How to List Education on Resume: 2022 Guide with 10+ Tips

by Hiration

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

Mandela has left us with a compelling line that no one in the 21st century can ignore.

Currently, every student is concerned about getting a higher-level education to get a pleasant job and live a prosperous life.

Every year nearly 2 million students get a bachelor’s degree in the United States. So, how can you present yourself better than others in this competitive market?

You must showcase your education on resume elegantly to beat your competitors during the recruitment process.

We are helping you make that happen by answering these below-given queries:

How to List Education on a Resume?


Crafting your resume education section can be tricky. However, you can follow the tips below to frame an impressive education section on your resume.

The two possible places for your resume education section can be:

  • Before your work experience section
  • After your work experience section

Education on a Resume Before Your Work Experience Section


You should put your resume education section before your work experience section in the following cases:

Just graduated:

  • You can consider putting your resume education section before your work experience if you just graduated from high school or college.
  • It helps you build a good resume because you will have more educational background than work experience.

Starting a new education:

  • If you were a professional and recently planned to get a new degree, it is advisable to put your resume education section first.
  • Your new degree should be relevant to the job description.

An academic resume:

  • Your resume education section should be positioned above the work experience for a fresher or academic resume.
  • For academic posts/ fellowships, education matters more than the outside work experience.

Education on a Resume After Your Work Experience Section


You should put your resume education section after your work experience section in the following cases:

Seasoned professional:

  • As a seasoned professional, you should put your resume education before your work experience section.
  • Employers find your educational experience more relevant throughout your career.

High school graduate/fresher:

  • If you are a fresher or high school graduate, you can place your resume education before your work experience section. Employers will look for your educational experience in your career.

How to List Education on a Resume: Educational Information


Choosing the correct resume education template is the first step you must take while building your resume.

You can follow the tips below to write an effective resume education section:

  • Put your highest degree first.
  • Follow reverse-chronological order for other degrees.

If you are a distinguished professional with tons of experience, it is not recommended to add your high school information.

The information that must add to your resume education section is:

  • Degree you received
  • Major/minor
  • Institution Name
  • Location of your institution (Area, Country)
  • Graduation Year
Hiration pro tip:
Stating your CGPA is optional. Add it only if you have a decent score.

Following are the resume education examples:

  • BA in English LiteratureCambridge University | Cambridge, US | 20173.8 CGPA
  • Stanford University | Chicago, US | 2013Masters in Computer Science4.0 GPA

In case you're lost, here is a quick resume education checklist:

  • Spell out your degree as “Master of Science” or use the initials “MSc.”
  • Use periods to separate the initials "B.A." or leave them like "BA."
  • Write the name of your major as “MA in Business Administration” or separate your degree with a comma from your major as “MA, Business Administration.”
  • Arrange the information based on importance. If your degree is not directly related to the job description, focus on the university rather than the course.
  • Make sure your format remains consistent for all your resume education section entries.

How to List Education on Resume for High School Students


High school students should place the resume education section at the beginning of their resume.

No Work Experience


For a high school resume with no work experience, you can list the following parameters:

  • GPA (if above 3.0)
  • Relevant Courses (Courses that are related to the job profile)
  • Honors/Academic Achievements
  • Clubs/Organizations (Extracurricular activities)
  • Positions of Responsibility

You can highlight the essential steps in your academic career by creating a “Major Achievements” section. It gives a detailed look at your skills and abilities.

You can include volunteer work also. It presents you as an active person. You appear as someone who learns quickly and manages a job efficiently.

Also Read: How to create a resume for your first job?

Some Work Experience


If you have actual work experience, you can keep the education section concise.

Having work experience means you have hands-on experience in your working area, which keeps more importance than any other theoretical knowledge.

Hence, if you have work experience, you can focus on detailing that in your resume rather than the education section.

How to List Education on Resume for College Students


As a college student or recent graduate, place your resume education section at the beginning of your resume.

The length of your resume section depends on the amount of work experience you have

No Work Experience


For the lack of work experience, make your resume education stand out, follow the following steps:

  • Convey your organization skills, charisma, interpersonal ability, and active lifestyle
  • Include your activities like clubs, major group projects, or your participation outside of academic life

Some Work Experience


If you already have work experience, focus on it more than the resume education section. It shows that you are familiar with the pressures and expectations of the professional world.

  • Keep your resume education section to a minimum
  • Feel free to list your activities, but emphasize your work experience

How to List Education on Resume for Working Professionals


If you are a working professional, your resume education section is just evidence of your degrees.

