How to List a Degree on a Resume Like a Pro

Professionals with a degree earn an average of 86% more than those with a high school diploma alone. Put simply, your college education can not only help to secure you a job, but it can also boost your earnings. But before you get to that point, you need to know how to list a degree on your resume.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to get this right, depending on your situation. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a professional, or someone with incomplete degrees or even advanced qualifications, we have you covered. Follow our advice and take a look at our education section resume examples.

How to properly list degrees on a resume

Want to learn how to list a degree on your resume? It doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow our steps below and you should have no problem getting this part of the process right.

Step 1: Create an education section

First things first, create an education section. You should position this toward the top of the page. If you’re using a chronological resume format, it goes above your skills and experience sections.

Step 2: List your most recent degree first

When completing your education section, you should use the reverse chronological order. That means listing your most recent degree first and working your way back in time.

Step 3: Add the key details

Next, you should include the key details about your degree. These include your: degree name, major or field of study, school name, graduation date, location of the school.

Education section resume examples

Now that you know the basics of how to list a degree on your resume, let’s take a look at some examples. Below, we’ve outlined adaptable examples for various levels of degree for you to use for inspiration.

Bachelor’s degree

When it comes to how to list a bachelor's degree on a resume, keep things simple. Include whether you graduated with honors and your GPA, so long as it’s high (i.e. 3.5).

Master's degree

Want to know how to list a master's degree on a resume? Include both your bachelor’s degree (or associate degree) and your master’s degree in your education section. List your degrees in the order in which you completed them, as below.

Associate's degree

You can list an associate’s degree in the same way that you would a bachelor’s degree. Once again, you may want to add your GPA, so long as it’s 3.5 or above.

How to list incomplete degrees on a resume

If you haven’t completed your degree and don’t plan to, simply state how many credits you’ve done. Luckily, there’s a simple way that you can outline your completed credits, as we’ve shown below.

From a glance, the hiring manager would know that this candidate has completed 90 credits toward their degree. You can also be specific about the coursework you’ve covered.

Honesty is always the best policy! When listing an incomplete degree on your resume, don’t make the mistake of misleading the reader. Make it 100% clear that you don’t intend to complete the qualification.

How to list a degree in progress

If you’re still studying, you may wonder how to list a degree in progress on your resume. Use a similar structure as you would for an incomplete degree, but include the expected completion date.

In this example, it states “Expected graduation” with a date. However, that’s not the only option you can use when listing a degree in progress. You might want to write “Completion date” followed by the date.

How to list certifications and professional training

Now that you know how to list degrees on your resume, let’s dive into any other certificates you have. You can create a separate section called “Certificates and Training” for these feats. Either list them in reverse chronological order or—if you’d prefer—in order of their significance.  

When deciding which certificates to include, the number one rule is to make sure that they align with the vacancy. The training or certification you include needs to complement your degree and add value to your application.

Common mistakes to avoid when listing degrees

Ready to get started and list your degrees on your resume? Before you start working on your next application, there are some mistakes that you want to avoid. Fortunately, we’ve broken down the most common errors and how you can avoid each of them in the box below.

Tips for listing education when changing careers

Are you entering a new industry? If you’re changing careers, your degree or degrees may not directly align with the vacancy at hand. Use our tips to position your resume education section for success.

When trying to break into a new industry, it may be worth using a functional resume format. This puts the spotlight on the skills you have, rather than focussing too heavily on your experience or education.

Final checklist for your education section

By this point, your education section should be almost ready for submission. However, before you finalize the section, there are some last-minute things you should check.

Conclusion

Your education section can make or break your resume. In this guide, we’ve covered how to list a degree on your resume the correct way. Follow the advice we’ve shared and make sure you include the right information. Remember—above all else—this section needs to be approachable and easy to read.  

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