How to List Your MBA on a Resume in 2025: Tips & Examples
Obtaining your MBA degree is a significant achievement that is sure to impress the hiring managers. It can instantly set you apart from the competition, showcase your business acumen, and highlight soft skills. In this article, we will show you how to list MBA degree on your resume to gain a competitive advantage and what details to include next to your MBA credential.
If you are wondering "How to put MBA on resume?" the answer is: in your education section. In some situations, it is also recommended to mention your business MBA in other sections, such as your career summary. You can and should include the degree in progress and expected completion date. You will also find tips on how to structure your MBA resume to make it more appealing to hiring managers.
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Why You Should List an MBA on Your Resume
Still wondering if including an MBA degree on your resume is worth it? Here are a few reasons why your MBA is a valuable asset:
- MBA is a significant achievement. Completing an MBA program takes a lot of work. The fact of you completing the program shows that you are ambitious, dedicated, and have impressive leadership skills.
- It proves your business administration knowledge. MBA programs provide specialized knowledge and skills in such business functions like finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. Employers seeking professionals with advanced knowledge in these areas will recognize your business school and qualifications.
- It opens doors to higher-level roles. An MBA is often a must-have for managerial roles with a vast responsibility and executive positions. It showcases your extensive knowledge in driving strategic decision-making and the organization's success.
Your MBA degree is a huge step towards career advancement, so make it count. Keep reading to learn how to include MBA on resume effectively to get shortlisted for management roles faster.
Where and How to Include Your MBA on a Resume
The rule of thumb is to include your MBA in the Education section of your resume, where hiring managers traditionally screen your educational background. You may also mention MBA on your resume header or career summary to draw attention early on. Make sure to include education details, such as school name, location, and achivements when listing MBA in education section resume.
Listing MBA after your name is not recommended, because ATS systems may not parse your resume correctly in this case. If you are not sure how to list MBA on your resume, here are the most popular ways to do it.
MBA in Education Section — The Classic Approach
The simplest way to showcase your degree is to add it to the Education section. List your degrees in a reverse chronological order. Your recent MBA degree will go at the top of the list above the Bachelor's degree.
Here's how to list MBA in the Education section resume:
- Format professionally. Include the school name, degree, and graduation year. Left-align your educational details for better readability.
- Include your MBA specialization. Thus, the hiring managers will quickly notice your area of expertise and how it aligns with the role.
- Add extracurricular activities, training programs, and relevant coursework, especially if your experience is limited.
- Be sure to include academic achievements or relevant coursework if they align with your target job.
- The best strategy is to include the full name of your degree (Master of Business Administration) and the abbreviation (MBA). It will help you pass an applicant tracking system that the company is using.
- List your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, you can omit it on your MBA resume.
- If you've recently obtained an MBA degree, consider moving your Education section closer to the top so that it's instantly visible.
Here's an example of how to list MBA on your resume's education section:
Boston Consulting Group 2024
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
GPA: 3.65
Columbia Business School 2023
Master of Business Administration in Marketing | Minor in Supply Chain Management
Graduated summa cum laude
Listing Your MBA in the Resume Summary or Header
If your degree is highly relevant for the role you're targeted, mention MBA in resume summary. Thus, the recruiters will instantly see that you're an MBA graduate and won't overlook this important credential. However, since your summary section is limited, only do it if your MBA in Business Management is super relevant, for example, for senior-level managerial roles. In all other cases, it is acceptable to include it in the Educaiton section only.
Here's an example of how to list an MBA in resume summary:
Ambitious MBA graduate with 3+ years of experience with financial modeling, data analysis, and investment valuation. Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and implement cost-saving initiatives. Identified $500,000 in potential cost savings through analysis of operational inefficiencies and development of streamlined financial models. Seeking to leverage my business acumen to contribute to informed investment decisions and drive profitable growth as a Financial Analyst at [Company Name].
Listing MBA in resume header is less common. Usually, including an MBA or PhD degree is used in C-level resumes. Although you may add it to stand out as an MBA applicant, such a format might confuse the ATS software and the hiring manager. So, only do this if you know that it will make the difference.
Example: John Livingston, MBA
How to List an MBA in Progress on Your Resume
Should you list an ongoing MBA degree on a resume? The answer is "yes". MBA resumes get more attention from hiring managers even if you haven't graduated yet. Here's how to list MBA in progress on resume to make it count:
- List your ongoing MBA in the Education section. Include the school name, degree, honors and awards, and other details as usual.
- When listing ongoing MBA on resume, list the anticipated completion date. Use the month and year format so that the employers can see when you're available.
- List degrees in reverse chronological order. Thus, your MBA in progress will top the list, followed by your undergraduate degree and other education credentials.
- Format this section professionally. Use a bold font for your degree and major to make them visible. Use the same font that you have in the rest of the document to keep the format consistent.
- Move the Education section to the top so that the recruiters can see that you're studying and the expected graduation date.
Now that you've learned the basics, let's look at how to put in progress MBA degree on your resume:
Stanford Graduate School Anticipated 05/2026
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Relevant coursework: Accounting, Finance, Supply chain processes, Marketing, Organizational behavior
MBA Resume Examples and Formatting Tips
Now that you've learned how to list an MBA on a resume effecitvely, let's have alook at sample MBA resumes.
MBA graduate resume example
Image source: https://d25zcttzf44i59.cloudfront.net/mba-resume-example.png
This resume features an MBA degree in the Education section placed near the top. It features the school name, degree, and graduation year. The candidate also mentions experience in leading cross-functional teams, improving operational efficiency, and reducing costs by 7%. The resume showcases notable accomplishments as well as relevant skills for ATS compliance. Overall, it is a good MBA resume and has professional formatting.
MBA application resume example
Image source: https://resumegenius.com/wp-content/uploads/MBA-resume-example-2.png?w=1166
This professional resume is designed for MBA program application. The candidate features their undergraduate degree, transferable skills, and professional experience in managing accounts. They also feature achievements in process improvement and boosting client retention. The resume is professionally structured with awards and skills, and will surely draw the attention of the admissions committee.
Executive MBA Resume - How It Differs
Executive MBA resume is a document that highlights and leadership experience for professionals aiming at C-level positions. It is similar to a regular MBA resume, but it requires a bigger emphasis on leadership, career progression, and achievements. Here are the essential elements of the executive MBA resume:
- List your Executive MBA degree. Include the school name, program, specialization (if any) and awards. You may use templates as listed above.
- Focus on your management experience. In the Experience section, include your success in managing people and projects, backing them up with numbers and percentages.
- Show career progression. Make sure your job titles and duties demonstrate the ongoing growth in responsibility and the impact you've made.
Are you changing careers? When writing an MBA resume for career switchers, be more detailed about your MBA degree. Include coursework, relevant projects, and activities that prove your management experience.
How to Write an Effective MBA Resume
Now that you know how to write MBA on resume, it's time to give your resume a few finishing touches. Here are the top MBA resume tips from our career coach to help you create a standout application:
Make sure your contact information is correct
At the top of your MBA resume, include your full name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile. Double-check these details, because if something is misspelled, a recruiter won't be able to contact you. Use a professional email address with your first and last name, and complete your LinkedIn profile so that it looks polished and contributes to your professional image. For an MBA graduate in a competitive enviroment, it can make a huge difference!
Add a compelling Summary section
Create a summary section at the top to show your strengths, achievements, and career highlights. Write 2-3 sentences summarizing what you can bring to the table and what distinguishes you from other job-seekers.
For example:
Highly motivated MBA graduate with 4+ years of experience driving successful marketing campaigns. Has a track record in increasing brand awareness by 20% and generating leads in the e-commerce niche. Seeking a challenging marketing leadership role to leverage data analysis skills and increase brand awareness.
Keep it to 1-2 pages
The best MBA resumes are short and concise. Keep the document to 1 page if you're an MBA graduate with little experience or 2 pages if you have an executive MBA and vast managerial experience. You can cut off the irrelevant or secondary details to focus on your leadership capabilities, project management skills, and measurable results.
Capitalize on the business school name
Make sure that your school name and degree are visible on your resume. If someone in your target company attended the same school as you, it can give you a competitive edge over other applicants.
Add the Skills section
Add the dedicated section to list your soft and technical skills. Read the job posting carefully to understand the employer's requirements, and list the must-have skills under a separate section. Thus, you will prove that you qualify for the job and also optimize your MBA resume with the right keywords, increasing your chances to be shortlisted. Highlight your experience working in teams, taking initiative, and achieving results collaboratively.
Add measurable achievements
For MBA professionals, it is important to showcase measurable results and metrics. Be confident to showcase your successes in team leadership, project coordination, and increasing the bottom line for business. Use numbers and percentages where possible, and give context to your achievements to better illustrate your impact. Example: Led a team of 6 to launch a new product line, resulting in an 18% revenue increase in Q1.
Want more guidance on how to make your resume accomplishments shine? Check out our tips for listing achievements on your resume
Proofread before sending
59% of recruiters will reject a resume with typos and grammar mistakes. Take the time to proofread the document to ensure that your resume writing is impeccable. Check the capitalization, spelling, job titles, and accuracy. Use an online spell checker to streamline the process.
Use professional formatting
The recruiter will make the first impression about your resume in seconds. Ensure that the formatting is spotless and looks professional. Set readable font size and large margins for better readability. Format your job duties and achievements in bullet points, not paragraphs. Use all caps for resume header and section headings, and add some colors to emphasize the essential details.
Optimize it for ATS
When writing a resume for management roles, remember to optimize it with keywords. Nearly 70% of large companies use ATS software these days, and if your resume lacks keywords, it will get tossed.
Read the job listing carefully and use the same words and phrases on your resume. Say, if they are looking for someone to optimize supply chain logistics and streamline production, use these keywords naturally on your resume. Include keywords in all resume sectons, including summary, skills, and professional experience.
Benefit from a recruiter-approved resume template
Visual appeal is paramount for an MBA applicant, as recruiters spend less than 10 seconds on initial resume review. If your resume looks neat and has a polished design, it increases the chance that the recruiter will read your resume from top to bottom.
At ResumePerk, we offer 20+ Google Docs resume templates perfectly suitable for MBA resumes. Our templates are free to use, and now you can build a beautiful resume in seconds! Copy the template to your Google Drive, insert details about your MBA degree and relevant experience, and apply with confidence. Our templates are ATS-friendly.
Must-Have Skills and Accomplishments for MBA Resume
Listing relevant skills and measurable achievements can strengthen your MBA resume, making it more appealing to potential employers. Since your key qualification is business management, focus on the ability to manage people and processes, solve problems, and direct teams.
MBA resume skills
You can create a dedicated Skills section on your resume and list relevant competencies there. Hiring mangers pay attention to lists of skills, so your resume might get more attention. Include the mix of hard and soft skills. Here are the good MBA skills for resume:
- Project management
- Financial modeling
- Budgeting
- Investment valuation
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Process improvement
- Financial reporting
- Market trends anticipation
- Team leadership
- Business development
- Negotiation
- Presentation skills
- Quantitative Analysis
How to list achievements on an MBA resume?
Listing accomplishments is essential for all career levels, and for management resumes, they are absolute must-haves. Here's how to list accomplishments on your MBA resume professionally:
- Include at least 2 achievements in each job. MBA graduates should boast a track record of success, so listing results of your work is a must.
- Use the PAR (problem-action-result) method. Explain the problem you encountered, your action, and the measurable result you acheived for the company.
- Rely on action verbs. Powerful resume words like orchestrated, directed, streamlined, improved, and generated make your resume sound more confident and highlight your initiative.
- Add academic achievements. If your work experience is limited, add achievements in your educational projects, volunteering, or similar activities.
Examples:
Consulted XYZ Company on a strategic marketing project, identifying a new opportunity that could generate $600K in annual revenue.
Served as President of the Finance Club, increasing membership by 15% and organizing a networking event with 80+ attendees.
Should You Mention Your MBA in a Cover Letter?
Like with your resume, the answer is "yes". Showcasing relevant leadership experience and the skills you've gained during the MBA program can capture the attention of the hiring manager. Tailor your cover letter towards the specific job opening and discuss relevant qualifications in the first place.
Another major advantage of listing your MBA in a cover letter is that you can expand on specific projects, relevant coursework, and specific skills you've acquired in business school. Thus, you will give highlights of your skills to potential employers before they read your resume.
Conclusion
Putting an MBA on your resume is a surefire way to stand out and increase your chances for a dream job. List your all-important degree under the Education section and in other sections if necessary to ensure the success of your job application. It also helps to include your MBA degree on a cover letter to give the employer a comprehensive picture about your qualifications.
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More MBA Resume Questions Answered
How to write MBA on resume?
Use “MBA” after your degree title in the Education section, for example: Master of Business Administration (MBA). For visibility, include it in your resume summary as well.
How to list MBA in progress on resume?
Mention the program name, school, and your expected graduation date. Add “In progress” or “Anticipated [Month, Year]” to indicate status.
Where should I put MBA on resume?
The Education section is the most common place. You can also mention it in your resume summary or after your name if it's highly relevant to the job.
What’s a good MBA resume example?
A strong MBA resume includes measurable achievements, clear formatting, leadership experience, and skills gained through your MBA program. Tailor it to each job you apply for.
How to include MBA coursework on resume?
If your coursework is relevant, list it under the degree in the Education section or in a dedicated “Relevant Coursework” subsection.
Should I use MBA or Master of Business Administration?
Use both once: the full form ("Master of Business Administration") for clarity and the abbreviation ("MBA") for keyword optimization and brevity.
Is MBA a postgraduate degree?
Yes. An MBA is a postgraduate professional degree designed to develop advanced leadership, analytical, and strategic skills for business roles.