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How to Put an Unfinished Degree on a Resume (with Examples)

7 min read · Updated on December 07, 2023

You went to college, but didn't finish – that's okay because you can still put it on your resume!

They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Sometimes you start down the road to a destination but don't complete the trip. That doesn't mean your progress is for nothing. 

When it comes to college, even an unfinished degree may be something you'll want to let people know about. It doesn't matter whether circumstances prevented you from finishing, if you made a conscious decision to quit, or if you're going to finish it but just haven't yet. The steps you took in your academic career could be the thing that unlocks future employment doors.

But how do you put an unfinished degree on your resume? As it turns out, it's not difficult or something to be avoided. In this article, you'll find out when to include an unfinished degree on your resume plus some examples of how to write it. 

Some college is often better than no college

All employers care about is whether you'll be able to do the job they have open. They'll want to see how your skills and knowledge align with the job description. This is of the utmost importance when writing your resume. 

Consider the following:

Were any of the courses you took relevant to the job you're applying to?

Did you participate in, or complete, any major academic projects that would demonstrate the practical application of skills and knowledge?

Did you participate in any relevant clubs or extracurriculars that would pique a hiring manager's interest?

What type of independent study or research have you taken part in that would demonstrate initiative?

Do you have any certifications that improve your knowledge? 

What skills did you acquire while you were at college? How are those relevant to the job you want?

Did you take on any leadership roles in college? Think about things like fraternities, sororities, and student government.

How does your professional network look? What did you do to build it up?

All of this is meant to shift your thinking so that you can focus on valuable experiences rather than your unfinished degree. 

How to put an unfinished degree on your resume

Even though your focus should now be shifted from, “I didn't finish my degree, now what?” to “What skills and knowledge do I have that employers want?” you still have to include the fact that your degree is incomplete if you want to talk about it on your resume.

Adding a degree in progress on your resume

Sometimes, you'll run into an opportunity to apply for your dream job, but you haven't quite finished your degree yet. Pursuing your education shouldn't stop you from applying for the position you want. However, you want to be honest about the fact that your degree isn't complete yet. 

At this point in your career, the Education section of your resume will look a bit like a Work History section, because you'll put more details about your degree and where you're getting it. At this point, because of your need to emphasize how your skills, knowledge, and coursework align with what's required in the job, you'll need to include those things on your resume. You also need to let a prospective employer know approximately when your degree will be complete. 

Here's an example of how to include a degree that's still in progress on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | XYZ University | Expected completion: 12/2024

Relevant coursework: Introduction to Psychology, Psychology Research, Statistics, Psychology in the Workplace, Organizational Behavior, Coping Mechanisms, and Behavior Change. 

GPA: 3.8/4.0 

Internship: ABC School District, Teacher Support Program

PRO TIP: Only include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher. We wrote a comprehensive article about when and if you should include your GPA on your resume. Click here to read it.

The inclusion of relevant coursework and an internship provides a great opportunity for you to inject relevant keywords into your resume. Those keywords will help your resume to be found by the applicant tracking systems that an astonishing number of employers use to weed out unqualified applicants. 

Adding a degree you're not going to finish on your resume

Almost everyone has gone through a period of indecision regarding their degree plan. Some even change their major in college multiple times before landing on a path that suits them. Perhaps you've decided that college is no longer in your future or won't serve you very well in the career you've chosen to pursue. 

It could still benefit you to add it to your resume. You could even include some details such as relevant coursework, if you need to get some keywords into your resume . As long as you keep the focus of your Education section on skills, achievements, and experiences gained during your time at school, an unfinished degree shouldn't make or break your candidacy for a job. 

PRO TIP: Position yourself as someone with practical knowledge and a strong skill set to win that coveted interview offer. 

Here's an example of how to add an unfinished degree that you're no longer pursuing to your resume:

Bachelor of Business Administration | XYZ University 

Completed 80/120 credit hours, including finance, management, and marketing

Served as President of the Finance Club

Executed market analysis project that connected business with target market

In this example, you've shifted the focus away from the fact that the degree isn't finished. Instead, the reader – a hiring manager or recruiter – gains insight into your experiences, adding value to your application and demonstrating how you'll benefit the new team.

