Should I Put My GPA on My Resume And How To List It

There’s no hard-and-fast rule for adding a school grade point average (GPA) to your resume. But you can best know whether to include this detail by viewing it in light of your job search goals.

Focus on Relevant Education

Employers often use GPA as a quick benchmark, especially when comparing large pools of recent graduates. A GPA isn’t just a number — it can serve as shorthand for work ethic, consistency, and ability to master complex material. But GPA should never be the only education detail you highlight. Pairing it with coursework, certifications, or projects can show both your academic performance and your practical skills.

If your GPA isn’t especially strong, you still have options. You can highlight Dean’s List recognition, academic honors, or a thesis project that demonstrates deeper knowledge. For example, a student with a 3.1 GPA might still stand out by featuring “Capstone Project: Built and tested machine learning models to predict retail trends, achieving 87% accuracy.”

First, check the job posting for any GPA requirements or instructions from the employer. (This tip may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you’re reading and responding to multiple job ads online.)

Second, remember that your resume’s education section should help show you have the knowledge to excel in your target job. Does your GPA support that message? Your answer to this question is the best criteria for including the GPA or not. Consider the degree program you attended and how much it pertains to the work you’re after. For instance, a strong GPA under your business degree can be great if you’re pursuing a corporate job, but is less important if you’re moving to a different sector.

Weigh Other Factors

Apart from relevance, take these three factors into account when choosing to include a GPA:

1. Your score

Some industries emphasize GPA more than others. For example, finance, consulting, and engineering firms often set GPA cutoffs of 3.5 or higher. In contrast, creative industries such as marketing or design rarely ask for GPA and instead value portfolios and demonstrated results. Think carefully about your target industry before deciding.

Follow these general guidelines:

• Include your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher.
• Consider listing it if it’s 3.0 or above and you’re in a competitive or technical field
• Skip it if your GPA is below 3.0. (You can highlight academic strengths in other ways such as coursework, honors, or projects.)

A very high GPA may be worth including even if the degree doesn’t speak to your current goals. That’s because it reflects soft skills like dedication and time management, which can be helpful especially if your work experience is limited.

2. Your career level

For college seniors, new graduates, or graduate school applicants, GPA can strongly reinforce your readiness. But once you have three to five years of relevant experience, recruiters care far more about measurable work outcomes — like revenue growth, leadership, or successful projects — than about grades earned years earlier.

GPA tends to matter most when you’re just starting your career and don’t have much professional experience yet. If you’re a college student or a new graduate applying to internships, entry-level roles, or graduate programs, listing a strong GPA can enhance your resume.

Your GPA usually becomes less relevant once you gain a few years’ job experience. Beyond the entry level, hiring managers focus more on your work skills and results, not your academic record.

3. The school

The weight of your GPA can also depend on the reputation of your program. A 3.2 in a highly competitive program (for instance, engineering at MIT) may carry more credibility than a 3.9 from a less rigorous or lesser-known institution. Recruiters often consider the context, not just the number.

Did you attend a prestigious college, or complete a rigorous and well-known degree program? If yes, your GPA may help you flesh out details on this important credential on your resume.

When Not To Include Your GPA

Sometimes, leaving your GPA off is the smarter choice. A GPA below 3.0 can distract from your stronger qualifications and may cause employers to make unfair assumptions about your abilities. If your work experience already proves you’re qualified, there’s no need to crowd your education section with numbers that don’t add value.

Instead of highlighting a weaker GPA, emphasize other strengths: certifications, leadership positions in student organizations, relevant coursework, or internships. This ensures the recruiter’s focus remains on your most compelling achievements.

How To List Your GPA

• Be accurate. Never round up beyond the first decimal place or inflate your score. Employers can and do verify GPAs.
• Choose the stronger number. If your major GPA is higher than your cumulative GPA, list both — or just the major GPA if it aligns with the job.
• Decide based on multiple degrees. If you hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, only list GPA under the degree that best supports your career goals.
• Pair with honors. “3.7 GPA, Dean’s List (6 semesters)” shows both consistency and achievement.
• Keep formatting simple. Place the GPA right after your degree details so it’s easy for recruiters to spot without scanning multiple sections.

Your GPA belongs in the education section of your resume, right next to or below your degree details.

How Recruiters View GPA

Recruiters rarely spend more than 6–10 seconds on an initial resume scan. GPA can catch their eye, but it’s not usually a deciding factor unless the employer has set explicit requirements. In fact, many hiring managers admit that once you’re past the entry-level stage, they don’t even look at GPA.

Applicant tracking systems (ATS), however, may filter candidates automatically if a job description lists GPA cutoffs. Including your GPA when it’s strong can help you clear that digital hurdle. But once you’ve been referred by a contact or have several years of work history, GPA becomes less relevant.

Julia Toothacre

Chief Career Strategist

Julia Toothacre offers a multifaceted perspective on career development, drawing on over 12 years of experience in career counseling, coaching, and strategy.