How to List Degrees on Your Resume: Formatting Guide & Examples

In This Guide

Knowing how to list a degree on your resume helps you present your education clearly so hiring managers can understand your qualifications at a glance.

This guide covers how to list degrees in common education scenarios, with practical examples you can adapt to your resume. Whether you’re a recent graduate, an experienced professional, or returning to work with an unfinished degree, you’ll find clear guidance on what to include, what to leave out, and how to format it.

What to Include When Listing a Degree on Your Resume

When listing a degree on your resume, include the degree name, major, school, and school location. You can add your graduation date, GPA, relevant coursework, or honors when they strengthen your application. Keep degree names and abbreviations consistent throughout your resume so the education section stays clear and easy for ATS software and recruiters to scan.

Required Information

Every degree entry should give employers the basic information they need to understand your education. As a best practice, write out the full degree name and include the standard abbreviation in parentheses. This gives recruiters clear context while including common degree terminology that may appear in job postings and resume searches.

Here’s a breakdown of the key information to include:

• Full degree name: Write the official name of your degree, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Business Administration.
• Abbreviation: Add the standard abbreviation in parentheses, such as (BA) or (MBA). Including both formats helps your resume match the different terms employers and ATS may use when searching for education-related qualifications.
• Major: List your major or field of study, such as English, Computer Science, or Finance.
• Institution name: Use the official name of the college or university.
• City and state: Include the institution’s location. You can leave it out if space is limited.

Here’s an example of how to write a degree on a resume:

Tip!

Tip!

Keep your degree abbreviations consistent. For example, if you list a Bachelor of Science (BS), use Master of Science (MS) rather than switching to a different abbreviation style for another degree. Consistent abbreviation style keeps your education section clean and easy to scan.

Optional Information

Additional education details can help when they provide useful context or show qualifications that relate to the position.

You can include the following if relevant:

• GPA: Include your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher, particularly if you’re a current student, recent graduate, or have less than three years of professional experience. As you gain more relevant work experience, your GPA becomes less important and can usually be removed unless the employer specifically requests it.
• Relevant coursework: Include courses when they demonstrate skills or knowledge that are directly related to the job, especially if you have limited work experience.
• Graduation date: Current students and recent graduates should generally include the month and year they graduated or expect to graduate. If you graduated more than five to 10 years ago, consider listing just the year or leaving the graduation date off entirely.
• Awards and honors: List academic honors, scholarships, or awards that demonstrate achievements and are relevant to your application.

Template for Listing a Degree on Your Resume

You can use this template as a starting point for listing a degree on your resume:

Where to Put Degrees on a Resume

List your degree in the education section of your resume, along with your school and other relevant details. Where you place the education section depends on your career stage and the relevance of your academic credentials. Recent graduates may put it near the top, while experienced professionals typically place it below their work history.

Recent Graduates & Entry-Level Job Seekers

If you’re a recent graduate or have limited professional experience, place your education section near the top of your resume, below your summary or contact information. Your degree helps demonstrate relevant qualifications when your work history is still developing.

You can also include details that show academic achievements or relevant preparation, such as:

• Dean’s List or Latin honors: Include distinctions such as magna cum laude when they demonstrate strong academic performance.
• Academic projects: List substantial projects that show skills relevant to the position.
• Relevant coursework: Include a few courses that connect directly to the job and show useful knowledge.
• GPA: Consider including your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher. If your GPA isn’t relevant, you can usually leave it off your resume unless the employer specifically asks for it.

Mid-Career & Experienced Professionals

If you have several years of relevant experience, place your education section below your work history. A chronological resume format—the most common format for mid-career and experienced professionals—lists your most recent experience first, with education typically near the bottom. This keeps the focus on your current skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments.

Tip!

Tip!

As you gain relevant professional experience, remove details such as your GPA, coursework, and academic projects that no longer add value. This makes room for the experience and accomplishments employers are likely to prioritize over your academic background.

Career Changers

If you’re changing industries, your education section can help connect your previous experience to your new career path. Consider placing relevant training, a new degree, or specialized coursework where employers can easily find it.

For example, someone moving from marketing into data analytics might highlight a new analytics degree or relevant coursework alongside the technical skills they developed.

Focus on education that supports your target role rather than listing every course you’ve taken. The goal is to make the connection between your education and your target career clear without making employers search for it.

How to List Multiple Degrees, Double Majors, Minors, or Specializations on Your Resume

List multiple degrees, majors, minors, and specializations in your education section using a clear format that shows how each credential relates to the others.

Listing Multiple Degrees

If you earned multiple degrees from the same school, you can stack them under one institution instead of repeating the school name. This keeps your education section streamlined while making each credential clear. If you earned degrees from different institutions, give each school its own entry and list them in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent degree first.

Here’s an example of how to list multiple degrees on a resume from the same school:

Here’s an example of how to list multiple degrees from different schools:

How to List a Double Major

List a double major as one degree with both majors, rather than as two separate degrees. This shows that you earned a single credential while completing two fields of study.