Don't forget the cover letter

The beauty of having a cover letter that complements your resume in situations when something needs to be explained can't be overstated. While your resume affords you some opportunity to dive into how your history aligns with the job opening, your cover letter lets you expand on the narrative to make it clearer. 

Providing extra context in your cover letter to emphasize your skills can help you to stand out as a top candidate among the hundreds of other people applying for the same position. 

Address the unfinished degree on your cover letter

You'll start a paragraph of your cover letter by quickly bringing up your unfinished degree. Talk about how a shift in your career focus has led you to change your mind on college. Emphasize that your desire for practical experience won out, as you felt that would be the best way to add value to future employers.

“I began my formal education working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration, but decided that it would serve future employers better if I had practical skills in marketing.”

Highlight skills you've acquired

Just like you did in your resume, talk about how your skills make you a great match for the job that the new company has available. Use verbiage from the job description to tailor your cover letter to the needs of the position. 

“The coursework I finished, especially the courses in marketing and finance, has equipped me with a solid foundation in analysis and strategy planning that brings companies and consumers together to improve sales and profits.”

Mention achievements - employers love achievements!

Any time you can talk about something you've achieved, you show prospective employers value. By witnessing your past accomplishments, they get a real sense of what you can do for them.

“When I was the President of the Finance Club, I consistently found ways to automate manual processes to save time. One such process improvement reduced a 5-day turnaround to 2 days.”

Leverage your practical knowledge

Having an unfinished degree isn't the end of the world, as long as you can turn your educational experiences into a narrative that shows you're a determined individual with the right practical knowledge. In this sense, you're not someone with an incomplete degree, you're an engaging professional ready to make solid contributions to prospective employer teams. 

Don't let an unfinished degree hold you back. Why not let us help you to craft a compelling resume that shifts the focus to your skills and achievements in a way that will land your resume at the top of the pile? Submit your resume now for a free resume review!

Recommended reading:

How to Create a Resume With No Education

What To Include in the Education Section of a Resume

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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Should you put an unfinished degree on your resume?

For most cases, yes, you should include an unfinished degree on resume if the job profile you are targeting calls for it.

It’s only natural to worry about how the recruiters are going to perceive your unfinished degree on resume.

However, studies show that 40% of undergraduate college students do not complete their graduation. So it’s really about how you present it, rather than what you say.

Besides, depending on your situation, you might consider going back to school to complete your degree in the near future or you might have had serious reasons for not being able to complete college.

Whatever may be the reason, the key is to present your unfinished degree on resume in a positive light.

Read on to see an unfinished degree on resume examples and get clarity on the following FAQs:

• When should you include unfinished college on resume?
• When should you skip including unfinished degree on resume?
• How to list unfinished college on resume?
• What are some unfinished degree on resume examples?
• How to list college on resume?

When Should I List College on My Resume if I Didn't Graduate?

Here are some scenarios wherein you must list your unfinished degree on resume:

• If you are still in college and your degree is in progress
• If you are taking a break from college and plan to complete your education soon
• If the degree aligns with the job profile you are targeting

And even if your situation doesn’t match the said scenarios, it’s advisable to be upfront about your unfinished degree in your resume because it shows relevant coursework, knowledge, and skills you have acquired.

Besides, you wouldn’t want the recruiters to find out about it after they hire you, as it’ll make your integrity seem questionable.

Also Read: How to write an impressive student resume?

When Should You Skip Including Unfinished College Education on Resume?

Yes, there are also certain cases where your unfinished degree can stay off your resume.

For instance, if you’re a professional with rich work experience, you don’t need to mention a degree you didn’t complete many years ago.

Also, if the degree isn’t related to your targeted job and eliminating your incomplete degree from your resume doesn’t create a significant gap in your career trajectory, you can very well do so.

How to Put Unfinished Degree on Resume?

Depending on your situation, there are different ways to address an unfinished degree on resume.

Take a look at the following scenarios and understand how you can put an unfinished degree on resume accordingly:

How to List Education in Progress on Resume

When you are currently pursuing a degree, you must mention your in-progress degree at the beginning of the education section in your resume.

Write the name of the degree, alongside the date of commencement and followed by the name of the university/college, location, and the expected graduation date.

You can follow the same approach while writing a resume with master's degree in progress.

