Education is an essential part of your resume. It communicates your experience level and is one of several factors employers assess along with relevant experience, credentials, and skills.
Most jobs require at least a high school diploma. Advanced education often leads to higher-paying roles. With this shift, adults nationwide have returned to school to create economic opportunities for themselves and their families, requiring résumé updates. Enhancing your resume now is especially important as we head into graduation season.
How you list your education on your resume is dependent on your educational background. To maximize your chances of being considered for employment, list your education on your resume in the recommended formats below:
Actively In School
If you are still in school, whether you are working towards a high school diploma, workforce training, or a college degree, it is good to list it on your resume. List your education on your resume with your expected date of completion.
Example
GED, Expected Date of Completion June 2026
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
Being in school shows employers you are pursuing skill development, advancing your knowledge, and are committed to a goal.
Adding active education to your resume is especially important for those who took time off work or are unemployed while earning their education.
“Many people have gaps in their work history. You do not need to hide them or explain everything in detail. If you were in school at Academy of Hope, that is something to be proud of. You were showing up, learning, and working toward a better future,” Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School (AoH) College Navigator Thomas Webb says.
How you list your current schooling is dependent on where you are in your academic journey and how far you plan to progress. AoH learners and alumni can work with AoH specialized staff members to fine-tune their resumes to their specific scenario.
High School Diploma
Earning a high school diploma is a big achievement. It shows employers that you are serious, committed, and ready to move forward.
“Put your education near the top of your resume if you recently finished school. Under your diploma, you can also list skills you built along the way, like computer use, writing, teamwork, or working with numbers,” Thomas says.
Example
GED, June 2026
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
“You do not have to share your age on your resume. If you are concerned about that, you can simply list your diploma without the graduation year,” Thomas says.
If a high school diploma is your highest form of education, beef up the relevant experience and skills sections of your resume to boost your opportunity.
College Degree
If you are actively working towards a post-secondary degree (associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, etc.), you can remove your high school education from your resume, since a high school diploma is required to progress to a college degree. Then, list your college degree. If you have progressed and have multiple post-secondary degrees, list them all, starting from lowest to highest-ranking.
Example of One College Degree
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, June 2026
University of the District of Columbia
Example of Multiple College Degrees
- Bachelor of Science, Nursing, June 2026
Howard University
- Associate in Science, Biology, June 2026
University of the District of Columbia
If you are a recent college graduate or actively in college, list any Greek organizations, honor societies, or career-relevant activities that might make you stand out or help you connect with an employer. If an employer is also a member of the organization, they understand the weight of the values, skills, and work you’ve completed, giving you an advantage.
In addition, if you have a GPA over 3.5, add it. As you gain more experience in your desired field, it can later be removed.
Example of One College Degree
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, June 2026
University of the District of Columbia, 4.0 GPA
Activities: UDC Student Nurses Association, Omicron Omicron Chapter Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Workforce Training
From healthcare to information technology (IT), workforce development programs help provide training to prepare adults for industry licensing and credentials required for specific careers.
How you list your training and certification/licensing is different based on each industry’s standards. See how learners/alumni should list their education from AoH workforce programs:
For information technology (CompTIA)
Your training and certification will go in different sections of your resume. Workforce training can go under “Education.” The industry certification(s) can go under “Certifications.” The certification section can go at the bottom of your resume, with the education section above it.
If you have multiple certifications, list them from highest to lowest ranking— similar to how you would list your college degrees, if applicable.
*Note: If you have all four CompTIA training certifications offered by AoH, CompTIA A+ should be listed first because it is the most impactful in the industry. Security+ and Network+ certifications, while important, are only relevant to certain skill sets.
Example
Education
Information Technology Training Program: Information Technology, June 2026
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
________________________________________________________________
Certifications
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Tech+
For healthcare careers (Certified Nursing Aid (CNA), Phlebotomy, etc.)
Your training and certification will go in the same section of your resume. Update the education section of your resume to say “Certification/Education.”
Example
Certified Nursing Assistant, April 2026
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
CPR/First Aid – BLS
Stacking education with an industry-recognized certification in the recommended format can help advance you ahead of the competition by showcasing your expertise.
Conclusion
Returning to school as an adult, from high school education to workforce training, is proof that you can work hard and finish what you start. That matters to employers. Be proud of that achievement and let your resume guide you towards economic mobility by following these tips.
It’s normal to be overwhelmed getting started. Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School (AoH) learners looking for personalized resume assistance can contact AoH’s specialized staff members:
High School Diploma/College: Thomas Webb, thomas@aohdc.org
Workforce Training (Information Technology): Jamier Jones, jamier@aohdc.org
Workforce Training (Healthcare): Deneen Miller, deneen@aohdc.org