How to Include Your Expected Graduation Date on a Resume

Expected Graduation Date on a Resume | How-to, Template & Example

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When you’re applying for your first job while you’re still in school, you may wonder how to properly, clearly, and honestly display your expected graduation date on your resume. Not only do you want to impress hiring managers, but you also want to make sure that applicant tracking systems analyze your resume correctly to indicate you are close to finishing your degree work. In this article, learn a few simple steps that can help you properly include your expected graduation date on your resume.

What is an expected graduation date?

An expected graduation date is the day, month, and year you are scheduled to graduate from college. The purpose of an expected graduation date is to let employers know that you’ll be fulfilling the education requirements needed for the job by the time the role needs to be filled. While you’re still in school, this information should be placed above your work experience section on your resume.

Should you include an expected graduation date on your resume?

Including your expected graduation date on your resume can indicate to employers that while you have yet to graduate, you are actively working to earn your degree. It can also let employers know whether they should expect to be flexible with your schedule while you’re finishing school. Some occupations have restrictions on when you are allowed to work in the field, so knowing your planned graduation date can help employers determine when you’ll be eligible to be hired.

How to include an expected graduation date on your resume

Follow these steps to include your expected graduation date on your resume.

1. First, determine when you expect to graduate

If graduation is close, your college should have informed you about the deadlines to apply for graduation, submission of grades, and the date of the actual commencement. The commencement date is what you include on your resume. If you do not know the exact date of your graduation, just include the term and year of your expected graduation. For example, you could write Anticipated graduation, Spring 2020.

2. Second, name your degree program

In the education section of your resume, list the degree program you expect to graduate from. For example, if you’re earning your bachelor’s degree in finance, list it as BS in Finance. If you’re getting a bachelor’s degree in business management, list it as BA in Business Management.

3. Third, name your school

Typically, the name of your school will go just below the degree program in the education section. However, if you’re graduating from an especially prestigious school, it is acceptable to list the school above the degree program. When you name your school, make sure to add the city and state in which the school is located. For example, you might write Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

4. Finally, add your graduation date

Place the expected graduation date just under your school name. It must be clear that this is an anticipated graduation date and that you have not graduated yet. As mentioned above, you can include the day, month, and year or simply the term and year. For example, Expected graduation date, May 15, 2020 or Graduation: Spring 2020 (expected). If you’re currently working on completing your final semester, you can use the word pending rather than expected or anticipated.

However you choose to list your anticipated graduation date on your resume, make sure it’s very clear that you have not graduated yet. If it’s not, recruiters can choose to interpret your omission as deception and automatically disqualify you for the job. Additionally, you might choose to include your GPA under your expected graduation date. Feel free to do so if your GPA is higher than 3.0. If it’s not, simply leave it off.

Tips for including an expected graduation date on your resume

The following tips can help you list your expected graduation date on your resume in the most effective way.

No need to include a start date in your education section

This is because schools have different degree programs that might come with unusual term lengths or other differences.

Keep a consistent format

However you choose to list your education, be sure to stick with a consistent format throughout if you have more than one degree to list. For example, if you choose to list your most recent degree in order of degree, program, school name, and graduation year, then you should list subsequent educational experiences the same way.

Consider including relevant coursework you’ve completed

If it’s relevant to the job for which you’re applying, briefly mention some coursework.

For example: 

BS in Finance
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Graduation: Spring 2020 (anticipated)

Relevant coursework:

  • Principles of Financial Management
  • Corporate Finance
  • International Business Practices
  • Managerial Accounting Practices

Consider including relevant projects

If you’ve completed projects relevant to the job you’re going for, you can briefly describe them with your coursework in the education section.

Make it clear when you will graduate

When listing your graduation date, include a word like anticipated, expected, or pending. It doesn’t need to be more prominent than the actual date, but it should be very clear with no room for misinterpretation.

Add your academic honors

If you’ve earned a special sort of distinction, such as the Dean’s List, President’s List, or similar achievements, you can add it underneath your expected graduation date. For example, you could write GPA 3.8, Dean’s List.

List your most recent degree first

For instance, if you have a bachelor’s degree and are nearing completion of your master’s, list your master’s with the anticipated graduation date, followed by your bachelor’s degree information.

Separate your certifications

If you’ve obtained additional certifications, create a section Certifications or Additional Certifications and list your relevant credentials in reverse chronological order.

Resume template with expected graduation date

You can reference the following template when writing a resume with your expected graduation date included.

[First and last name]
[Mailing address]
[City, state, zip code]
[Phone number]
[Email address]

Summary of qualifications

  • [Skill]
  • [Skill]
  • [Skill]

Education

[Degree program]
[School name, city, state]
[Expected graduation date]
[GPA]

Relevant coursework:

  • [Course]
  • [Course]
  • [Project]

Work experience

[Internship]
[Name of internship/your title]
[Company name, city, and state]
[Start and end dates]

  • [Responsibility]
  • [Responsibility]
  • [Responsibility]
  • [Responsibility]

Resume example with expected graduation date

Here’s an example of a resume with the applicant’s expected graduation date listed.

Lorraine Hines
7480 E. Poplar Court
Gibsonia, PA 15044
(555) 555-5555
Lorraine.Hines@email.com

Summary of qualifications

  • Demonstrated strong team-building and collaboration skills while working with students and professors.
  • Chaired the Social Integrity Board at Yale University, arbitrating sanctions for students who were in breach of the Student Code of Conduct.
  • Highly proficient in Lexis-Nexis, NetSuite, Microsoft Office, Sage One, and Sisense.
  • Entrusted to managing the class Investment Management Group, growing it by $10,000 over three terms.

Education

MBA, Finance
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Graduation: Spring 2020 (anticipated)
GPA 3.8

B.S., Finance
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Graduation: Fall 2019
GPA 3.8
Dean’s List, magna cum laude

Work experience

Financial Analyst
Summer Intern
CT Capital Corp., New Haven, CT
May 2019 to November 2019

  • Generated and analyzed financial reports.
  • Prepared financial statements.
  • Attended corporate staff meetings.
  • Learned and practiced tasks related to portfolio management and financial reporting.

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