. With more seasoned professionals, your work history becomes most relevant to employers. Putting your academic information toward the bottom of the page as an accessory element is best practice.
Key Elements To Include in the Education Section
Basic information
There are several key pieces of information needed for an effective education section. Include these basic elements when listing degrees on a resume:
- Name of the institution
- Degree obtained (or in progress)
- Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
- Location of the institution
Additional information
Sometimes you need to provide a more comprehensive picture of your academic history, especially if your degree isn’t quite pertinent to the job or you’ve made impressive achievements. Although the number of candidates screened by things like GPA has declined, 38% of employers still consider this metric in the hiring process. Here are a few things you can add to the education section:
- Relevant coursework
- Honors and awards
- GPA (if above 3.5)
- Extracurricular activities
Education Section Examples for Different Scenarios
Recent graduates
If you’re a recent grad with limited work experience, adding extra details to your education section will help hiring managers better understand the extent of your knowledge. This demonstrates to potential employers that your education has prepared you for the workplace. Let’s look at an example of an education section for recent graduates.
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Marketing
University of Washington, Seattle, WA | June 2023
GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Marketing Department Student of the Year, 2022
- Vice President of the Marketing Club, 2023
- Coursework: Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Market Research, Data Analytics
Experienced professionals
For professionals with an extensive work history, your education won’t be the primary focus of your resume. Instead, it supports and enhances your professional experience. Keep it simple, communicating the what, when, and where of your degree or diploma. However, if the degree was earned more than 10 years ago, leave off the graduation date.
Check out this example of an education section for experienced professionals.
Example:
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A)
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA | May 2015
Students still in school
Even if you’re still working on your degree, list it on your resume. Specify your “Expected” or “Anticipated” graduation date and current GPA if it’s over 3.5. You can add extra details here, too, providing valuable insight to hiring managers. Here’s an example of how to do this.
Example:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Environmental Science
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | Expected: June 2026
GPA: 3.8/4.0
- Dean’s List: 2022 – 2024
- Relevant Coursework: Environmental Policy and Regulation, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Ecosystem Management
Tips for Listing Education on a Resume
Formatting tips
Your academic achievements should look professional and be easy to read. Follow these tips to ensure your degrees, diplomas, and credentials are presented clearly and effectively:
- Maintain consistency: Use the same font and font size as the other sections of your resume, and ensure each entry is properly spaced. The text should be left-aligned, allowing the reader’s eyes to easily follow and capture everything.
- Use bullet points for clarity: If you’re adding more than the basic elements, bullet points will help organize your information. Any extra details on coursework, honors, or extracurricular activities should be arranged in bullet points below the main entry.
- Be concise: Prioritize your most pertinent educational experiences, starting with your latest degree or diploma first. If you’re using bullet points, limit each entry to five bullet points at most to keep this section concise and to the point.
Tailoring the education section to the job
To make a connection between your education and the job requirements, tailor this section to each job you apply for. This helps hiring managers see how you’re a good fit for the role based on your academic background. Here are some ways you can customize the education section of your resume:
- Identify key skills and knowledge areas mentioned in the job description
- List coursework directly related to those requirements
- Highlight projects demonstrating practical application
- Emphasize honors, achievements, and awards
- Include relevant minors and concentrations
Including online courses and certifications
As education continues to shift to online spaces, professionals are earning credentials and gaining knowledge from industry experts and massive open online courses (MOOCs). This shows you’re up-to-date with the latest industry trends or technologies and demonstrates good self-motivation to employers.
If you’ve been away from the workforce for a time or lack education, online learning is a great way to fill skill gaps. However, courses and certifications completed online should be listed in separate sections. Create a “Professional Development” section for coursework and a “Certifications” section for credentials. Only include those pertinent to the job.
Online Course Example:
Stanford University’s “Digital Marketing,” Coursera, 2023
- Mastered key concepts in content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO)
- Developed a digital marketing plan for a mock tech startup
- Gained hands-on experience with Facebook Ads Manager and Google Analytics
Certification Example:
Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute, 2024
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Including irrelevant information
While you may wish to include every diploma, degree, and workshop on your resume, it’s best to avoid listing unrelated coursework. Crowding this section can make it hard for hiring managers to navigate. They’re most interested in you having the necessary educational background required for the job, so keep it relevant.
Once you’ve completed some college or have official work experience, you don’t need to include your high school education. Only list degrees and diplomas you’ve earned within the last 10 years that are related to the job. If you’ve earned high-level degrees (bachelor’s and up) within the last 10 to 15 years, you can leave off the graduation date.
Omitting key details
Alternatively, ensure you don’t leave out any key information that could affect your ability to be seriously considered. Double-check that you have, at the very least, all the basics we’ve discussed above. If you have multiple degrees that relate to the job you’re applying for, list them in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest first.
Incorrect formatting
If a hiring manager can’t interpret your education section, that’s a problem. Ensure your academic history is listed in a logical order with appropriate formatting. Avoid excessive bold, italics, and underlines— these should be used sparingly for emphasis. The style and layout should match the rest of your resume and have adequate spacing for readability.
Should I include education on a resume?
Yes, there should be an education section on almost all resumes. This valuable information informs potential employers of your knowledge base, qualifications, and academic achievements. In fact, recent Job Outlook surveys consistently show that employers do place value on college degrees.
The only exception might be if you have more than 10 years of work experience and your education doesn't relate to the job. Or, perhaps you didn't complete high school or earn a post-secondary degree and would rather focus on your work experience and skills. However, it's still best practice to include your most recent education to avoid raising questions.
How far back should education go on a resume?
In general, the education section should list your academic achievements from within the last 10 years. If you're a recent graduate, you won't need to worry about this. For seasoned professionals, if you have a bachelor's or any higher level degree, list them regardless of the date obtained, and don't worry about including a high school diploma.
Should skills go above education on a resume?
In most cases, your education will be one of the last sections on your resume. If you have extensive experience, are applying for a skills-heavy job, or have an education that isn't directly related, the education section should come after skills.
For recent graduates and jobs requiring a specific educational background (e.g., academia, law, medicine), the education section can come before skills or even as one of the first sections after your resume summary.
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