  • You should place your resume education section below the Professional Experience section
  • Be straightforward, do not include unnecessary details
  • State your educational degree with your field of study and best achievements
  • Try to avoid positions of responsibility, awards, recognitions
  • Try to include a vast skill set, list your training, certifications

How to List Education on a Resume: Special Cases


What if you fall into the category of professionals who bore the brunt of misfortune for reasons beyond their control?

You don't have to worry. Here's a list of what you can do:

How to List Education on Resume for a Degree in Progress


If you are still in high school/or pursuing a degree, write:

Expected to graduate in 2022

You can use the following phrases to describe your education in high school resume:

  • In progress
  • Expected + year
  • Expected Graduation + year
  • To be completed + year

How to List Education on a Resume for an Unfinished Degree


  • If you did not graduate high school, write the name of your school and the years you attended as Attended school from 2013-15
  • If you did not finish a college or university level degree, write the credits you managed to get as Completed 63 credits toward MA in Physics

Awards, publications, and training

  • If you want to show off your skills and achievements, add honors, awards, training, certifications, licenses, extracurricular activities you did during high school.
  • Pick activities that illustrate the keyword skills listed
  • Mention all the honors programs like graduated with Spanish honors (summa cum laude or magna cum laude), if any
  • Acceptance into campus, national, or international honors societies
  • List your publications under your degree
  • Include a coursework description and add relevant classes to the job profile.
  • A course of study that has a particular skillset
  • List your recent extracurricular roles/ positions of responsibility
  • Avoid adding controversial activities (political or religious)

Highlighting Soft Skills


If you have specific soft skills, you can add them to your resume education section.

Mention your participation in any activity that highlights these skills.

Following is the list of skills employers prefer on a high school resume:

  • Ability to Work on a Team
  • Leadership
  • Communication Skills (Written + Verbal)
  • Problem-solving Skills

Optimizing Resume Education for an ATS


Many companies have started using the Applicant Tracking Systems. This software helps an organization filter out undesirable applicants. This program goes through resumes and looks for keywords specific to the job profile.

If you want your resume to make it past an ATS, you need to keep in mind the following things:

  • Use a clean format
  • Ensure that this program can read your full resume
  • Minimize the use of tables, graphs, or pictures
  • Use keywords relevant to your job profile

Also Read: What are resume action words and power verbs?

Education Resume Template


A well-written education should follow this order:

Let's say that this is your educational background:

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Science
  • University: Harvard University
  • Location of University: Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Graduation year: 2022

In addition to this information, you can also put this add-on information to make your education section more meaningful:

  • Relevant Coursework: Business Communication, Systems, and Circuits Designing, English Language Studies, Analog, and Digital Designing, Embedded Systems
  • Extracurricular Activities: Captain of the Tennis Team

When you incorporate all that information in your resume, it looks something like this:

Dos and Don’ts while listing Education on Resume


You can practice and avoid the below-given points while listing education on resume for your next job search:

Resume Education FAQ


1. Should I put my GPA on my resume?

You should put the GPA in your resume if it is >3.5 or if the hiring organization asks for it.

2. How to list education on a resume?

The necessary educational details are:

  • Degree
  • Dates
  • Institution
  • Location
  • Contribution

3. How to list minors on a resume?

The education on a resume often includes minors if it's relevant to the target job. In that case, you may include it under a sub-header of "Coursework.”

4. When to include coursework on resume?

Include coursework as a part of education on a resume only when:

  • The candidate is a fresher
  • It is required in the target job description
  • It is relevant to the target job

5. Should you include high school on a resume?

Your resume education section can only include high school data when:

  • The candidate is a fresher
  • It is required in the target job description
  • High-school qualification is relevant
  • To state high-school extracurricular activities/achievements

6. How to list education in progress on the resume?

To list continuing education on a resume, you should:

  • List your education section at the top
  • Write your dates in "Date - Present" format

Key Takeaways


You can keep these points in mind while framing your resume to make it impressive and technically stronger than your competitors:

  • If you already have work experience, focus on it more than the resume education section
  • Put your highest degree first. Follow reverse-chronological order for other degrees.
  • As a college student or recent graduate, place your resume education section at the beginning of your resume.
  • If you are a working professional, your education on a resume is just evidence of your degrees.

Go to Hiration’s 360-Degree Career Platform, which has 24/7 chat support, and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

You can also write to us at support@hiration.com.