Here’s an unfinished degree on resume example (when the degree is in progress):

Bachelor in Business Administration (2020 - Present) George State University Atlanta, GA Expected graduation: September 2024

You can also directly state that you're currently pursuing the degree in the following manner:

Master's in Business Administration (Currently pursuing) George State University Atlanta, GA

Provided you have an impressive GPA (3.5 or higher), notable academic achievements, and scholarships, you can mention these information as well.

This is especially important if you are a fresher with no work experience.

Here’s how you can add additional information under your in-progress degree:

Bachelor in Business Administration (2020 - Present) George State University Atlanta, GA Expected graduation: September, 2024 GPA: 3.6/4.0, Class President Awarded the Pristine Scholarship for academic excellence in 2021

Also Read: How to list education on resume

Unfinished Degree on Resume Example (Taking a Break from College)

In case you are taking a break from college but have plans to complete your degree, you can mention the same in your resume in the following way:

Bachelor’s in Mass Communication City College New York, NY Planned graduation date: May 2025

You can further explain your case to the recruiters and state your reasons for taking a break from college in a cover letter.

Also Read: How to list certification on resume?

Unfinished Degree on Resume Example (Gap in Employment Due to College)

If you have a gap in your work experience due to college, it’s important to show the employer that you are back in school to complete your degree.

Take a look at how you can present the same on your resume:

Bachelor’s in Mass Communication (2019 - Present) City College New York, NY Currently re-enrolled Completed 40 credit coursework in 2019-21 and took an academic leave.

Unfinished Degree on Resume Example (With no Intention of Completing the Degree)

Now, candidates who haven’t completed their degree and have no intention of completing it in the future can still include their unfinished degree on resume if it is relevant to the targeted job.

Instead of directly writing “incomplete” alongside the name of the degree, you can focus on the coursework you’ve completed and the number of credits you’ve earned.

Also, include any course projects that are related to the requirements of the position you’re applying for to support your case.

You can leverage the knowledge and skills you’ve learned while pursuing the degree, even if it is incomplete. All you need to do is know how to present it.

Given below are some examples of unfinished degrees on resume:

Greenfield University San Francisco, CA GPA: 3.5/4.0 Completed 50 credits towards a BA in English

Greenfield University (2020-2022) San Francisco, CA GPA: 3.5/4.0 Completed coursework: Media Writing Skills, Basics of Technical Writing, History of American English

Greenfield University San Francisco, CA GPA: 3.5/4.0 Completed 50 credits towards a BA in English Project: Wrote a research paper on the History of American Literature

Follow any of these approaches to list your unfinished bachelor’s or incomplete master's degree on resume to leverage it in your favor.

Also Read: How to list projects on resume?

How to List a College Degree on Resume?

If you've completed your degree and are wondering how to showcase your college education on resume, simply follow the following format:

• The name of your degree
• Your major/minor
• The name of the institution/university
• Location of your institution (city and state)
• Commencement and completion date

Take a look at the following sample of the education section in a resume:

Given below are some of the dos and don'ts you must follow while listing education, including unfinished degrees on resume:

Ensure that you put your highest degree at the top, followed by your older degrees. (This is the reverse-chronological format)

If you are a working professional with ample work experience, consider eliminating details about your high school while listing education on resume.

If you choose to use an abbreviation while listing your degree, like "MSc." instead of "Master's of Science", ensure follow the same approach while listing other degrees as well, to maintain uniformity. The same rule applies when you are writing the location as well.

You can rearrange the information according to its relevance while listing your education. Meaning, if your degree is not related to the job profile you're applying for, you can put the university name before your degree.

Also Read: How to write a resume with no experience?

Concluding Points

• You can include your unfinished degree on resume if the degree is relevant to the job profile you are applying for.
• You must focus on the completed coursework and credit rather than writing “incomplete” alongside the name of your degree.
• It’s advisable to include your unfinished degree in your resume because it shows relevant coursework, knowledge, and skills that may be crucial for the targeted job profile.
• Mention the expected graduation date or planned graduation date if you are currently pursuing the degree or are planning to complete the degree soon.
• You can skip including an unfinished degree on resume if you have substantial work experience or if the degree is not relevant to the job you are applying for.
• Consider mentioning your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5) and including any notable academic achievements and scholarships that you have received.

If you need expert guidance on presenting an unfinished degree on your resume, reach out to us at [email protected] and visit our career platform that offers 24x7 chat support.

