糖心vlog官网观看

How to List an Unfinished Degree on Your Resume

Written by 糖心vlog官网观看 Staff 鈥 Updated on

Whether you鈥檙e working on a college degree or withdrew before graduating, you may wonder how to list an unfinished degree in the resume education section. Learn more about how to handle this situation to optimize your resume.

[Featured Image] A person sitting at a laptop learns how to list their unfinished degree on 
their resume.

If you鈥檝e attended college but not graduated, you may wonder how to list an incomplete degree on your resume. You may think it鈥檚 best to leave it out, especially if it鈥檚 not needed for the position you鈥檙e applying for, but employers are interested in what you studied, even if you didn鈥檛 complete a degree program.

This article explores ways to craft the education section of a resume if you haven鈥檛 finished a degree program. We鈥檒l examine how to position your education to highlight the coursework relevant to the position you're applying for.聽

What are employers looking for in a resume?聽

A resume tells prospective employers about your work experience, education, and skills. A resume helps an employer determine how you鈥檒l fit into the position and the company itself. It鈥檚 a brief overview, typically one or two pages, that describes the following:

  • Summary of your strengths and career objectives聽

  • Work experience聽

  • Education

  • Additional information, such as awards, skills, and interests

Your resume should include all the information an employer needs to ensure you have the qualifications necessary for the position and schedule an interview.聽

Why is a resume education section important?聽

Your education gives potential employers an idea of the skills you may have. Although it is only one of the factors that hiring managers look at, it鈥檚 essential to remember that your resume is your introduction to prospective employers and a critical tool to help you get an interview if you meet the qualifications they seek. Employers want to ensure your education aligns with the position. Education can also substitute for a lack of work experience.聽

Even if you鈥檝e only taken some college courses, list the ones related to the job you're applying for. Doing so helps prospective employers see that you have gained relevant skills and knowledge. It鈥檚 especially beneficial if you鈥檝e never worked in the field or have little experience.聽

College coursework shows prospective employers that you may need minimal training. If the courses you completed match the required skills, it can save the employer the time and cost of training.

How do you say you haven鈥檛 graduated yet on your resume?

If you are still working toward your degree and applying for jobs, you can list your in-progress degree on your resume with your anticipated graduation date. For example, your education section can include:

University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Journalism (anticipated graduation May 2026)

How to list an unfinished degree on your resume聽

It鈥檚 vital to phrase things positively and honestly on your resume. Whether you鈥檝e withdrawn from college, changed majors that delayed your graduation date, or are working toward an undergraduate degree, word the education section of a resume positively. Replace words such as 鈥渋ncomplete鈥 or 鈥渦nfinished鈥 with action-oriented words like 鈥渁ccomplished鈥 and 鈥渄emonstrated鈥 to highlight your education.

If you are attending college but haven鈥檛 finished your program or left and have no immediate plans to return, you should list any relevant coursework and the year or years you attended.聽

Many employers use the National Student Clearinghouse to verify college attendance, so you should be honest about your education. You likely won鈥檛 get an interview if the information doesn鈥檛 match. Before applying for jobs, you can request your information from the Clearinghouse to ensure its accuracy.

You may need to tailor your resume鈥檚 education section each time you apply to a position to meet the specific employer鈥檚 requirements. Some information is standard; however, you can tailor your education to include coursework relevant to the position.聽

List the school and the degree program title.

First, list the school you attended and the degree program title. You only need to list your high school education if a specific course relates to the position you鈥檙e seeking. For example, if you鈥檙e applying for a job requiring Spanish fluency and took four years of Spanish in high school, you鈥檒l want to add it to your resume.聽

Include the expected completion date.

If you currently attend college, include your expected completion date. If you withdrew, note the number of credits earned, the enrolled program, and the years attended.聽

You can highlight your college experience by listing relevant courses, internships, or honors received while attending. You might want to add your grade point average (GPA). Many employers in technical fields want to know prospective employees' GPAs, while other employers might not find it as significant as other qualifications.

Include relevant majors and minors.

You鈥檒l want to list any majors and minors. You can specify courses you took that are relevant to the position and your major GPA if you feel it will reflect favorably on your performance. You should list your major first, followed by your minor. You can also include relevant coursework and any extracurricular activities you participated in if you lack work experience.

Include professional development.聽

If you lack academic requirements, you can add any job training you received and workshops and seminars you鈥檝e attended. If you鈥檙e attending college, you can also opt to list activities you engage in that are relevant to the job you鈥檙e applying for or the skills employers seek.

Include any relevant projects.

If you worked on any school or work projects related to the position you鈥檙e seeking, add them to the education section. This is also an excellent opportunity to share the link to your online portfolio of projects if you have one.聽

Resume education example with an unfinished degree

You鈥檒l want to add the information to your education section if you have college credits but no degree. You can write it as follows:

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Completed 64 credit hours toward a BS in computer science, 2018 - 2020.聽

You should include related coursework and any other academic information, such as honors and certificates. Some colleges offer micro-credentials and other certificate programs that can boost the education section of your resume.

Rules for listing education on a resume: Other factors to consider聽

The resume template you choose will dictate where you鈥檒l list your education. Many templates are available for specific disciplines, such as nursing, education, technology, and the arts. Some templates lead with the education section, so if you haven鈥檛 completed a degree program, you might consider beginning with experience and adding education at the end.

If the coursework you completed or the degree program you鈥檙e enrolled in isn鈥檛 related to the position you鈥檙e applying for, consider moving the education section to the end of your resume. Begin with relevant details that help highlight your unique qualifications for the position.

Develop your resume education section with 糖心vlog官网观看

Having a degree is only one aspect of what employers are looking for. Crafting an effective resume that shows potential employers all you have to offer is an essential component of applying for a job. You can find several helpful options on 糖心vlog官网观看 to help you improve your resume-writing skills.聽

For example, the State University of New York offers a seven-module course on How to Write a Resume that you can complete in approximately five hours. Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters, offered by the University of Maryland, College Park, is a 12-hour course that can help you hone your writing skills while earning a certificate to add to your resume.聽

Updated on
Written by:

Editorial Team

糖心vlog官网观看鈥檚 editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.