Education on Resume: How to List Degrees, Certifications and Training

Your education section validates your qualifications and can be a deciding factor for many positions. Whether you are a recent graduate highlighting academic achievements or an experienced professional listing relevant credentials, this guide shows you how to present your education effectively.

expert resume guides

Standard Education Section Format

Degree Name (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Computer Science)
University Name | City, State
Graduation Date (Month Year)
• Relevant honors, GPA, or achievements (optional)

What to Include in Education

Essential Information

• Degree type: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, etc.
• Major/Field of study: Computer Science, Business Administration
• Institution name: Full official name of university/college
• Location: City and state
• Graduation date: Month and year (or expected date)

Optional Information

• GPA: Include if 3.5 or higher (especially for recent graduates)
• Honors: Cum Laude, Dean List, scholarships
• Minor: If relevant to the position
• Relevant coursework: For entry-level or career changers
• Thesis/Capstone: If relevant and impressive
• Study abroad: Shows adaptability and global perspective

Education Placement on Resume

For Recent Graduates (0-2 years experience)

Place education before work experience. Your degree is your main qualification.

For Experienced Professionals (3+ years)

Place education after work experience. Your professional accomplishments now take priority.

Exception: Advanced Degrees

For roles requiring specific advanced degrees (MD, JD, PhD), education may be placed prominently regardless of experience level.

Examples by Education Level

Bachelor Degree

Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX
May 2026
• GPA: 3.7/4.0, Magna Cum Laude
• Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Analytics

Master Degree

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Harvard Business School | Boston, MA
May 2022
• Concentration: Finance and Strategy
• Dean List, Case Competition Winner

Currently Enrolled

Master of Science in Data Science (In Progress)
Stanford University | Stanford, CA
Expected Graduation: December 2026
• Completed coursework: Machine Learning, Statistical Analysis

Multiple Degrees

List in reverse chronological order (most recent first):

Education

Master of Science in Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | May 2021

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | May 2019

Certifications and Professional Training

List certifications separately or within education section:

Certifications
• Project Management Professional (PMP) | Project Management Institute | 2026
• AWS Solutions Architect Associate | Amazon Web Services | 2022
• Six Sigma Green Belt | ASQ | 2021

What Certifications to Include

• Industry-recognized credentials (CPA, PMP, PHR)
• Technical certifications (AWS, Google, Microsoft)
• Role-specific licenses (RN, PE, CFA)
• Relevant online course certificates (if substantial)

Special Situations

No College Degree

• List any completed college coursework
• Include professional certifications prominently
• Add relevant training programs and bootcamps
• Emphasize work experience and skills sections

Incomplete Degree

Coursework in Business Administration
University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 2018-2020
• Completed 90 credit hours toward bachelor degree

Older Education

For experienced professionals, you can omit graduation dates to avoid age discrimination:

Bachelor of Arts in English
Columbia University | New York, NY

Education Section Mistakes to Avoid

• Including high school when you have a college degree
• Listing GPA below 3.5 (or at all for experienced professionals)
• Including irrelevant coursework
• Overemphasizing education when you have strong experience
• Omitting currently pursued degrees
• Listing expired or outdated certifications

Build Your Education Section

Our AI Resume Builder helps you format your education section professionally and determines optimal placement based on your experience level.

For career stage-specific advice, see our Career Stages Guide.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “HowTo”, “name”: “Education on Resume: How to List Degrees, Certifications”, “description”: “Learn education on resume: how to list degrees, certifications with this step-by-step guide from StylingCV.”, “step”: [ { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 1, “name”: “Industry-recognized credentials (CPA, PMP, PHR)”, “text”: “Industry-recognized credentials (CPA, PMP, PHR)” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 2, “name”: “Technical certifications (AWS, Google, Microsoft)”, “text”: “Technical certifications (AWS, Google, Microsoft)” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 3, “name”: “Role-specific licenses (RN, PE, CFA)”, “text”: “Role-specific licenses (RN, PE, CFA)” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 4, “name”: “Relevant online course certificates (if substantial)”, “text”: “Relevant online course certificates (if substantial)” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 5, “name”: “List any completed college coursework”, “text”: “List any completed college coursework” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 6, “name”: “Include professional certifications prominently”, “text”: “Include professional certifications prominently” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 7, “name”: “Add relevant training programs and bootcamps”, “text”: “Add relevant training programs and bootcamps” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 8, “name”: “Emphasize work experience and skills sections”, “text”: “Emphasize work experience and skills sections” } ] }