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The education section of your resume is a dedicated space to list all of your formal schooling. Its goal is to show employers that you have the education and training necessary to do the job.
Overall, the process of listing your education is always the same. You’ll list each school you attended in reverse-chronological (most recent first) order.
You need these details in each entry:
You should include the expected graduation year if you’re working on a degree but have yet to graduate.
Here are some education section examples based on degree level:
High school only:
If you graduated high school and have an associate degree, list only the associate unless you are currently attending college:
Associate and bachelor’s:
Bachelor’s only:
Bachelor’s and master’s:
Bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D.:
The upper portion of your resume should be dedicated to your work history, showcasing the accomplishments that align most closely with the job you’re seeking.
Ask yourself: Is your education the most pertinent accomplishment for this role?
More often than not, the answer will be no. Work experience typically holds greater significance for positions beyond entry-level jobs. In this case, education would appear at the bottom of your resume, like in the chronological format.
However, there are instances where education takes precedence.
Education should lead if you’ve recently graduated from college and lack relevant work experience.
Additionally, prioritize education over work experience if you’ve recently returned to school to pursue a degree relevant to your desired job via a functional resume format.
In the case that you’re a student preparing for college admissions, you might want to prioritize the education section when writing your college resume, especially if you have plenty of academic achievements to highlight.
For instance, if you’re transitioning to a career in human resources after completing a related program but primarily possess experience in marketing, highlighting your new education at the forefront is advisable.
Using our professional Resume Builder removes the guesswork of formatting your education section. It’s a tool that makes writing your resume fast, easy and flawless.
Our builder speeds up the writing process because it features 30+ resume designs you can use in all three formats!
It also has these features, helpful for the education section:
If you lack much work experience, your education may be your best case for why you deserve a job.
So, it can be a good idea to bulk up your education history by including a special section titled “Awards & Honors.” You can list your academic achievements here to show employers you’re smart, talented and hard-working.
Some examples include:
In some cases, you may wish to include educational experience that wasn’t at a formal school or university to beef up your education section.
This may include:
If you earned a certification or did training, you should include it in its own section called “Certifications and Training.” Keep it separate from the more formal experience in your education section.
Here are examples of different certifications or training candidates might choose to highlight based on their education level:
High school diploma & an internship or apprenticeship:
High school diploma and associate degree:
Bachelor’s only:
Bachelor’s and Masters:
Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D.:
Your education section’s location depends on your experience level. Someone with a lot of work experience should list that section first, with education near the bottom of the resume. In contrast, a recent graduate or someone in the academic field would have their education section more toward the center of their resume.
If you are currently in an education program, note your expected graduation date. If you started a program but did not complete it and it is relevant to your industry — format the section as usual but include the phrase “some college” or “to be completed in (year).”
You can format your education section with your current institution’s location, name and expected graduation date. Remember, current education and dates can be shown, but anything irrelevant or 10 years or more out of date should not be included.
Including your GPA can help you if you’re a recent graduate. However, for most people, it’s advised to leave your GPA off your resume.
Add your GPA to your education listing only if you meet these two points:
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