Your education section tells employers what you studied and when, and for many roles it’s one of the first things they check. How you format it depends on where you are in your career. Here’s what to include and how to lay it out.
What to Include
- Degree and major, for example “Bachelor of Science in Computer Science”.
- School name and location (city and state or country).
- Graduation date, or expected graduation date. Month and year, or just the year, are both fine.
- Optional extras: GPA (if it’s strong and you’re early in your career), honors, relevant coursework, a minor, or a thesis.
Where to Put Education on Your Resume
- At the top, under your summary, if you’re a student, a recent graduate, or changing careers into a field where your degree is the strongest qualification.
- After your work experience if you have a few years of relevant experience. Your recent work is then more persuasive than your degree.
Example: Recent Graduate
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Minor in Statistics
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | May 2026
GPA: 3.7/4.0 · Dean’s List (4 semesters)
Relevant coursework: Econometrics, Data Analysis in Python, Behavioral Economics
Example: Experienced Candidate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | 2018
Once you have several years of experience, keep it to one or two lines. GPA and coursework are no longer needed.
Example: Degree in Progress
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Boston University, Boston, MA | Expected December 2026
Always write “Expected” so employers know you haven’t finished yet.
Example: Unfinished Degree
Coursework toward Bachelor of Science in Biology
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ | 2019–2021
Be honest. Describe what you completed, such as “Completed 90 credits” or relevant coursework, without implying you graduated.
Should You Include Your GPA?
Include it if it’s 3.5 or higher and you graduated within the last few years, or if the employer asks for it. Otherwise, leave it out. It isn’t expected once you have professional experience.
Should You Include High School?
Usually not, once you have a college degree. See our guide on whether to put high school on your resume for the exceptions.
Common Mistakes
- Listing every course you took. Pick three to five that match the job.
- Inconsistent date formats between education and work experience.
- Abbreviations the reader might not know. Write the degree out in full at least once.
For more on formatting degrees, including double majors and abbreviations, read how to list a degree on your resume. For stronger wording elsewhere on your resume, see our resume word guides.
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