How to List a Degree on a Resume for 2024

An associate degree is the first level of certification that many colleges provide. It’s a step below a bachelor’s degree and usually takes around two years of study to complete.

To list an associate degree, you need this basic information: institution name, city/state location, degree and major(s).

To avoid confusion, spell out the full name of your degree rather than abbreviate it. There are many ways that degrees may be abbreviated, which may be obscure to some recruiter reading your resume.

The one exception to this is if you’re running out of space on your resume; then use the abbreviation.

Here’s a list of several common ways to abbreviate an associate degree on a resume:

A bachelor’s degree is a standard undergraduate degree most people earn with four to five years of full-time study.

Like any degree, you should list your bachelor’s degree on a resume in the education section.

You should put the full name of your degree on a resume to ensure everything is clear. However, you may use an abbreviation instead if you’re short for space.

Bachelor’s degrees are abbreviated like this:

Aside from those two most common, there are other special bachelor’s degrees.

Here’s a list of popular specialized bachelor’s abbreviations:

Employers are likely familiar with the degree abbreviations if the job you’re applying for is in one of these fields.

However, it’s always best to spell it out if you have the space! If a recruiter doesn’t understand an abbreviation, you may be underselling yourself.

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A master’s degree, often called a “graduate degree,” is an academic degree awarded by a university or college after completing a bachelor’s degree.

Every master’s program varies, but it usually takes around two years to complete.

Write a master’s degree on your resume in the education section. Like in the above example, list your master’s (most recent) degree above your bachelor’s.

Here are some common abbreviations for master’s degrees on a resume:

Like other degrees, you can abbreviate your master’s degree on a resume. However, if you have the space, it’s better to spell it out to avoid confusion.

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A doctorate or Ph.D. is the highest academic degree awarded.

Ph.D. stands for philosophiae doctor or “doctor of philosophy” and applies to more than doctors and medical professionals. For example, you could also have a Ph.D. in mathematics or art history.

It means that you have a high level of mastery over the subject matter and are qualified to teach. It can take time to complete a Ph.D., anywhere from three to 10+ years.

Like with a master’s degree, if you list a Ph.D., do so in reverse-chronological order. That means you should have your most recent degree first and anything you earned before it underneath, like in the above example.

Listing a doctorate often includes extra details like your thesis topic and academic advisor.

Just like other degrees, doctorate degrees are sometimes abbreviated on a resume to save space.

Here are some standard abbreviations for doctorate degrees on a resume:

If your degree is in progress or you’ve taken a break from it, you can still list it on your resume.

However, you need to show that it’s incomplete by either mentioning your expected graduation date (if it’s in progress) or the number of credit hours you completed (if you stopped your education).

That way, an employer can consider your educational background and progress. It will help more than not including it at all!