Small formatting choices, like whether to write “B.S.” or “Bachelor of Science”, can make your resume look more polished. Here’s how to list any kind of degree clearly and consistently.
The Basic Format
List the degree first, then the field, then the school and date:
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA | 2024
Spelled Out or Abbreviated?
Both are acceptable. Spelling the degree out is clearer and helps with applicant tracking systems that search for the full name. If you abbreviate, use a standard form and be consistent:
- Bachelor of Arts: BA or B.A.
- Bachelor of Science: BS or B.S.
- Master of Science: MS or M.S.
- Master of Business Administration: MBA
- Doctor of Philosophy: PhD or Ph.D.
A safe approach is to write it in full in your education section and use the abbreviation elsewhere, for example after your name in the header (“Jane Smith, MBA”).
Double Major
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI | 2025
A double major is one degree, so list it on one line.
Degree With a Minor
Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Minor in Graphic Design
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL | 2023
Include a minor if it’s relevant to the job or shows a useful second skill.
Multiple Degrees
List them in reverse chronological order, with your highest or most recent degree first:
Master of Public Health
Emory University, Atlanta, GA | 2025
Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of Georgia, Athens, GA | 2022
Associate Degree
Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
Austin Community College, Austin, TX | 2024
If you later earned a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you can drop the associate degree to save space.
Degree in Progress
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ | Expected May 2027
Honors
Latin honors go after the degree: Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude. Other honors and scholarships can go on a separate line or in an awards section. See how to list awards on a resume.
Formatting Checklist
- Use the same order and date format for every entry.
- Match the degree name to your diploma or transcript.
- Put education where it helps most: at the top for recent graduates, after experience for everyone else. Our guide on how to put education on a resume covers placement in detail.
Get Help in the Interview Itself
Preparation gets you most of the way. For the interview itself, ApplyQuick Interview Copilot listens to each question and suggests a structured answer based on your resume and the job description, on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or a phone call. You can also rehearse first with an AI mock interview. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
