At Resumeble we've seen everything - from polished and well-structured education sections to entries so vague they raise more questions than provide answers. Some candidates list only the school name and forget the degree. Others overexplain, trying to squeeze in every course they’ve taken since high school. The result is usually either confusion or a cluttered document that distracts from what really matters.
This article will walk you through how to list education on a resume clearly and confidently, whether you’ve got a traditional degree, are self-taught, or fall somewhere in between.
If you're unsure whether your education is “good enough” to include, the short answer is yes - there’s usually a way to make it work. But it needs to be honest, relevant, and placed in the right context.
We’ll also discuss how to handle unfinished degrees, where to put the education section depending on your career stage, and when it makes sense to include additional training or certifications. Ultimately, your resume isn’t just about what you’ve studied but how your learning, in all its forms, supports your ability to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
Done right, the education section helps build trust. And that’s exactly what a good resume should do.
Why the Education Section Still Matters
For most mid-career professionals, your education isn’t the first thing recruiters look at, especially in today's world of brilliant degree-less founders, but it’s still on the checklist. Hiring managers often skim this section to verify you meet baseline requirements or to get a quick sense of your academic background.
That doesn’t mean you need to over-explain. The best approach is to present your education cleanly, accurately, and in a way that reinforces your qualifications for the role at hand.
If your career is well established, your experience will take the lead. But if you're just starting out, changing careers, or applying to roles with educational requirements, your education section deserves a little extra attention.
What to Include in the Education Section
The education block on a resume would normally contain the following information:
- Name of your degree (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Psychology)
- Name of the institution
- Location (city and state or city and country)
- Graduation year (optional for most, especially if you are looking for a job in your late 40s, 50s, etc.)
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Graduated: 2018
If space is tight, it’s perfectly acceptable to condense this into a single line:
B.S. Marketing, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign — 2018
If you're a recent graduate, you might consider adding:
- Your GPA (only if it’s 3.5 or higher)
- Relevant coursework
- Academic honors and/or scholarships
If you're mid-career or further along, skip the GPA and coursework. Focus on keeping it lean and relevant.
It’s also helpful to know how applicant tracking systems (ATS) handle education. Many companies, especially larger ones, use ATS software to sort through resumes before a recruiter ever reads them. These systems often scan for specific keywords, including degree types. So, if a recruiter filters for resumes that mention “Bachelor’s degree” or “Master’s degree,” your resume needs to contain those exact words to make it through.
That’s why we usually recommend spelling out your degree instead of using abbreviations. For example, instead of writing “B.A. in English,” write “Bachelor of Arts in English.” This small change can make a big difference in helping your resume show up higher in search results.
Even though ATS technology is improving, many systems still depend on keyword matching. Using clear, recognizable terms gives your resume a better chance of making it to the next round.
Where to Place Your Education Section
One of the most common questions we get is: Where should I put the education section on my resume? The answer depends on your career stage.
- Fresh graduates or current students: Education should be at the top, right after your summary section. It’s likely your most substantial qualification.
- Mid-career professionals: Place education after your work experience section.
- Executives: Education often goes near the bottom of the resume unless your degree is particularly prestigious or highly relevant to the role.
How to Format the Education Section
Consistency is key. Use the same format for each bullet point and list your education in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Chronological order is generally the best approach because it shows a clear progression in your education. Recruiters can quickly see the timeline, which is especially helpful for early-career candidates or anyone who’s recently completed a degree.
That said, there are situations where it makes more sense to list your highest degree first, even if it’s not the most recent. For example, if you earned a Master’s degree a few years ago and then completed a short course or second bachelor’s later on, you’ll usually want to lead with the Master’s. It represents your highest level of education and is likely more relevant to most roles.
The main goal is to make your qualifications easy to understand at a glance. As long as the order feels logical and you use a consistent format for each entry, most recruiters won’t mind small adjustments as long as your resume stays clear and professional.
Common format:
[Degree Name]
[University Name], [City, State or Country]
[Year of Graduation or Expected Graduation]
Formatting tips:
- Avoid bolding everything - highlight only what you want to stand out (like your degree).
- Keep formatting consistent across all degrees.
- If you’ve completed multiple degrees, list the highest one first.
- Don’t abbreviate university names unless it’s a well-known acronym:
- Some acronyms are instantly familiar to most recruiters, while others might confuse or distract. When in doubt, write the full name.
Acceptable and well-known acronyms:
MIT → Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NYU → New York University
UCLA → University of California, Los Angeles
USC → University of Southern California
UPenn → University of Pennsylvania (though many still spell it out)
These acronyms are common in job applications and are widely recognized across industries.