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5 College Student No Experience Resume Examples & Templates [Edit Free]

College Student No Experience Resume

• College Student No Experience Resumes
• Resume Writing 101

Sometimes, ambitious college students can’t wait to start working. Janee considered how to show value on her resume as a grad: Dreaming of working as a business analyst at Resource Data fueled her to research the company and think of relevant college achievements.

Janee recalled real projects from her degree in math and economics that saved a local manufacturer thousands. Even her stint as basketball captain highlighted her ability to organize, boost morale, and drive positive results.

Referencing her class movie recommendation project and the time her random forest model outperformed projections by 19 percent, Janee topped off her college student no experience resume with a career objective . Bam—hired. Try our resume templates for yourself; we can’t wait to applaud your success, too!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Follow Janee’s college student no experience resume and make the most out of your project work to showcase your abilities in programming, modeling, data visualization, and teamwork. Finally, celebrate your victory lap with a well-crafted career objective.

College Student No Experience 2 Resume

College Student No Experience 3 Resume

College Student No Experience 4 Resume

College Student No Experience 5 Resume

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What Matters Most: Your Skills & Background Experience

When you lack experience, your skills become more important than ever! As a college student, you now have a nice, clear understanding of what you can do, and recruiters want to know all about it.

Make sure you list skills that are relevant to your field. For example: If you’re eager to step into the world of business analysis, then prioritize technical skills and highly relevant abilities.

And make sure those skills are worded in a deliberate and specific way, too! The last thing you want is to sound too apathetic about your future role to dig deeper than the usual generic terms on your resume.

Here are some examples of more specific skills you can use to show off your potential:

9 Best College Student No Experience Skills

• scikit-learn
• Linear Regressions
• Logistic Regressions
• Data Reporting
• Google Sheets

Sample College Student No Experience Work Experience Bullet Points

Now we’re on to the fun part! No really: It’s time to get creative and look for some nifty spins to put on your past projects and internships. Class groups, teams, clubs, and volunteer initiatives can all be used to demonstrate your ability to make the most of your skills, too.

Just make sure that anything you include is highly relevant to the field you want to work in! Use those sharp, specific skills you honed earlier to recall examples of experiences when you used them.

And always measure the impact you had when you reached those milestones! Use quantifiable data to back up your achievements and make them look way more credible:

• Reported to executives during business analytics class and initiated re-evaluation of resource allocation, saving $47K in vendor costs
• Aggregated data from Rotten Tomatoes and used k-nearest-neighbors in scikit-learn to improve recommendation system for personal tastes, boosting positive feedback by 12%
• Organized a community outreach for the university basketball team to train at-risk high school students and boost morale, leading high school teams to win 92% of total games
• Compiled and prepped 4 years of fantasy football projection data from 8 independent sources into a MySQL database, boosting positive ratings by 14%

Top 5 Tips for Your College Student No Experience Resume

• I know, I know, we just talked about it, but this really is a crucial aspect of your resume! When you don’t have any job experience yet, you’ll really need to hand-pick the most relevant bits and pieces of as many projects and college teams as you can.
• Many people hear “one page” and assume that filling their resume page is as important as limiting themselves to one page only. But this isn’t the case: Just focus on your best relevant achievements and allow some white space for things to breathe.
• Get strategic about your skill placement. Group similar types of skills together, such as everything related to Python, followed by everything related to data analytics, and so on.
• By all means, try out as many of our resume templates as you can! But while you compare them, keep a deliberate eye out for which one makes your college and project history look the fullest and most impressive.
• Keeping your experience examples sleek and to-the-point demonstrates your ability to get things done and convey info efficiently. You don’t have time to ramble since recruiters have to read things quickly!

Honestly, this isn’t something to worry much about: As long as it’s all together in one place and easy for recruiters to spot at a glance, you’re fine.

Customize it for each job description . It’s easy: All you need to do is reference the job description again and grab some key phrases and buzzwords to switch out in your resume, and boom: You’re now delivering a hand-tailored resume that’s designed to impress!

In our honest opinion, writing a cover letter is better. You get the best of both worlds: Your project and educational history will be able to take center stage while you use your cover letter to detail your qualifications in greater depth than you’d be able to with an objective statement.

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free