How to List a Degree on a Resume

Always add your degrees to the education section of your resume in reverse-chronological order (so your most recent degree goes on top), like this:

Recent graduates (0–2 years experience) should place this section near the top of their resume, while established professionals (5+ years) should move it after their work history.

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Our Expert:

Eva Chan

How to list different degrees on your resume

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

Associate’s degree

Write your degree as “Associate of” (not “Associate’s”).

Spell out the full degree name when space allows. Use a standard abbreviation only if you need to save space:

• 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’s degree:

1. Degree name, using the full name or the appropriate abbreviation
2. Major or field of study
3. Name of the college or university
4. Location of the school (city and state)
5. 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, you can abbreviate each type of bachelor’s degree in different ways:

• 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 will likely 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:

1. Degree name, such as “Bachelor of Arts,” “Bachelor of Science,” or the appropriate abbreviation (BA, BS, BSc)
2. Major or field of study (if applicable to the job you’re applying for)
3. Name of the university
4. Location of the university (city and state)
5. 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.

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

Add these details if they’re relevant to the position or if you’re a recent graduate:

• 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:

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

Multiple degrees

Follow these steps to format your education section if you have multiple degrees:

1. Start with your highest level of education
2. List each degree separately
3. Use consistent formatting for all degrees
4. 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:

Certifications and licenses

Deciding where to list professional certifications or licenses depends on how many you have. If you have only one or two relevant credentials, you can include them at the bottom of your education section to save space.

However, if you have several certifications or if they are central to your profession, create a dedicated “Certifications” or “Licenses” section to ensure they stand out to hiring managers.

When listing licenses or certifications on your resume, include the following details:

• Official name of the certification or license
• Name of the issuing organization
• Date of completion and the expiration date (if applicable)

Frequently asked questions about how to list a degree on a resume

Review some of the most common questions we receive about listing degrees on your resume:

What does “level of education” mean on a job application?

“Level of education” refers to the highest degree or diploma you’ve earned, such as high school, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate. Only list your high school diploma if it is your highest level of education or if a specific course (such as four years of Spanish) provides job-specific skills like language fluency.

What is a field of study on a resume?

A field of study is your major or the specific area you focused on during your education, like Biology, Computer Science, or English Literature.

Is it “bachelor” or “bachelor’s” on a resume?

Usually you should only use “bachelor” on a resume, because you’re listing your specific degree, for example:

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
• Bachelor of Science

You can use “bachelor’s” when speaking generally about the type of degree you have, for example: “I have a bachelor’s degree.”