Expected Graduation Date on a Resume: Why It Matters and How to List It Correctly
Listing anticipated graduation date on your resume is essential if you're still studying. Hiring managers want to know if you can work full-time or need a flexible schedule to attend to your studies. Putting the exact graduation date on your resume informs employers when you'll be available to start working full-time and contribute all your time and attention to the job.
Usually, you should list your resume graduation date under the resume's education section, including the month and year when you plan to complete your college degree. However, there are nuances. In this guide, our experts will recommend the most effective way to share graduation date plus tips on how to list education on a resume to land more interviews.
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How to put your expected graduation date on resume? (+3 Samples)
Wondering about the best expected graduation date format on resume? The key is to make your current academic status clear by adding 'expected' or 'anticipated' before the graduation date. There isn't much difference between the anticipated vs expected graduation date resume, so you can use any of them.
To make sure your resume reflects your academic background effectively, also include your school name, major, and other degree information such as relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements. Including a start date is up to you, but as a student, it usually helps.
Here's how to list expected graduation date on a resume when applying for your first job.
Anticipated graduation date example - MBA student
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL - Anticipated Graduation May 2025
Master of Business Administration
Major in Marketing | Minor in Business Analytics
- GPA: 3.8
- Dean's List (Winter 2022)
Expected graduation date on resume - Economics student
New York University, New York, NY
Bachelor of Science
Double Major: Economics and Statistics
Expected graduation: September 2025
- Coursework: International Economy, Money and banking, Applied statistics, Public finance
Expected graduation date on your resume - Engineering student
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Expected 06/2026)
- Minor in nano-scale material science.
- Current GPA: 4.85/5
These are the examples of how to format your education section, including expected graduation date. They showcase the date when you plan on completing your Master's or Bachelor's degree, including details such as GPA and relevant coursework. Listing academic accomplishments and knowledge gives prospective employers more reasons to consider, you setting you apart form other job-seekers.
Both samples are well-structured and let the employers know the most essential information. You may format your education following these examples.
How to Format and List Your Graduation Date on a Resume
The best way to list graduation date for ongoing degree resume is MM/YYYY. Including a year only is less effective, as employers are curious about when exactly you can commit all your time and effort to the company.
Keeping your academic status up to date is essential for job search, no matter if you graduate in two months or two years from now. In this way, you show recruiters that you're pursuing the skills and knowledge for the role and are ready for part-time or internship positions. Here's how to write graduation date if you haven't graduated yet.
State the expected graduation date in Month/Year format
To list resume graduation date effectively, add the month and year on resume and make it clear that your degree is in progress. The best graduation date format looks as follows:
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Including a month is necessary since the employer needs to know exactly when you'll be able to start working full-time. If you're not sure about the month, contact your college or visit the college website to find out.
List all details about your education
Include the university name in full, as well as the degree you are currently obtaining. It is helpful to specify the major (or double major) and minorÂso that the employer could understand your areas of specialization in advance.
If you have no work experience, consider including coursework. List up to 8 courses that are most relevant to the target job opening. In this way, you will show that your theoretical background is enough to perform well in this role.
If you've started working on your thesis, include the title as well. If it relates to the target job title, the hiring manager will see that you are well-versed in a certain narrow specialization and have strong research skills.
Highlight the accomplishments
When hiring experienced professionals, employers prefer those with plenty of achievements. This works for students as well, with the only difference that achievements are academic. Here are the examples of accomplishments you need to show off as a university student:
- High GPA (3.5 or above)
- Dean's list
- Membership in sororities, such as Phi Beta Kappa
- Winning a scholarship or research grant
- Athletic achievements
- Student volunteer awards
- National student awards, etc.
With these tips, not only will you communicate graduation on your resume to prospective employers, but also present your education as an asset that can benefit their company. Education is the key element in a job application whether you're looking for a part-time or full-time job. With the right coursework, achievements, credit hours, and thesis, you can get ahead of other candidates in the application process.
Tip: If your resume has a Summary section, include your expected graduation there as well so that it's instantly visible to a potential employer.
Now that you know how to update graduation date on your resume, let's see how to strengthen your resume so that it helps pursue your career goals.
Building a strong resume: General tips
Once you have formatted the education section, it's time to make sure the rest of the document is composed well either. With these formatting tips, you'll easily understand how to write a student resume.
Place your Education section near the top
The best way to present education on a resume for a student or graduate is to put it right after your name and career summary (if you use it). If you have any experience, place it below the education. This is the most effective resume layout for student, as it gives a degree audit for employers and focuses on your academic achievements.
