Listing your education on a resume SHOULD be easy, right? But when you’re still studying, changed majors, or took an unconventional route, it suddenly starts to feel a little tricky.

Do you add your graduation year if you haven’t finished? What if you didn’t finish at all? Should you mention high school?

In this guide, we will answer all those questions - and more.

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What to Include in the Education Section

When you're earlier in your career or making a pivot, your education section helps tell your story. It gives you a chance to show the foundation you’ve built, and in some cases, why you're a strong candidate even if your work history doesn’t exactly frame you as the perfect match.

Here’s what we usually recommend including:

• The name and location of your school or institution: Keep this simple and consistent. You don’t need the full address, just city and state (or country, if it’s international).
• The degree or certification you received (or are pursuing): Use standard abbreviations like BA, BS, MA, Diploma, or Certificate in [Your Field]. If you’re still working toward the credential, we’ll talk later about how to phrase that clearly.
• Your field of study (major and minor): This helps connect the dots between your education and the roles you're applying for. If your degree is in progress or was in a different field, we’ll cover how to still make it relevant.
• Graduation date or expected graduation date: Recruiters look for this to understand your timeline. You can keep it simple: May 2025 or Expected: December 2024.
• Academic honors: Include things like cum laude, Dean’s List, or scholarships if they help position you competitively, especially if you're early in your career and don’t have a ton of work experience yet.
• GPA (but only if it works in your favor): A GPA of 3.5 or higher can be worth including, especially if you're a student or recent grad. Otherwise, it’s okay to leave it out.
• Relevant coursework, research, or thesis: This is especially helpful if you're applying for academic, research-heavy, or entry-level roles. Just pick 2 - 4 courses or topics that relate to the job you’re targeting.
• Study abroad programs: These are great to include if they add real value,  like cultural awareness, language skills, or exposure to international perspectives relevant to your field.

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Where to Place Education on Your Resume

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for where your education should go; it really depends on where you are in your career and what’s most relevant to the role you’re applying for. So think of your resume like a story and lead with the parts that make the strongest case for you right now.

Here’s how we typically recommend placing your education section:

• If you’re a student or recent graduate: Your education is probably your biggest asset at this point, so give it prime real estate, right after your resume summary. This way, it’s one of the first things a hiring manager sees before they scroll down to internships, part-time jobs, or projects.
• If you’re an experienced professional: By now, your work experience carries more weight, that’s what recruiters are most interested in. In this case, move your education section down below your professional experience. It’s still important, but it doesn’t need to be front and center.
• If you’re changing careers or returning after a break: If you’ve recently completed a course, certification, or degree that’s more relevant than your past roles, bump your education up higher, even above work experience. It helps shift the focus and shows hiring managers what you’re equipped for now.

Regardless of where it goes, keep the formatting clean and consistent. Use the same layout for each entry (e.g., degree > school > date), so it’s easy to scan and looks intentional.

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How to Format Education Entries

Formatting your education section might feel like a small detail, but it plays a big role in how easily a hiring manager can absorb the info, especially when they’re skimming dozens of resumes. 

So start by listing your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent (or ongoing) degree or program first. That’s what recruiters expect and it helps them quickly spot your most relevant qualifications.

Then, use a consistent layout that formats information in this order:

• Institution name and location
• Degree type (e.g., BA, BSc, MBA)
• Field of study (your major and/or minor)
• Graduation date or “Expected [Month Year]” if you’re still studying
• Any honors, GPA (if 3.5+), relevant coursework, thesis, or achievements

To organize the supporting details using bullet points, vertical separators (|), or stacked lines, just keep the formatting consistent throughout.

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Examples by Career Stage

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For Students (still pursuing degree)

Lakeside University, Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Expected June 2026
GPA: 3.8 | Dean’s List | Relevant coursework: Data Structures, Web Development, Algorithms
Currently completing a full-time CS program with a focus on software development and user-centric design. Contributed to group projects, including a web-based inventory tool for small businesses.

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For Recent Graduates

State College, Austin, TX
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, May 2024
GPA: 3.7 | Graduated cum laude | Capstone: Brand Strategy for Local Startups
Completed a 4-year program with an emphasis on digital marketing and brand communication. Led a semester-long campaign project for a local coffee chain, improving social engagement by 30%.

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For Career Changers

Northside Institute (Remote)
Certificate in UX Design, Completed March 2025
Projects: Mobile app redesign for nonprofit | Tools: Figma, Adobe XD
Completed an intensive online certification through Coursera and Google UX Design. Applied design thinking to real-world projects and collaborated with a remote team to overhaul an NGO’s donation flow.

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A plug-and-play template for you

[Institution Name], [City, State or “Remote”]  

[Degree or Certificate Type] in [Field of Study], [Graduation or Expected Date]  

[Optional: GPA if 3.5+, honors, relevant coursework, projects, thesis, tools used]  

[Optional: One-line summary of what you focused on or achieved in the program]

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Special Cases and How to Handle Them

Not all education paths are linear, and that’s perfectly okay. 

So if you, too, are juggling online certifications, returning to school later in life, or working toward a degree you haven’t finished, there’s a clean and confident way to represent it on your resume.

Here’s how:

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Unfinished Degrees

You don’t have to hide an incomplete degree,  just be upfront and focus on what you did complete.

Include the school name, the program, and the dates you attended. If relevant, you can also indicate how far along you were, like:

“Completed 75 credits toward BA in English Literature.”

