How to List Education on Resumes (Templates & Examples)

Your education section is one of the most important parts of your resume. It serves as a foundation, showcasing your knowledge base and problem-solving abilities.

Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned executive, the way you present your academic history can significantly impact your resume performance in applicant tracking systems (ATS) and with human recruiters.

This guide covers how to list your education on a resume, what to include, where to place it, and how to format your academic history for maximum impact.

What to Include in the Education Section of a Resume

Recruiters, hiring managers, and interviewers look for several key pieces of information in your resume education section. Including these elements helps your resume pass both the seven-second recruiter scan and ATS screening.

Depending on your field and experience level, you may also include these optional items:

Honors & Awards

Academic honors highlight strong performance and can strengthen your resume at any stage of your career when relevant and presented clearly.

There are two types of academic recognition you may include in your education section, and each follows different formatting and placement rules.

Latin Honors (Academic Distinctions)

Latin honors are GPA-based distinctions (not awards) and are widely recognized by employers. Common examples include cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

You can list Latin honors in one of two accepted ways: after the degree title (to emphasize achievement alongside the credential) or in a separate line for honors (if you’re listing multiple honors or want cleaner degree titles).

Example listing honors after the degree title:

Example listing honors in a separate line:

Scholastic Honors & Awards

These are institution-specific recognitions, such as academic scholarships, departmental awards, honor societies, or Dean’s List or President’s List.

Include scholastic honors if you’re an entry-level or early-career candidate, and they add clear value. List them as separate line items in your education section, and place them immediately after your GPA (if included), or directly beneath your degree entry if no GPA is listed.

Example:

Treat Latin honors as standardized academic distinctions tied to your degree, and include scholastic awards selectively to reinforce performance, especially early in your career.

Certifications & Professional Development

You can include certifications in the education section only if they directly relate to the position. Otherwise, create a separate certification section, which should come after the education section and share the same formatting rules.

Professional development can be included in the education section for early-career candidates or placed in a separate section for experienced professionals.

When to List Coursework 

Listing relevant coursework can help compensate for limited work history and demonstrate applicable education for career changers or candidates with incomplete degrees. Avoid using this section to pad your resume.

If you decide to include coursework, only include three to five entries. Use the full title of the course and not the course number.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: 

What to Exclude From an Education Section 

Knowing what to include is only half the equation—equally important is knowing what to leave out to keep your education section concise and relevant. One of the most common resume mistakes in writing this section is stuffing it with irrelevant information.

Exclude all of the following from the education section of your resume:

Where to Put the Education Section on Your Resume

Resumes always present the most important information first, so ask yourself: “Is my degree or my work experience more impressive right now?”

If you’re a new industry professional, position the education section toward the top of the document, below your resume objective. As you gain more experience, the education section will shift toward the end of your resume, with work accomplishments taking the lead.

Quick Guide: Education Section Placement by Career Stage

As a rule of thumb, you can follow this guide for positioning your education section:

Career Stage	Placement	Strategy
Student or New Graduate (0–3 years)	If you’re new to the workforce, place education below the resume objective.	Your degree is your primary qualification.
Early Career (3–5 years)	If you have 3+ years of experience, move education below work experience.	Place above if your degree is from a prestigious school or is highly relevant; otherwise, move it below.
Experienced (5+ years)	If you have 5+ years of experience, move below work experience.	Place lower, as work experience is the primary driver of your resume.
Career Changer	If you’ve changed careers, place below the resume summary.	List certifications or retraining programs before degrees to emphasize current relevance in your new field.

How to Format Education Entries

When formatting your education section, follow these rules for each section:

3 Education Section Templates by Career Level

Use the following templates to build your own resume education section.

6 Resume Education Section Examples

Below are examples of resume education sections for different levels of experience. Use these examples to highlight your education effectively and follow the rules outlined earlier.

Special Situations

No two education tracks are the same, and sometimes an academic journey doesn’t fit the typical mold. Here’s how to handle a few special scenarios:

Incomplete Degrees & Degrees in Progress 

If you started a degree program but didn’t complete it, you can still include this experience on your resume. List the institution and years attended, along with your major or area of study. If relevant, mention completed coursework or projects.

If your degree is still in progress, you can list it along with your expected graduation date. 

GEDs & High School Diplomas

Include these only if they’re your highest level of completed education. Once you’ve earned a college degree, your high school credentials should be removed to save space.

Only include details that provide clear, job-relevant value. When adding these sections, follow these formatting rules:

Multiple Institutions 

If you have multiple degrees or attended more than one school, list them all in your education section and keep formatting consistent.

Online Degrees

Online degrees are just as valid as traditional, in-person degrees. What matters to employers is the credential and accreditation, not how you earned it.

Format online degrees the same way as traditional degrees to keep your education section clear and professional.

Studying Abroad 

Studying abroad is a valuable inclusion on a resume because it demonstrates valuable skills, such as initiative, independence, and adaptability. Include study abroad experience as a separate line item under the institution that hosted the program.

Translate Your Education Into Career Readiness

Your education section may be short, but it’s one of the most important parts of your resume. Listing your academic credentials correctly can be the difference between getting a callback and being passed over. Apply these rules to make your resume ATS-friendly and stand out to hiring managers.

Not sure where to start? Monster’s Resume Builder turns your education and experience into an ATS-friendly resume that helps you land more interviews.