How to write and structure your resume education section with examples and tips!

When a recruiter is sorting through resumes, one of the first things they look at is the candidate’s education. To facilitate this, most job applicants include a separate section on their resumes that showcase their degrees. If you’re preparing your next resume, you might be wondering how to make the education section shine.

Although advanced degrees and fancy titles aren’t necessary for every job, it’s important to show recruiters what you’ve got. In this article, we’ll explain how you can craft a high-quality education section for your resume in a few easy steps. We’ll cover the following topics.

• What is a resume education section?

• What are employers looking for?

• Where should you list your education on a resume?

• How to list your education on a resume

• Resume education section examples

What is the education section of a resume?

The education section of your resume is exactly what it sounds like! It’s a distinct section of the document in which you can list your educational credentials, whether that means a high school degree or a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology. No matter what job you’re applying for, including an education section is a good idea. Even if the employer hasn’t posted educational requirements, listing your degrees and certificates may make you more competitive.

What are employers looking for in an education section?

The answer to this question can vary widely based on the type of job you’re looking for. Many positions require no more than a high school degree or GED, while others may have strict educational requirements. Before you finish your resume, be sure to review the job listing and see what the company wants. Do this every time you apply for a new job so that each resume is tailored to the employer in question.

No matter what type of degree the employer requires, they’re likely to want a little extra detail, and it’s vital to provide it. Include the name of the school or university that granted the degree, along with the year you earned it and the institution’s location. You can also write down any special recognition or awards you received. 

Although it might be tempting to exaggerate your educational prowess, it’s always important to be honest with recruiters. They could end up verifying your statements with your former school, and the last thing you want is to be caught out. No matter what your grades are, you’re better off telling the truth! 

How do you list your education on a resume?

The way you list your education will depend on the degrees you have and the job you’re applying for. Here are three different ways to include your education on a resume:

1. Listing your high school education on a resume

Even if you’ve only completed high school, it’s still a good idea to list your education. Although many companies don’t list a high school diploma as an explicit requirement, it’s usually assumed that candidates have one.

You can begin by creating a separate subheading labeled “Education.” Since you’re just listing your high school education, it’s best to place this at the end of your resume under your professional experience. Next, you can write “High School Diploma:” followed by the name of your school, its location, and the year that you graduated.

That covers the essentials, and if you want, you can leave the section as is. However, you can also include extra details if you want to make the section stand out. Consider listing your GPA, especially if you had a 3.5 or higher. You can also mention any honors programs or extracurricular activities that you participated in or any special recognition you received.

2. Listing your higher education on a resume

If you’re listing a college degree, the process will be slightly different. Create an education heading and then list the name of the college you attended, followed by either the years you attended or the year you graduated. On the next line, list the name of your degree. If you had a double major or earned a second degree, you can list that on a third line. Finally, if you graduated with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude) you can include that as well. 

Many professionals earn a master’s degree or Ph.D. in addition to their bachelor’s degrees. If you have multiple degrees, make sure to list them separately, starting with your most advanced degree or the most recent one. You can use the same format outlined above for master’s or doctoral degrees. 

When listing your university education, it’s not always best to place it at the bottom of the resume. If you’re applying for a job with strict educational requirements  (in medicine, law, higher education, etc.), it might be best to place your education section near the top of the document. This may also be useful if you’re a recent graduate with little work experience. Conversely, if you’ve been in the workforce for a while, it’s fine to place your education below your professional experience section.

3. Listing in-progress or incomplete education on a resume

Even if you haven’t completed your education, it might still be a good idea to include it. In most cases, you can use the same format you would use for other educational credentials. Create an education section at the bottom of your resume and list the name of the school you’re attending and the year you enrolled. If available, list your concentration and note when you’re planning to graduate.

Resume education section examples

Here are several examples of resume education sections that you can use as a guide to writing your own:

High school education examples

Here are three different examples of how to list a high school education or a GED on a resume:

University education examples

Here are five examples of well-formatted education sections listing college degrees:

• Yale University, New Haven, CT Bachelor of Arts in English Graduated 2025

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Magna cum Laude University of Colorado, Boulder, CO Graduated 2022

• Bachelor of Social Work, 2013 Southeastern University, Savannah, GA Relevant Coursework: Human Physiology, General Biology, Social Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Spanish, Intro to Environmental Science

• Bachelor of Classics, Magna cum Laude, Salutatorian Stanford University, Stanford, CA Graduated 2011 with a 3.7 GPA Academic Achievements: Dean’s List 2011, Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar of the Year Award, 2010, National Association of Latin Scholars member Extracurricular Activities: President of the Virgil Club, Varsity Tennis

• Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 2015 Relevant Coursework: Capital Management, Investment and Portfolio Management, Financial Markets, Macroeconomics, Accounting Extracurricular Activities: Varsity Lacrosse 2013-2015, Swim Team 2011, Chess Club

Advanced education examples

Here are some examples of how you can include advanced degrees along with your bachelor’s degree:

• Master of Social Work, 2015 Southeastern University, Savannah, GA Relevant Coursework: Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Nonprofit Administration, Human Behavior, Social Science Research 600 hours of clinical and practical experience Bachelor of Social Work, 2013 Southeastern University, Savannah, GA Relevant Coursework: Human Physiology, General Biology, Social Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Spanish, Intro to Environmental Science

• Doctor of History University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2023 Dissertation: All Roads Lead to Rome: The Influence of Classical Latin Literature on Pilgrim Narratives of the 14th and 15th Centuries Master of Classics University of Chicago, Chicago, IL Graduated 2013 Thesis: Virgil in the Kingdom of England: A Study in Three Extant Aeneid Manuscripts from Medieval England Bachelor of Classics, Magna cum Laude, Salutatorian Stanford University, Stanford, CA Graduated 2011 with a 3.7 GPA Academic Achievements: Dean’s List 2011, Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar of the Year Award, 2010, National Association of Latin Scholars member Extracurricular Activities: President of the Virgil Club, Varsity Tennis

• Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY Master of Business Administration, 2018 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 2015 Relevant Coursework: Capital Management, Investment and Portfolio Management, Financial Markets, Macroeconomics, Accounting Extracurricular Activities: Varsity Lacrosse 2013-2015, Swim Team 2011, Chess Club

Incomplete education examples

If you haven’t completed your education yet, you can use these examples to help you:

• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Expected Graduation 2025 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD

• University of Portland, Portland, OR Bachelor of Fine Arts, In Progress Expected Graduation 2024

Key takeaways

1. The education section of your resume is a small area that includes details on your high school, undergraduate, and undergraduate education.

2. In most cases, it’s best to include this section at the bottom of a resume, although it may be appropriate to include it first when applying for jobs in medicine, law, or higher education.

3. When listing your education, try to keep the section short, including only information like the name of the school, the name of your degree, the location of the school, and the year of your graduation.

4. If you’re very academically accomplished, you may include your GPA, a list of extracurricular activities, information on your coursework, or a list of awards.

5. Start with your most recent or highest degree before going on to your undergraduate degrees or high school diplomas.