Here’s an example:

The degree designation for a double major depends on how your school structures the program. Some schools use the primary major to determine whether you receive a BA or BS, while others have different rules.

For example, a student double majoring in psychology and computer science may receive a BA if psychology is the primary major and the school awards a BA for that major. Check your school’s requirements, diploma, or transcript to confirm the official degree designation.

Listing a Dual Degree

List a dual degree as two separate degrees under the same institution. A dual-degree program allows you to complete the requirements for two distinct credentials, often at the same time and sometimes through different schools or colleges within a university. Unlike a double major, which results in one degree with two majors, a dual degree results in two separate degrees.

Program requirements vary by institution and program. Some dual-degree programs require additional coursework, while others have an integrated curriculum that satisfies the requirements for both degrees. If your school officially identifies your program as a dual degree, list each degree separately on your resume so both credentials are clear.

Here’s an example:

Listing Minors, Concentrations, & Long Degree Titles

List minors and concentrations alongside or beneath the degree they relate to, using the official title from your school. For longer degree titles, use line breaks when needed to keep the education section easy to scan.

Here’s an example of how to list a major and minor on your resume:

Here’s an example of how to list a concentration on your resume:

If your official degree title is long, keep the wording accurate and use line breaks to make it easier to read. This format preserves the official degree while making it clear and scannable.

Here’s an example:

Tip!

Tip!

For any of these credentials, prioritize information that supports your target role. A relevant minor or specialization can add useful context, while an unrelated secondary credential may not need to take up valuable resume space.

How to Include In-Progress, Unfinished, or Nontraditional Education on Your Resume

You can include education that’s still in progress, unfinished, or follows a nontraditional path when it supports your qualifications.

Clearly indicate whether you’re pursuing a degree, completed some college coursework, or earned a credential without completing a degree. Use accurate dates and titles so employers understand what you completed and what remains in progress.

Including Degrees in Progress

Use “Expected Graduation” to show that a degree is still in progress. List the degree, major, and institution, then add your expected graduation month and year.

You can also highlight relevant skills, coursework, or academic projects that demonstrate what you’re learning and how it connects to the position you want.

Here’s an example of a resume with a degree in progress:

Including Unfinished Degrees

If you started a degree but didn’t complete it, you can still include the education if it supports your qualifications. Clearly indicate that the degree wasn’t completed by using wording such as “Coursework toward” and, when useful, note the number of credits you completed. You can also list relevant coursework, but only include classes you actually completed.

Here’s an unfinished degree on a resume example:

Including Certificates, Bootcamps, & Online Education

Include online degrees, bootcamps, and professional certificates when they support the position you’re applying for, and list them by credential type.

Put an accredited online degree in your education section, just as you would an in-person degree. List professional certificates in a separate certifications section, or list a college-earned certificate in your education section when it relates to a degree from the same institution. Include bootcamps under education, certifications, or professional development, depending on the program and its relevance to the job.

Here’s how to list an online degree in your education section:

Here’s how to list a coding bootcamp in a professional development section:

Here’s how to list a certificate earned through a university in your education section:

Examples of Degrees on a Resume for Every Career Stage

The best way to list a degree on your resume depends on your career stage and how much professional experience you have. Recent graduates can include more education details, while experienced professionals can keep the education section concise. Career changers can emphasize degrees, coursework, or credentials that support their new career path.

High School Graduate

If you’re a high school graduate without a college degree, list your high school in the education section and include your diploma or the equivalent credential, school name, location, and graduation date. You can also include relevant coursework or academic honors when they support the position, but keep the section concise as you gain more work experience.

Current College Student

If you’re currently in college, list your degree as in progress and include your major, school, and expected graduation date. You can also include your GPA, relevant coursework, academic honors, projects, or skills when they support the position. Keep the focus on education that demonstrates relevant knowledge while your professional experience is still developing.

Here’s an example:

Early-Career Professional

If you’re early in your career, keep your degree and institution prominent in the education section, but focus on details that still strengthen your application. You can include your graduation date, GPA, honors, or relevant coursework if they add value, while giving more space to the professional experience and skills you’ve gained since graduating.

Here’s an example of how to list a degree on an entry-level resume:

Mid-Career Professional

If you’re a mid-career professional, keep your education section focused on your degree, major, institution, and graduation date if you choose to include it. You can remove details such as your GPA, relevant coursework, and academic honors unless they’re specifically relevant to the position or demonstrate a qualification employers are looking for.

Here’s an example:

Experienced Professional

If you have extensive professional experience, keep your education section concise and focus on degrees that support your qualifications. You can leave out your graduation date, GPA, coursework, and academic honors, particularly when they no longer add relevant context.

Here’s an example:

Career Changer

If you’re changing careers, use your education section to highlight degrees, certificates, or coursework that support your target field. Keep relevant credentials easy to find, and consider including recent education or retraining even if your earlier degree is in a different field. This helps employers quickly see how your education supports your new career direction.

Here’s an example:

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.