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What should you include on your resume when you haven’t finished your degree?

(Updated November 2020)

What do you include on your resume when you haven't finished your degree yet?

How do you address your incomplete education on your resume in a way that looks positive to potential employers?

If you’re still pursuing your degree or certification, then you should absolutely include this information on your resume.

Especially if the position requires whatever degree or certification you’re pursuing. There are two great ways to handle including this information on your resume:

1. State the college you’re attending

2. The degree you’re pursuing

3. Your area of study

4. Current GPA (if 3.0 or higher)

5. Include your anticipated graduation date; this is very important if your graduation date is within the next 12 months.

It could look something like this:

University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
Bachelors of Science Degree, Communications/Public Relations
GPA 4.0
Anticipated graduation date: May 2021

Here’s another option:

1. List the university you’re attending

2. The degree you’re pursuing

3. Your area of study

4. Current GPA (If 3.0 or higher) and the words In Progress. This works well if you’re still going to be in school for a couple of years.

It might look like this on your resume:

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelors of Arts Degree, Business Management – In Progress
Current GPA 4.0

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One more important note about including education on your resume:

I always recommend listing education at the top of the resume if the degree or certification is a requirement for the opportunity and it has been recently obtained or will soon be completed.

If the degree or education you have isn’t required or directly related to the position, put it at the end of the resume. This is also the case if you want to share with the employer that you have some education but you don’t want to advertise that you didn’t complete your education.

If you are not planning on finishing the degree or certification program that you started for whatever reason then check out yesterday’s article on how to include education information when you didn’t finish your degree and don’t plan to complete it.

Writing a resume that will pass through applicant tracking systems and interest employers isn’t easy, I get it. We create resumes that break through complicated screening systems and generate an abundance of interest from employers.

You can review our executive resume writing service here.

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Jessica Hernandez, President, CEO & Founder of Great Resumes Fast

Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

30 Comments

  1. katherine moody on October 11, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Great points here. It’s so important to know someone is working on their degree and has an anticipated completion date. for mid level and higher positions and for advanced degrees, the GPA may not be as important. It’s usually something we look at for entry level positions, so if it’s not great or GPA doesn’t really apply, no worries to omit it. I’ve never had a hiring manager ask for someone’s GPA for more senior level positions and/or advanced degrees.



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