How to Write a Resume Education Summary (With Examples and Tips)

By Indeed Editorial Team

February 25, 2021

A well-written education summary can show recruiters your relevant academic qualifications and set you apart from other candidates. Hiring managers look at your education summary to see if you have the right academic background for the job. Understanding how to write a compelling education summary can prove to employers you have the credentials to contribute meaningfully to their company. In this article, we discuss what education summaries are and how to write one, with tips, template and examples.

What is an education summary?

An education summary is the section of your resume where you highlight your academic qualifications and achievements. If you don't have work experience yet, this part of your resume has an important role in convincing employers you can succeed on the job. The education summary section usually comes after your work experience if you have an employment history.

An education summary should include only relevant academic qualifications and accomplishments. This makes it important to know the information to add to your education summary to prove you are the perfect fit for the position.

How to write an education summary

Here are some steps you can take to write an education summary:

1. Write the name of the school and its location

The first thing you can add is the name of the school you attended or are currently attending. Next to the school, list the city and state where it's located. If you're applying for an international job, you can also list the country. It's acceptable to list the name of the school before the degree you received.

2. Add the degree you received

If you earned a specific degree, list it below the name of the school. You should also add your major and minor if applicable.

3. Include the dates you attended

If you graduated, add your graduation date. You can also add the dates you attended the school. It's common to add the month and year or just the year. If you're still attending school, you can write "Present" or "Current" instead of listing the end date, or you could add your expected graduation date.

4. List notable achievements

You can add a high GPA, being on the dean's list or graduating with honors to your education section. List your GPA only if it's 3.5 or higher. If you took any relevant coursework or were a member of a club, consider adding that as well.

5. Consider what education to add

You likely don't need to add all of your education to your resume. For example, if you have a bachelor's degree or higher, you can leave your high school education out of your resume. Make sure this section is concise and only offers the information the hiring manager needs.

Education summary writing tips

Here are some tips for writing education summaries for different levels:

High school education
Incomplete high school education
High school equivalent
High school student
Recent college graduate
College student
Incomplete college education
Experienced professional

High school education

When adding your high school education, list the school name, location and date you graduated. If you are fewer than three years out of high school, you can include honors, awards and other school activities that show you can perform in a workplace environment.

Here is an example of how to list your education summary on a resume if you only have a high school diploma:

Taylor High School, Taylorsville, KY
2014–2018

Baseball team captain: 2017–2018 season

Incomplete high school education

To list your uncompleted high school education on a resume, mention the school name and the dates attended. It should look like this:

Hutchinson County High School, Smokey Town, TX
Attended from 2013 to 2014

High school equivalent

Mention the school you attended and the equivalent diploma earned after your studies:

Tennessee State High School Equivalency Diploma | Dartmouth Community College, TN
General Education Diploma (GED) 2015–2016

High school student

If you're still going to high school, you can list the name of the school, location and date you expect to graduate:

Copperfield High School, Portland, ME
Expected to graduate in April 2020

Recent college graduate

Include the name of the school, location, date and degree title. You can also include your GPA, awards, relevant coursework, scholarships and positions of responsibility. You can list an associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree this way, though you may want to add your thesis or dissertation topic for a master's degree or doctorate.

If you don't have work experience, this part of your resume is important because it allows you to showcase relevant academic achievements and experiences transferable to the workplace.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | University of Oregon, Oregon
2014–2018

*Honors: Dean's list for the 2015–2016 academic year*
*Student societies: Deputy President of the Computer Science Student Association, 2016–2017*
*GPA: 3.85*

College student

If you are still in college, include the name of the institution and the expected graduation date.

University of Sacramento, CA
Expected graduation date: September 2021

Incomplete college education

You can include an uncompleted degree even if you have no plans to return to school since it prevents gaps in your resume. Include the school name, date, degree title and the number of credits you completed during your studies.

Clifford School of Communications, NY
2014–2016
Completed 75 credits toward a Bachelor of Engineering in Radio Communication

Experienced professional

If you have over three years of work experience, consider placing your education section after your employment history and include only your most recent relevant academic credentials. If you have a postgraduate degree, you can include both degrees or the most recent one.

Master of Science in Geothermal Physics | Florida State University, FL
2015–2017
Bachelor of Science in Physics | University of Arkansas, AR
2011–2015

Education summary template

Use this template to write an education summary in your resume:

[College degree earned | Name of school, location]
[Years attended or graduation date]
[One to three bullets focused on your achievements, coursework or memberships while in school (optional)]

Education summary examples

Here are additional examples of resume education summaries for different levels:

Associate degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
Technical diploma

Associate degree

Associate of Science in Agricultural Machinery | Reverend Purdue Technical School
2011–2014

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor of Science in Meteorology | University of New Mexico, New Mexico
2014–2019

*GPA: 3.85*
*Relevant coursework: Weather Modeling, Hurricane Prediction and Analysis, Early Warning Systems, Advanced Oceanographic Mapping*

Master's degree

Master of Science in Business Management | George Washington University
2015–2017
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | Washington State University
2010–2014

Honors: Dean's list for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 academic sessions
Relevant coursework: Strategic economic planning, advanced negotiation skills, retail management, supply chain and logistics management