- Why Your Education Section Matters on a Resume
- What To Include in the Education Section of a Resume
- How To Format Your Education on a Resume
- How To List Incomplete or Ongoing Education
- Tailoring Your Education Section to Different Job Applications
- Special Situations in Listing Education
- Common Mistakes To Avoid When Listing Education on a Resume
- Well-Written Resume Education Section Examples
- Well-Written Education Section Resume Example
- Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions About How To Write Your Education on a Resume
Almost half of job postings require formal education; many seek candidates with advanced degrees or certifications. Highlighting your academic background and accomplishments on your resume can help you match job qualification requirements and get closer to an interview request. This guide explains the best way to list your education on your resume and provides examples for various scenarios.
Why Your Education Section Matters on a Resume
While employees always need to learn about a company’s processes and products once hired, already having a solid understanding of the industry and practical experience can boost success. Many companies seek candidates with the knowledge and background necessary to contribute to the business’s success.
One way employers evaluate this is by checking for relevant education credentials. For example, a financial firm hiring an accountant will likely require a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Leaving your degree off of your resume can negatively impact your application.
Including your education on your resume can qualify you for potentially higher-paying positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that someone with a bachelor’s degree earns almost $600 more per week than someone with only a high school diploma. And these earnings increase the more advanced your degree.
What To Include in the Education Section of a Resume
Basic information
The education section of your resume should always include the technical details of your degree. This consists of the degree type, such as a Bachelor of Science or a Master of Arts, and your major. If you had a minor or concentration, list this as well. For example, an English major may have a minor in writing, and a computer science major may have a concentration in data analytics. Include the name of the institution and your graduation date — or expected graduation date.
Optional details
While not required, there are times when including other details, such as your GPA, honors, awards, or relevant coursework, can be helpful. GPA should only be included if it is exceptional and is generally only used for recent graduates who may be applying for an internship or graduate school.
How To Format Your Education on a Resume
If you only have one degree, the education section on your resume will be pretty straightforward. Those with multiple degrees will need to spend more time on formatting. List your degrees in chronological order, starting with the most advanced. Suppose your most recent degree isn’t the most relevant to the position. Consider listing the most appropriate first or mentioning it in your profile summary to ensure the hiring manager sees it.
How To List Incomplete or Ongoing Education
You may wonder how to include your education on your resume if you’re still in college or have yet to finish your degree. Both of these situations can be addressed by including the degree but putting an asterisk and a footnote that indicates it is still in progress or has yet to be completed. If you’re currently enrolled, add an expected graduation date for your degree.
Another option for showing an incomplete degree on a resume is to list the relevant coursework instead of the degree itself. If you choose this method, change the course names to indicate the subject matter and provide bullet points showing what the course covered.
Tailoring Your Education Section to Different Job Applications
Entry-level positions
When applying for an entry-level position, formal education may not even be required. However, it’s still good to include and can give you an advantage over other candidates without a diploma or degree. List your education near the bottom of your resume, and consider adding relevant coursework or academic projects if they helped you learn applicable skills.
Mid-level and senior positions
At the senior level, it’s common for employers to require an advanced degree. List your most recent degree first, and keep the formatting consistent. Because you also have years of professional experience, omit other details like relevant coursework or GPA.
Career change scenarios
Changing careers is common, but it presents some specific challenges. Utilizing the education section of your resume to your advantage can help you highlight transferable skills from your educational background. If your degree isn’t related to the new job but you took some classes as electives, list these as well. The cover letter is another place to highlight transferable skills and knowledge from your education.
Special Situations in Listing Education
No college degree
Listing your education on your resume doesn’t have to mean a college degree. Many jobs only require a high school diploma. Others may be more interested in your skills, which can be demonstrated with a certificate or by completing a coding bootcamp. If your education section seems thin, put it at the end of your resume to emphasize your skills and professional experience.
