How to List Education on a Resume (With Examples)

Your education section is the foundation for everything else you share about your skills and experience. If it’s weak or unclear, employers may question the rest of your application, even if you’re highly qualified. 

But when it’s done right, it shows hiring managers that you’re prepared and serious about your career. 

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to put education on a resume and where, with examples for different career stages, so yours looks polished and helps you stand out.

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What to Include in Your Education Section 

Your education section shows employers that you have the knowledge and training needed for the job. Everything you include should support your skills and work experience.

Below are the required and optional academic items to include when writing your resume. 

Required Details

Every education section should include these basic details: 

Degree Title

Whether it's an advanced degree, an associate degree, or a high school diploma, it's essential to list your degree title. For example, "Bachelor of Science in Psychology." 

School or Institution’s Name & Location

Write the name of the institution and its location directly under your degree. Depending on your industry, your school can add prestige to your application if it has a renowned program. 

Simply write "University of California, Berkeley, CA." 

Here’s how a standard education section would look: 

Optional Details

You can add any of these extra details if you’re still a student, recently graduated, or have limited experience. These items will add value to your academic background: 

Graduation Date

If you graduated less than 10 years ago, write the year you graduated. If your degree is still in process, list your expected graduation date. For example, "Expected: July 2026." 

Experienced professionals or job seekers who graduated over a decade ago can omit their graduation date to avoid ageism. 

GPA

List your GPA only if it’s 3.5 or higher (out of a 4.0 scale).

Relevant Coursework

Relevant coursework adds body to your education section. It highlights exactly what you learned and how it aligns with your target job. This is especially useful in technical or specialized fields.

For example, if you're applying for an IT role, classes in computer science can boost your resume. Below your graduation or expected graduation date, list two or three class titles:  

"Relevant Coursework: Software Development/Programming, Database Management, and Emerging Technologies" 

Awards & Honors

If you graduated from an honors program, earned special distinctions, or made it to the Dean's List, you can include it in your education section. For example, "summa cum laude."

Extracurricular Activities

Being a member of a college club or organization can showcase relevant hard skills and your commitment to the field from an early stage. 

Other memberships, such as student council, also highlight leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. 

Don't hesitate to include extracurricular activities as long as they're relevant to your target job. Continuing with the IT example, you could write: "Robotics Club Member (2024–2025)."

Publications

Publications on a resume prove your expertise, especially in communication, education, or STEM fields. Including published work instantly adds credibility to your knowledge and showcases that you went above and beyond during your academic years. 

List them in APA or MLA format. For example: "Leadbetter, C., and G. Locklin. "5G as Disruptive Technology." Journal of Applied Technology, vol. 86, no. 5, 2015, pp. 118-25."

If you have more than two publications, it's recommended to create a dedicated publications section for clarity. 

Certifications

Certifications can strengthen your resume by showing verified skills and professional training. When including them in your education section, write the certification name, issuing organization, and year earned (if applicable). For example: "AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (2025)."

Include certifications in your education section if you're a student or recent graduate, or if you only have one or two certifications. If you're an experienced professional or have more than two certifications, create a dedicated certifications section. 

Here’s how an expanded education section might look: 

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Where to Put Your Resume Education Section

Where the education section of your resume lives matters. Consider your career stage and the relevance of your academic background before deciding. 

Follow these simple guidelines: 

• Recent graduates: Place your education section at the top of your resume to highlight how your knowledge aligns with the job.
• Entry-level professionals: Use a functional resume to put your skills first, but keep your education section prominent if it's highly relevant.
• Mid-level or experienced professionals: Opt for a combination or chronological resume that prioritizes your work experience over your education, since employers prefer to know what you've accomplished since you graduated. 

Pro tip: Zety’s resume templates take the guesswork out of deciding where to place your education section. Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll show you the best resume layouts to showcase your strengths. 

How to Format the Education Section of Your Resume

The key to formatting your education section is to keep your resume ATS-friendly, job-focused, and easy to read. 

Degree in Progress

Use this format if you’re still completing your program.

Recent College Graduate

This format works well when your education is your strongest qualification.

High School Diploma

Use this format if you haven’t attended college yet or don’t plan to.

What Not to Include in Your Education Section

Avoid adding unnecessary or distracting information that doesn't strengthen your application. 

Key Takeaways

Before you go to write your education section, remember these key points: 

• Include required details. Mention the degree title, school name and location, and graduation date (or expected date if in progress).
• Add optional details when relevant. Inculde a GPA above 3.5, relevant coursework, awards and honors, extracurricular activities, publications, and certifications.
• Place your education section based on career stage. List it at the top for recent graduates, prominent but secondary for entry-level professionals, and lower for mid-level or experienced professionals.
• List relevant degrees. Organize them in reverse-chronological order and format them consistently for readability and ATS compatibility.
• Only include information that strengthens your application. Skip unrelated courses, minor awards, high school info (if you have a college degree), or personal data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you list your education on your resume?

To list your education on your resume, write your degree title, school name and location, and graduation date (or expected date). 

Include optional details like GPA, relevant coursework, honors, extracurriculars, and certifications if they strengthen your application. Format entries consistently, use reverse-chronological order for multiple degrees, and tailor coursework or awards to align with the job. 

Keep the section clear and ATS-friendly to ensure hiring managers can quickly assess your qualifications.

Why would you include an education section in your resume?

Include an education section to show employers you have the knowledge, training, and academic background required for the job. 

It highlights relevant skills, degrees, honors, or certifications, especially for students, recent graduates, or career changers. A well-structured education section also adds credibility to your application and can help you stand out.

Is it okay to omit education on a resume?

You can omit education if it isn’t relevant, or you have extensive professional experience that outweighs your academic background. This is common for experienced professionals who want to highlight skills, accomplishments, and work history. 

If a degree or certification is important for the role, then include it to meet job requirements and maintain credibility.

What is the correct order to list degrees?

List your degrees in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent or highest-level degree. Include the degree title, school name, location, and graduation date. 

For degrees in progress, indicate the expected graduation date. Reverse-chronological order makes it easy for employers to see your most recent education and most relevant qualifications first, which is especially important if your recent degree closely aligns with the job.

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