How to List Education on Your Resume (With Examples)

Writing your education section doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s an example of how to format your education section on your resume:

In this article we show you everything you need to know to list your highest level of education in three simple steps.

What to include in your education section

There are a few standard details you should always include in your resume education section. These are:

• the name and location of the school you received your highest degree from
• your degree name/major (and minor, if applicable)
• your graduation date (or anticipated graduation date)

Beyond this basic information, there are additional details you can include if you want to highlight some of your relevant academic achievements.

Here’s some optional information to consider listing in your education section:

• GPA (if above 3.5): Including a high GPA on your resume demonstrates that you’re capable of producing high-quality work and managing your time well.
• Honors and academic awards: Listing graduation honors (with distinction, cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude), academic awards (such as making the Dean’s list), or honor societies you’re a member of shows employers that you’re a high achiever.
• Scholarships and grants: Including merit-based scholarships and grants indicates to hiring managers that you’re driven and worth investing in.
• Thesis: A completed thesis is definitely an accomplishment worth showing off, particularly if the subject matter is relevant to the industry you’re applying to work in.
• Relevant coursework: Including relevant coursework on your resume shows employers that you have foundational knowledge in your field and skills to build upon.
• Extracurricular activities: If you took part in clubs or sports that demonstrate relevant skills, include these extracurricular activities in your resume as well.

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How to format your resume’s education section

You should always bold the most important information in your education section to help it stand out. For most people, this is the name of their school or their degree title.

Here’s an example of how to properly list education on your resume if you’re a recent graduate or you’ve already entered the workforce:

Where to list education on your resume

Where you place your education section in relation to the other parts of your resume helps emphasize (or de-emphasize) your educational background. The best placement for your education section depends on your level of experience.

Put your education section near the top of your resume if:

• you’re writing a student resume or you’re a recent college graduate,
• you’re currently pursuing a degree,
• you lack relevant professional experience but have a degree related to the job you want,
• or if you’re writing a career change resume and your education is more relevant to the position than your work experience.

In these circumstances, emphasizing your education can strengthen your resume, so list your education section above your resume’s work experience section. You could also consider using a format that prioritizes educational achievements, like the Harvard resume template.

But, if you have more than a couple of years of relevant work experience, list your education below your work experience section. For most jobs, your education is less relevant to your ability to do the job than your hands-on work experience.

Resume education section examples

Still not sure what the education section of your resume should look like? Here are several examples that demonstrate the different ways you can format your education section, depending on your current situation.

High school student

If you’re a high school student or don’t have a higher education degree, you should list your high school education on your resume.

Here’s an example of how to list your GED if you’re:

If you’ve completed a higher education degree, then there’s no need to include your high school education on your resume.

College/university student

You should always include your degree on your resume even if it’s not relevant to the job you want as a college degree is often a requirement for professional-level positions.

Here’s an example of how to list an unfinished degree on your resume:

Here’s an example of how to list a study abroad program on your resume:

If you want to list a double major on your resume, make sure the most relevant major comes first. Here’s an example:

Here’s an example of how to format your education section if you’re adding additional information:

Graduate student (master’s)

Here’s an example of how to list a master’s degree on your resume:

Doctorate student (PhD)

If you’re applying for positions that require a PhD, you should make sure to include your dissertation in addition to when you earned your degree. Here’s an example of how to include a doctoral degree on your resume:

Continuing education

If you’re actively pursuing professional development, or have taken courses to develop industry-specific skills, you can include this experience as continuing education on your resume.

If you just have a course or two to add, it can go in your education section. If you have more, consider making a specific section devoted to your continued education.

Listing relevant courses that you’ve taken since graduating shows employers that you’re a self-starter and motivated to develop professionally.