Including study-abroad experiences
Having international experience can be a significant advantage if the job you’re applying for has a global workforce. In the education section, list applicable study abroad experiences independently or as a sub-bullet under the degree.
Certifications and licenses
On your resume, certifications and licenses generally have their section, but they can be listed with or right next to the education section. When listing a certification on a resume, include the awarding organization and, if applicable, when the certification expires.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Listing Education on a Resume
- Including irrelevant information: Leave them out if coursework or extracurricular activities are highly relevant to the position.
- Falsifying educational credentials: Never lie or misrepresent your education on your resume. If you still need to complete a degree, ensure this is clear.
- Not following a consistent format: Each degree listed should follow the same format, and the education section should match the rest of your resume.
- Not proofreading and double-checking for accuracy: Always triple-check your resume for accuracy and any typos or other errors. Enlist a trusted friend or mentor to look through it as well.
- Not keeping the education section up-to-date: As you advance, ensure this section of your resume is updated to include your most recent accomplishments.
Well-Written Resume Education Section Examples
Example for two bachelor's degrees
Education
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration | Columbia University, New York, NY | June 2022
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science | University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY | May 2020
Example of a master's degree
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
December 2020
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
May 2018
Example for candidates with certifications or online courses
Education
Master of Science in Finance
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2021
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
2019
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2023
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2022
Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Institute of Management Consultants USA), 2021
Well-Written Education Section Resume Example
Michael Chen
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY | LinkedIn | GitHub
Professional Summary
Data analyst with a Master’s in Data Science and over five years of experience analyzing large datasets to provide actionable business insights. Proficient in Python, SQL, and R, with a strong background in machine learning, data visualization, and predictive modeling. Proven track record of using data analytics to increase operational efficiency and support data-driven decision-making.
Professional Experience
Data Analyst
XYZ Solutions, New York, NY
July 2019 – Present
- Utilized Python and SQL to analyze customer behavior and develop segmentation models, resulting in a 15% increase in targeted marketing effectiveness.
- Developed and maintained dashboards using Tableau, which provided real-time insights to leadership and reduced reporting time by 20%.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement data-driven solutions, leading to a 10% cost reduction in operational processes.
Junior Data Analyst
DataTrends Inc., New York, NY
August 2017 – June 2019
- Conducted exploratory data analysis to identify trends and insights in sales data, supporting quarterly strategy planning sessions.
- Created data pipelines to automate data extraction and cleaning, increasing data accuracy and reducing processing time by 30%.
- Worked alongside data scientists to refine predictive models, contributing to a 25% improvement in model accuracy.
Education
Master of Science (M.S.) in Data Science
New York University, New York, NY | December 2019
Relevant Coursework: Machine Learning, Data Mining, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Analysis
Key Project: Built a predictive model for customer churn that improved retention strategies and reduced churn by 18% for a retail client.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA | May 2017
Honors: Graduated magna cum laude
Relevant Coursework: Algorithms, Database Systems, Software Engineering, Linear Algebra
Certifications
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate | 2022
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), INFORMS | 2021
Skills
- Programming Languages: Python, SQL, R
- Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI
- Machine Learning: Scikit-Learn, TensorFlow
- Tools: Excel, Jupyter Notebooks, Git
Additional Resources
- College Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
- How To Build A Professional Resume (Plus Examples and Templates)
- Student Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Write Your Education on a Resume
Where to list education on a resume depends on the overall format and its relevance to the job. If you're a recent graduate with a directly relevant degree, putting it higher on your resume can give you an advantage. If you have years of work experience, the education section is secondary and should be closer to the bottom of the document.
Most candidates can leave their GPA off a resume for a job. However, a GPA may be required when applying for an internship or graduate program. Recent college graduates may also include a GPA if a degree is required for the position and the GPA is above 3.7.
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other online courses not associated with a postsecondary institution can be included in the education section of your resume. However, it's important to indicate that they weren't taken as part of a degree program to ensure transparency and accuracy.
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