When and How to Include Your GPA on Your Resume

Your grade point average (GPA) is exactly what it says—an average score showing your academic achievements in both high school and college. When you’re applying for jobs, including your GPA on your resume is a speedy way to show the employer that you’re a real go-getter, especially if your score is high.

However, it’s important to know when to list your GPA on your resume, and when it could work against you. In the following guide, we’ll reveal the right times to include this score on your resume, how to format it correctly if you choose to do so, and some of the alternatives to having a GPA on your resume.

When should you include your GPA on a resume?

The first thing you need to know is when to list your GPA on your resume.

Here are some of the scenarios when adding this extra level of detail is a smart move:

Still in school or college

If you’re still studying and you’re applying for jobs, you should include your GPA on your resume. Since you don’t yet have all of your qualifications, your GPA will give the hiring manager a clear idea of your academic abilities. It also indicates what grades you’re likely to get when you graduate.

Recently graduated

Similarly, if you’ve graduated within the last three years, it’s standard to add your GPA to your resume. As you gain more work experience in your chosen industry, you might find that this score becomes less important to employers. Take the time to consider whether your GPA is still relevant to the reader.

“High” GPA  

Are you academically gifted? Generally speaking, a GPA of 3.5 or higher is considered high. This indicates that you get high B or A grades. If you want to impress the hiring manager and add something extra to your application, listing your GPA on your resume is the way to go.

Industry demands it

In certain technical industries—such as software development and finance—there’s an expectation that you list your GPA on your resume. These are the fields where hiring managers place more emphasis on your average grades. If it’s considered the “norm” in your industry, don’t forget to include it.

Employer asks for it

Before you submit your resume to any employer, make sure you’ve thoroughly read the job description. Some employers will ask you to list your GPA on your resume. Failing to follow their instructions means falling at the first hurdle. In this case, you should always ist the score on your resume.

Is it ethical to list your GPA on your resume?

Before you decide whether to list your GPA on your resume, you might be wondering whether it’s ethical. The short answer is yes—there’s nothing unethical about adding this detail to your application.

However, there’s one massive thing to keep in mind: honesty is the only policy. When you’re adding your GPA to your resume, you need to be 100% truthful about this score. Attempting to lie to or mislead an employer won’t end well. If you get found out, it’ll destroy your chances of landing the job.

Ethical GPA reporting is a must. Should you have a low GPA, it may be tempting to inflate it to make you look more employable. However, this grand error can end up getting you fired later down the line. It’s a far better approach to leave your score off your resume entirely.

Cumulative GPA vs. Major GPA: What’s the difference?

If you’ve gone to college, there are two types of scores you can include on your resume: a cumulative GPA or major GPA. Before you decide which to list, you need to know the difference.

• Cumulative GPA: This score is the average of the grades you gained in every course you’ve completed during your time at college—including minor courses.
• Major GPA: Unlike your cumulative GPA, this score doesn’t include any of your minor grades. Instead, it applies only to the grades you gained in your major courses.

Most of the time, you can choose which GPA score to include. If one of these scores is higher than the other, you may choose to add it to your resume. However, if your major applies directly to the vacancy you’re applying for, it may be better to list your major GPA instead.

How to format your GPA on a resume 

Your GPA sits neatly within the education section of your resume. You should align it with your degree or your high school diploma, depending on which it relates to. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Standard format example

The proper resume formatting for a GPA is pretty straightforward. You should include this detail below your honors and/or graduation year.

Major GPA example

When listing your major GPA on your resume, make it clear by adding the word “major” to it. If you’d like, you can include both your standard GPA and your major GPA below one another.

Cumulative GPA example

Adding your cumulative GPA to your resume? You can slot this information in below your basic degree details. However, make sure you label it clearly with the words “cumulative” next to the grade.

High school GPA example

If you’re listing your high school education on your resume, you should format your GPA like “3.8/4.0”. You should place this score above your graduation year.

What are the alternatives to listing your GPA?

If you’ve decided not to include your GPA on your resume, how can you make your resume stand out?

There are other ways you can share your abilities with the hiring manager, as follows:

Tips for listing your GPA on your resume

By this point, you should be ready to add your GPA to your resume.

Here are some final tips:

Conclusion

Listing your GPA on your resume isn’t always necessary and is becoming less popular. However, if you do decide to include it, only add accurate information. Lying about or inflating your GPA could land you in a lot of trouble and cost you this opportunity. Choose which GPA you want to add and then follow our advice.

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