How to Format a Resume Education Section Tips and Examples

How to Format a Resume Education Section Tips and ExamplesHow to Format a Resume Education Section Tips and ExamplesMany job seekers put their resume writing energy into creating the bulk of their resume the experience and skill sections. As a result, the education section becomes a bit of an afterthought. But with applicant tracking systems parsing resumes and analyzing for job description requirements, more attention (and better formatting) should be paid. Were here to set the record straight about how to format your resume education section.What to Include in the Education Section of a ResumeFirst things first. What should be included in your resume education section? Here are the basicsName of InstitutionDegreeSchool LocationYears AttendedFrom there, you can add academic honors, scholarships, and other achievements if applicable. You can also include coursework, but should only if its absolutely pertinent to the job for which youre applying. If you do include coursework, use the titles of each course as a description instead of the course numbers.If coursework doesnt feel like the right fit, consider including relevant projects or groups that you really excelled in. For example, a senior thesis, an initiative to change a school policy, or an impressive on-campus group you headed up. Anything that exemplifies your passions and relates to the job is worth considering.Adding in extra details like coursework and projects is best for job seekers who have recently graduated or have minimal work experience. Well talk more about how to format projects and coursework later.A cover letter is also a great place to expand upon your relevant coursework.As for naming your education section heading? Jobscan sampled a collection of resumes and found that 35% used unconventional titles for their education heading name. These can cause parsing errors in ATS, which lead to unnecessary disqualifications. A simple heading of Education is the best option. It doesnt take up a lot of space and ATS will know exactly how to parse it.Jobscan analyzes your resume against the job description to ensurethat your education section matches the requirements among other checks for job titles, hard skills, measurable results, and other ATS and recruiter best practices.Jobscan parses your resume like an ATS and tells you whether your education is recognizable.Where to Put GPA on a ResumeYou should put your GPA in your education section, next to your major. If youve earned honors at your university (summa cum laude or magna cum laude), those honors should be listed below your majorin italicswith your GPA beside them.Heres how it should lookDePaul University Chicago, IL December 2009-March 2013Bachelor of Arts in English Composition (GPA 3.75)Bear in mind, you should only list your GPA on your resume if it is over a 3.5 and if youre a recent graduate. If youre a recent graduate and your GPA is below 3.5, use the space to talk about an impressive senior thesis project (or something along those lines) instead.How to List a Minor on Your ResumeIf your minor relates directly to the job youre applying for, it may be worth including on your resume. Listing your minor can help highlight relevant skills that can set you ahead of the competition.You should list your minor on your resume just beside your major. For exampleDePaul University, Chicago, IL, December 2009-March 2013Bachelor of Arts, Major English Composition, Minor JournalismIf you are including your GPA, it can go at the very end, beside the minor, like thisDePaul University, Chicago, IL, December 2009-March 2013Bachelor of Arts, Major English Composition, Minor Journalism (GPA 3.75)Resume Education Section FormatMany ATS parse the information from an applicants resume into a digital applicant profile. If your education is formatted incorrectly theres a very good perspektive that information will be parsed incorrectly or left out altogether.Typically, the degree is listed before the school, but if you went to an impressive, Ivy League university, leading with the name of the school cant hurt.Remember, a solid education section will include the name of the school, the degree earned (or major/minor), location of the school and the date of graduation. For exampleBachelor of Arts Theater, Shakespearean, 2016Columbia College, Chicago, ILorMasters of Business Administration, 2014University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VAYou can add societies, activities or relevant coursework if it makes sense to the job for which youre applying. This information can be included at the bottom of your education section, like thisBachelors Degree, Elementary Education and Teaching, 2013Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, INSocieties Delta Delta Delta, Habitat for Humanity, Student Support GroupIf you are still completing your degree, you can list your expected graduation date, but be clear that you havent yet graduated. Like the above examples, you dont need to list the start date (thoug h you can if you prefer). For exampleBachelor of Science Civil EngineeringWashington University, St. Louis, MO.Expected Graduation Date 2019If you went to college but didnt graduate, its still acceptable to include your college education if its relevant for the job requirements just list the number of credits obtained. For exampleUniversity of Miami, Coral Gables, FLEnglish Composition, 65 Credit Hours ObtainedWhere Does the Education Section Go?Where among your resume sections you choose to put your education depends on where you are in your career. For instance, if youre a recent graduate with little to no experience, your education section is your best asset and should be put at the top of your resume (above Work Experience).On the other hand, if you have some professional experience, you should let that be the focus, opting to place your education section below Work Experience.If youve recently gone back to school, you may want to put your education section at the very top. For example, veterans who went to school after transitioning out of the military are advised to put their education above their experience on a military-to-civilian resume.However, if youve returned to school in preparation for a career change but are still looking to work in your current field, keep highlighting your past experience.Organizing Multiple Degrees on a ResumeWhen organizing the different schools you attended, list them in reverse chronological order. In other words, the highest degree earned should be at the top. For example, your masters degree should be listed above your bachelors degree.Have you attended college? If so, you dont need to list your high school degree. Your high school information should only be included if you are still attending high school or college. If youve graduated from college, the higher degree can take the place of your high school degree on your resume.How to Put Study Abroad on Your ResumeAdding a study abroad semester or year to your resume c an show employers that youre a go-getter. This information doesnt need to take up much space, and should be included in the education section as well.The correct place to put study abroad on your resume is just below the university you graduated from. You can format it the same way as you format the other institutions attended. For exampleDePaul University, Chicago, IL, December 2009-March 2013Bachelor of Arts, Major English Composition, Minor JournalismUniversit degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy (Study Abroad) September 2010-December 2010Completed coursework in journalism and international affairs.Became fluent in the Italian languageEverything you include in your resume should relate back to the job youre applying for. Its good to mention coursework and other activities that apply to that job when including your study abroad experience.Resume Education Section ExamplesBachelor of Applied Sciences (B.A.Sc.), International Business, 2013Illinois State University, Bloomington, ILGeorgetown University, McDonough School of Business, 2010-2014Bachelor of Arts, Accounting/FinanceMiami University, Coral Gables, FLBachelor of Arts (B.A.) Social Psychology, 2013Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Magna Cum Laude, 2015Butler University, Indianapolis, INBachelor of Engineering, Civil Environmental Engineering, 2009Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TNUniversity of Cattolica, Milan, ItalyBachelors Degree, Marketing and Finance, 2011Purdue University, West Lafayette, INBachelors Degree, Hospitality Tourism Management, 2012Activities Intercollegiate Quidditch AssociationFordham University, Bronx, NYBS, Business Administration, Finance, 2007-2011A version of this article was originally published on Nov. 24, 2014 by Trista Winnie. It was rewritten on July 26, 2018.