How to List an Unfinished Degree on a Resume (With Examples)

There are plenty of reasons you might have an unfinished degree you want to include on your resume. It could be that you’re still in school, you’re taking a leave of absence, or you had other plans for your life.

Whatever the case, we’re going to show you how to list an unfinished degree on a resume in a way that strengthens your application.

Here are some tips and examples to get you started:

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How to list education in progress on a resume

When it comes to writing a great resume, the more education and skills you can demonstrate, the better. To a hiring manager, some college on a resume usually looks better than none, especially if you can show that your education is highly relevant to the job you’re applying for.

To see how to include an unfinished degree on your resume, check out our video where career expert Eva breaks down how to write your education section and what to include, with useful examples:

Knowing how to list education on your resume is an important part of convincing employers that you’re qualified for a position. The way you format it and the information you include vary depending on your plans or whether you’re currently enrolled.

Here’s what you should do:

If you’re currently pursuing a degree

If you’re still enrolled in school and plan on graduating, list your expected graduation date alongside the name of the school and its location in the education section of your resume.

Here’s an example of how to list an expected graduation date on a resume:

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT DENVER – Denver, CO
Expected graduation: June 2024

One way you can strengthen this section is by including any additional details that will demonstrate your relevant skills and qualifications to a hiring manager, such as academic achievements or relevant coursework.

Some examples of additions to include are:

• Major/specialization/certification
• Relevant completed coursework
• A GPA over 3.5
• Academic awards (such as making the Dean’s List)
• Scholarships

Including these will show a potential employer that you’re disciplined and making the most out of your ongoing education.

Here’s an example of how you can list achievements in your education section:

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT DENVER – Denver, CO
B.A. in Communications
Expected graduation: June 2024
GPA: 3.7/4.0, Dean’s List for 3 semesters

• Awarded the Sarah Parker Scholarship for academic excellence, 2019

Additionally, here’s how to list coursework on your resume:

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT DENVER – Denver, CO
B.A. in Communications
Expected graduation: December 2024

Relevant coursework: Media Writing Skills, New Media Production and Management, Social Media for Social Change

If you’re taking a break from college

If you’re taking a break from college for a year or less, you’re still a student. List your unfinished degree on your resume the same as you would if you were still attending college.

Just remember, it’s important to be upfront with your potential employers about resuming your studies. An employer won’t be thrilled if they hire you for a full-time position only to have you leave 6 months later. In your interview, make sure to bring up the topic of your education and discuss the possibility of accommodating a more flexible or part-time schedule for when the time to finish your degree comes.

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How to list unfinished college on a resume

It can be confusing to figure out how to put college on your resume if you didn’t graduate, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. Don’t underestimate the value of the education you completed, just because you don’t have a degree to show for it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile.

Even if you’re not going to complete your degree, it can still make a valuable addition to your resume because:

• It can help to explain an employment gap
• It can highlight additional skills
• It can showcase extra qualifications and relevant coursework

If you’re lacking formal work experience, any of these things could provide the extra push a hiring manager needs to seriously consider you as a candidate.

Here are some ways to go about putting your education on your resume:

If it’s not relevant to the position

If your area of study was unrelated to the position you’re applying for, then you don’t need to include much detail. You can simply list the college and years attended.

If you excelled academically, include your academic achievements such as a high GPA, inclusion in the Dean’s List, or other academic awards or scholarships.

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

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY – Syracuse, NY
2017-2019

If you took some courses related to the job, include those under your university information. You can list them by individual courses taken or by number of credits earned in a certain area of study.

Here’s what that looks like:

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY – Syracuse, NY
2017-2019

Relevant coursework: Data Driven Inquiry, Big Data Analytics

If it’s relevant to the position

If your unfinished degree is relevant to the job you’re applying for, include details that show your hiring manager the experience and knowledge you’ve gained from your education.

Include any relevant coursework or the number of credits completed in your education section. You should also include any academic achievements that demonstrate excellence in your field of study.

Here’s an example of how to list unfinished college on your resume if it’s highly relevant to the job:

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – Ann Arbor, Michigan
2018-2020, GPA: 3.8/4.0
Completed 75 credits towards a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Urban Planning

• Awarded the Abrams Family Internship Scholarship for my internship at Ann Arbor City Government Planning and Development Department.

Cases when you may want to omit an unfinished degree

There are cases where it’s best to leave an incomplete degree off your resume.

For example, if an incomplete degree is irrelevant to the work you want to do and doesn’t add value to your resume, simply leave it off your resume.

Another case is when including the degree has the potential to do more harm than good.

For example, if you didn’t complete your degree for reasons that don’t reflect well on you (such as if you were expelled for any reason), then you may want to leave it off your resume.

Need a quick recap of what we’ve just covered? Here’s an easy-to-follow video on how to list an unfinished degree on your resume.

@resumegenius Writing your resume but didn’t finish your degree? Don’t worry. Here’s how to properly list the education section of your resume, even with an unfinished degree. #resume #resumetips #degree #dropout #jobsearch ♬ Romantic – Tomorrow

Unfinished degree on resume example

Here’s an example of a candidate who lists an unfinished degree on her resume:

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Additional resources

Here are a few extra resources you may find helpful in navigating your job search:

• College Resume Examples & Writing Tips
• 14 Student Resume Examples, Template, & Writing Guide
• How To List Projects On A Resume
• College Student Cover Letter Example
• Launching Your Career Without a Degree – Featuring Expert Jonaed Iqbal
• 20 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree in 2024
• 6 Huge Reasons Students Are Flocking to Vocational Schools
• 24+ Good Jobs for Teens