When you gain 2-3 years of relevant professional experience, you can put the Experience first and downplay the details of your education. But until them, do not hesitate to provide a detailed degree completion timeline on your resume and boast about what you've achieved while in college.
Tip: If you're going back to school after years of experience, put Education above the experience and add expected graduation date on your resume. This way, you'll sell your in-progress degree and present yourself as professional focused on growth and career development.
Optimize your student resume for ATS
When writing a resume as a student or recent graduate, don't forget to add keywords to make it through ATS filters. Today, nearly 99% of Fortune 500 employers use software to manage incoming job applications. By including relevant skills and qualifications (such as expected graduation on a resume), you'll boost your chances for consideration.
Keep the formatting consistent
To create the document that is visually appealing to the reader, use the same type of formatting everywhere. Opt for one font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial, as varying fonts are hard to read. Keep the formatting plain, since this is a professional document.
Optimal font size is between 10 and 12 pts. To emphasize the important details, use bold or underline the text. Use all caps for section headers, and make sure that sections are clearly divided.
Use a one-page document
An entry-level professional should submit a one-page resume. If you have limited experience, one page will be enough to describe your education, part-time jobs, internships and extracurricular projects. Note that if you've had many jobs and activities, you needn't list them all. Focus on the most relevant ones.
If you have plenty of experience and important activities, you may use the second page. But in this case, make sure that it takes two full pages and looks easy on the eye. If the document takes one and one quarter of the second page, alter the font size or margins to fit everything into one page.
Create a career summary
Summarize your top qualifications and achievements in 2-3 sentences at the beginning of the resume. These can be your anticipated degree, college awards or important skills.
Since you have limited work experience, employers are interested to know where you are headed in your career. At the end of the summary, you can outline this in one sentence like this: "Seeking an entry-level Front-end Developer position in a product-based company".
List professional skills
List up to 14 skills that match the job description. Since skills in a job posting work as keywords, in this case you'll have a higher chance of passing the ATS and be reviewed by a hiring manager. You may list industry skills, software proficiency, and soft skills.
However, avoid indicating trivial things such as organization, responsibility, teamwork, dedication, or punctuality. Such words are so overused that hiring managers often skip them. Focus on something more specific and relevant.
Don't stretch the truth
It might be tempting to exaggerate or add false information about your accomplishments to get more interview calls. However, today it is incredibly easy to check the facts about your education or work history. If the information you stated on a resume turns out to be false, you can lose a chance for a job and can damage your professional reputation.
Being honest is the best strategy.
Edit and proofread before sending
Students often neglect this one, but mistakes can be costly. According to the statistic, 59% of hiring managers will reject a resume that contains typos or poor grammar. So, don't submit a resume in a hurry and proofread it several times. In addition, do not forget about a professional email with a proper ending.
You may use an online spell checker to fix minor issues, and then read aloud to make sure each bullet point makes sense. Double-check the contact details - if you misspell an email or a phone number, the hiring manager might not contact you!
Add a cover letter
Enhance your application by writing a personalized cover letter that spotlights your motivation and qualifications for the role. Focus on your college projects, internships, and relevant skills you've gained through volunteering. Keep your letter to 3-4 paragraphs to save space and the employer's time. Don't mention personal circumstances of any kind - write more about your motivation and eagerness to learn.
Be careful when using a cover letter or resume builder - they usually create generic texts. If you use AI tools, paraphrase the generated text by adding personal details, statistics, and adapt it for the job.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you list graduation month and year on a resume?
List your graduation date in the Month/Year format, such as "Expected Graduation: May 2025". This format clearly shows employers when you'll be available to work full-time.
Should I include an anticipated graduation date if I'm still studying part-time?
Yes, adding your anticipated graduation date helps employers understand your availability. If you're studying part-time, mention it along with your graduation timeline.
Can I add my MBA expected graduation date on my resume?
Absolutely. Listing your MBA expected graduation date shows ongoing professional development, especially if you're applying for leadership or management roles.
What if I'm returning to school after a career break?
If you've returned to school after working, list your ongoing degree with the expected graduation date to demonstrate your current academic engagement.
How do I list a high school graduation date on my resume?
High school graduation dates are typically listed if you have no higher education yet. Include the school name, city, and your anticipated or completed graduation year.
Is it necessary to include a graduation date if I have an incomplete degree?
You can list the degree program without a graduation date. Add details like completed coursework or relevant skills to show your progress.
How do I update my resume if my expected graduation date changes?
Update your resume with the new month and year as soon as you receive official information from your school. Keeping your resume accurate is essential for credibility.
Helpful Resources & Tips
As a student or graduate, explore these resources for more tips on resume writing, job search, and career building: