How to List a Degree on a Resume

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When you write a resume, it’s important to highlight each of your degrees properly so that employers can clearly understand your education.

Always add your degrees to the education section of your resume, and list them in chronological order (so your most recently earned degree goes on top).

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Here’s how to list a degree on your resume by type:

Associate’s degree

Your associate’s degree should be displayed as “Associate of” without the apostrophe.

You should write out the full name of your degree without abbreviating when you can. However, if you’re pressed for space, you can use standardized abbreviations, for example:

AA = Associate of Arts
AB = Associate of Business
ABA = Associate of Business Administration
AAS = Associate of Applied Science
AS = Associate of Science
ASN = Associate of Nursing

Here’s what to include when listing an associate degree:

Degree name, using the full name or the appropriate abbreviation
Major or field of study (if applicable to the job you’re applying for)
Name of the college or university
Location of the school (city and state)
Year of graduation or expected graduation

If you lack work experience and want to add extra details about your degree, include the following optional information:

GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
Academic honors or awards (if applicable)
Relevant coursework (if directly related to the job you’re applying for)
Additional activities, such as volunteer work and school clubs

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Bachelor’s degree

Similar to an associate’s degree, there are different ways to abbreviate each type of bachelor’s degree:

BA = Bachelor of Arts
BBA = Bachelor of Business Administration
BEd = Bachelor of Education
BLA = Bachelor of Liberal Arts
BSW = Bachelor of Social Work
BS = Bachelor of Science

Before using any abbreviations, keep the role you’re applying for in mind. For example, if you have a BSW and you’re applying for a job that involves social services, the hiring manager will likely be familiar with the abbreviation.

However, if you’re applying to a restaurant management position with a Bachelor of Social Work, the employer may not recognize the abbreviation ‘BSW.’ In this case, it’s best to write out the full name of your degree.

When including a Bachelor’s degree on your resume, add this information:

Degree name, such as “Bachelor of Arts,” “Bachelor of Science,” or the appropriate abbreviation (BA, BS, BSc)
Major or field of study (if applicable to the job you’re applying for)
Name of the university
Location of the university (city and state)
Year of graduation

If you lack work experience and want to add extra details about your degree, include the following optional information:

GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
Academic honors or awards
Relevant coursework

Master’s degree

Here are the different ways you can abbreviate a master’s degree on your resume:

MA = Master of Arts
MS, MSc = Master of Science
MBA = Master of Business Administration
MIB = Master of International Business
ME, MEng = Master of Engineering
MEd = Master of Education

It’s up to you whether or not to use periods in your abbreviations. For example, MA versus M.A., or M.Ed. versus MEd. Both styles are acceptable, but make sure you stick to one throughout your resume for consistency.

When listing a master’s degree you should follow the same guidelines for listing associate and bachelor degrees by including the necessary details and any relevant coursework or honors.

Degree name, use “Master of Arts” or the abbreviation “MA” or “M.A.”
Field of study or major
Name of the university
Location of the university (city and state)
Year of graduation or expected graduation

Add these details in if they suit the application or are impressive:

GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
Academic honors or awards (if applicable)
Thesis title (if relevant to the job you’re applying for)
Relevant coursework (if directly related to the job)

PhD

When listing a PhD on your resume, you should follow the same format as other degrees, but with some additional points because your degree is more advanced.
Here are some common abbreviations for a doctoral degree:

PhD = Doctor of Philosophy
EdD = Doctor of Education
PsyD = Doctor of Psychology
DBA = Doctor of Business Administration
DNP = Doctor of Nursing Practice
PharmD = Doctor of Pharmacy
JD = Juris Doctor (while technically a professional doctorate and not a PhD, this is the standard degree for lawyers in the US)

Here’s how to effectively list your PhD on your resume:

Include essential details including university name, location, year of completion (or expected completion), field of study or specific program
Highlight relevant information including dissertation title (if relevant to the job), areas of specialization, any honors or awards, relevant coursework (if applicable)
Include your funding or fellowships, if notable add any relevant publications
List any teaching or research assistant positions separately in your work experience section

Multiple degrees

Have more than one degree? Here’s how to highlight your educational journey on your resume:

Start with your highest level of education
List each degree separately
Use consistent formatting for all degrees
Include all relevant information for each degree as outlined above

If you have multiple degrees from the same institution, you can group them together to save space:

If you’re applying for a job while you’re currently completing a degree, knowing how to list an unfinished degree on a resume is important as it can still be a competitive edge when competing for a job with other applicants.