Less clear abbreviations to avoid:
UMN → Better to write: University of Minnesota
UNT → Better to write: University of North Texas
UoA → Better to write: University of Arizona (or whichever school this stands for—there are several)
SUNY SB → Better to write: State University of New York at Stony Brook
How to Put Education on Resume If You Didn't Obtain a Degree
Not everyone goes to college or gets a degree. That does not make you less of a professional. What matters is how you present your educational background honestly and clearly. Here are a few ways to show your academic history when a degree wasn’t completed:
If you completed most of the coursework:
B.A. in English (in progress)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Completed 100 credits toward degree, 2022
If you attended briefly or chose not to finish:
Undergraduate coursework in Business Administration
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2015–2016
If you don’t want to draw too much attention to it:
Attended University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Studied Business Administration, 2015-2016
This approach gives credit to your effort without misleading the reader. If your education is supplemented by training, certifications, or work experience, you can still present yourself as a qualified and capable candidate.
It’s also important to acknowledge that some jobs do have non-negotiable degree requirements - and that’s not something you can finesse with formatting or clever phrasing. Certain government roles (like U.S. federal jobs), executive-level positions, and many opportunities within the United Nations and other international organizations often have strict educational thresholds. If the job posting clearly states that a completed degree is required, and you don’t have one, it’s best to take that requirement at face value.
This isn’t the advice most job seekers want to hear, but it’s the reality, especially in today’s market, where there’s no shortage of highly skilled candidates who meet nearly every listed requirement. If your background doesn’t align 90–98% with the role, your time is usually better spent focusing on positions where you’re a better-positioned candidate.
That being said, if not having a certain degree is a real obstacle that stands between you and your dream job, consider taking a longer road and obtaining the degree instead of obsessing about how to present a lack of it on your resume. Many universities offer flexible, part-time, or online options that can work around your schedule. Don’t waste months applying to jobs you’re not currently qualified for - your time and energy deserve better.
Certifications, Online Learning, and Professional Development
If you’ve received certifications, have taken online courses, or have vocational training relevant to your field or niche, those deserve a spot on your resume. Create a new section labeled Certifications, Professional Development, or Additional Training and list relevant credentials. Alternatively, you can create a common section called Education & Certifications and list your traditional degree first and certifications later. Example:
- Google Data Analytics Certificate, Coursera, 2023
- Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI, 2022
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional, 2021
Certifications, in addition to somewhat masking the lack of a traditional degree (if that is the case for you), also serve to show your commitment to growth and learning in your chosen niche, which can be especially valuable if you're switching careers or updating technical skills.
Just remember: stick to certifications that are relevant, current, and recognizable by employers in your industry.
Education Section on Resume vs. CV
If you’re applying internationally or to an academic or medical role, you might be asked to submit a CV (curriculum vitae) instead of a resume. While the two documents are somewhat similar, the education section is presented entirely differently in each.
On a resume, list only what’s relevant: degree, school, and location (optionally, date). Optional extras (GPA, honors, coursework) are fine if they support your goals.
On a CV, much more detail is expected, especially in academic or scientific roles. Include thesis/dissertation titles, advisor names, research topics, relevant coursework, academic awards, and sometimes even grades. The section often comes at the top, right after your name and contact info.
Not sure which one to use? In most industries in the U.S., you’ll want a resume. But if you’re applying for a PhD program, postdoc, teaching job, or role abroad, a CV may be required.
Common Education Section Pitfalls
Avoid these mistakes to ensure your education section looks professional:
❌ Listing high school when you have a college degree or higher, or if you have 10+ years of experience under your belt.
❌ Adding irrelevant or outdated coursework, especially if it doesn't connect to your current field.
❌ Inconsistent formatting, such as switching styles between entries (one of the most common mistakes is using an entirely different font for headers vs. the rest of the content).
❌ Exaggerating or fabricating your education - trust us, it’s not worth the risk.
❌ Listing too many (or all of your) certifications or online courses that don’t align with your job target.
Clean formatting and transparency are keys to establishing credibility.
Conclusion
Whatever your resume goal is, your education section should support your overall story and not create more questions.
- If you have a degree, make sure it’s listed clearly and formatted consistently.
- If you didn’t finish school, highlight what you completed and pair it with relevant experience or skills.
- If you’ve learned through alternative paths like online courses or certifications, showcase them in a dedicated section.
There’s no one perfect way to show your education. The key is to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for and present your background in the most honest, confident light possible.
Still not sure how to put education on resume when your path wasn’t traditional? Or just want to be sure it looks polished and professional? Resumeble’s professional resume and CV writers can help you position your education, no matter your background, in a way that’s clear, compelling, and aligned with your goals.