This works especially well when your coursework or academic focus aligns with the jobs you’re applying to, even if the degree wasn’t finalized.

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Current or Ongoing Education

If you’re currently enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certification program, list it just like a regular degree, just note the expected completion date.

For example:

“Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Expected December 2025.”

You can also highlight relevant projects or courses you've completed so far to show momentum - really useful if you're applying before graduation.

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High School Education

If you don’t have a college degree yet, it’s totally fine to include your high school.

Just keep it simple: school name, graduation year, and any academic distinctions (like honors or a strong GPA).

Once you’ve started any post-secondary program (even if it’s not finished), you can usually remove high school from your resume.

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Multiple Degrees

If you hold more than one degree, say, a bachelor’s and a master’s, or two different undergraduate degrees,  list each one as a separate entry.

Always start with the most recent or the most relevant to the job you’re targeting, and don’t bunch them together. That way, each degree stands out clearly and gets the attention it deserves.

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Certifications and Online Courses

Shorter programs, bootcamps, or courses from platforms like Coursera, Google, or Udemy can absolutely count - especially if they’re relevant to your current career goals.

But instead of cramming them into your main Education section, create a separate one titled something like:

• Certifications
• Professional Development
• Courses & Credentials

Then list the course name, issuing organization, and completion date. For example:

“UX Design Certificate - Google via Coursera (Completed March 2025)”

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Education Gaps

If you’ve taken time away from formal education, you don’t need to explain every gap. BUT if you spent that time learning, do mention that.

This could include:

• Online courses
• Industry certifications
• Self-study
• Workshops or conferences

You can mention these either under Certifications or in your Summary or Experience section (if they led to project work). It shows you’re self-motivated and always growing, even when life doesn’t follow a straight line.

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How to List Current or Ongoing Education on a Resume

When you’re still working toward a degree or certificate, you need to make it clear on your resume WHERE you are in the process. 

And don’t worry about it affecting your chances of being considered because employers aren’t expecting everything to be wrapped up neatly, especially if you’re early in your career.

BUT, what they DO care about is whether you’re learning and making progress.

So start by listing the name of the school or program, the degree or certification you’re working toward, and when you expect to finish. You can also include a few relevant courses to give some quick insight into what you’re actually studying.

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Example:

State University of Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Expected June 2026
Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Business Ethics

If it’s a part-time or online program, the same idea applies — just name the course, the platform, and your expected completion date.

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Example:

Currently enrolled in Google IT Support Certificate, Coursera (Expected September 2025)

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Tailoring the Section for the Job

Start by asking yourself: What from my education actually helps me stand out for this role? It could be a specific course you took, a research paper you wrote, or a team project that shows the kind of work you’d be doing on the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a data analyst role, and you took a statistics-heavy course in your psychology degree, you should mention it. 

Or if you’re switching to UX design and completed a capstone project that involved user research, that’s worth highlighting too.

Also, certifications, online courses, or even a minor in a related field can help bridge the gap between your background and the role, so don’t hold back from listing those if they add value.

And when it comes to formatting, feel free to tweak the order or emphasis depending on what fits the job best. Careerflow’s Resume Builder makes this really easy - you can reorder entries within its editor, very seamlessly,  and create slightly different versions of your resume (each with a tailored interests section) without having to deal with messy doc files.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Listing irrelevant or outdated coursework: You might want to share the full picture of what you studied, but listing every class just dilutes the value. Because recruiters won’t sift through 10 bullet points to find the one that matters. So you need to focus ONLY on classes that connect with the job.
  
  
• Putting degrees in the wrong order: Many folks accidentally put their first degree or diploma at the top, thinking it's “where it all started.” But resumes are meant to show progression and for that reverse chronological order is best as it lets  recruiters quickly see your latest, most relevant education.
  
  
• Leaving out your expected graduation date: This one’s surprisingly common, mostly among students or career changers. If you’re enrolled but don’t mention an expected completion date, it can look like you dropped out or are unsure of your path. So don’t forget to simply include a “Expected [Month Year]” - that clears it up.

• Including a low GPA: Unless the employer specifically asks for GPA, including a lower one can do more harm than good. If it's below 3.5, you're better off highlighting strong projects, coursework, or internships that showcase your skills in action.
  
  
• Forgetting to update your resume after graduating: This is another easy one to miss - especially if your resume's been sitting in a folder since college. But outdated info like “Expected June 2023” when it’s now 2025 can make it seem like you’re not on top of your materials.
  
  
• Using different formats for each entry: Mismatched fonts, date formats, or layouts across education entries can make your resume look sloppy. Recruiters pick up on these details fast, and messy formatting can subconsciously signal a lack of care.

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Use AI to Format Education Clearly and Effectively

Between figuring out where to put it, what to include, and how much detail is too much, you might feel stuck while formatting the education section.

Careerflow's Resume Builder makes that a whole lot easier. 

You start by choosing from clean, professional templates; no need to build anything from scratch. Just plug in your details, preview the changes in real time, and see exactly how your resume takes shape as you go.

There’s built-in AI to help you write bullet points that match what the job description is actually asking for. And since different roles might relate to different parts of your education, like a specific course, a recent certification, or just the fact that you're still actively learning, you can easily tweak and save multiple versions of your resume without starting over each time.

All your drafts stay organized inside Careerflow’s job tracker. So if you’re applying to several roles across industries, you don’t have to dig through old files or rewrite anything from scratch. You just pull the version that fits, update what you need, and keep moving forward.

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