How to List an Unfinished Degree on a Resume? A Guide With 10+ Examples

by Hiration

Deciding whether to show an unfinished degree on a resume can feel risky.

You worry about how a recruiter will read that line, whether it will raise questions, and if it could overshadow the skills that actually make you a strong fit.

In reality, an unfinished degree can strengthen an application when it is presented clearly and linked to the role.

The key is context: label the status honestly, show relevant coursework or projects, and place the entry where it adds credibility rather than distraction.

This guide explains when to include or skip an unfinished degree, how to format it in every common scenario, and what wording choices avoid unhelpful labels.

You will also find a quick decision tree, placement rules, six copy-ready examples, a one-line formula for speed, and a short cover-letter sentence to address the topic up front when helpful.

The 20-Second Decision Tree: Include or Skip?

Include it if any of these apply:

  • You are currently enrolled and an Expected Graduation date signals progress.
  • You paused but completed meaningful credits or relevant coursework that support the role.
  • You are changing fields and the coursework/projects clearly demonstrate fit for the new direction.

Skip or minimize if both are true:

  • You have substantial work experience and the old or irrelevant program does not strengthen your candidacy, and
  • Removing it does not create a conspicuous timeline gap.
    If you do not include the degree itself, keep your learning visible through a Professional Development or Projects subsection.

Also Read: How to write an impressive student resume?

Where to Place Education (So It Helps, Not Hurts)

  • Students or early-career candidates: Put Education above Experience to highlight active study and academic proof points.
  • Experienced candidates: Put Education below Experience, unless the posting explicitly requires the degree or the coursework is crucial to your fit.

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

B.S. in Accounting - State University, City - Expected May 2026

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

Master's in Business Administration (In progress)
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.

B.S. in Communications - City College, New York, NY - 2019–Present
Re-enrolled; completed 40 credits in 2019-2021; academic leave in 2022
Relevant coursework: Public Speaking, Media Studies, PR Writing

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:

Example 1:

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

Example 2:

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

Example 3:

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?

When Should You List College on a Resume If You Did Not Graduate?

List it when it supports the role you are targeting, when you are currently enrolled and making progress, or when the coursework and projects provide evidence for skills the employer needs.

Even if your situation does not match those cases exactly, you can be upfront about the status while keeping the focus on the outcomes—credits completed, relevant classes, and practical work.

If you are concerned about perception, remember that clarity reduces doubt.

State what is complete, what is planned, and how the learning ties to the job.

When Is It Okay to Skip an Unfinished Degree?

You can omit an unfinished degree if your work history is strong, the program is not relevant, and its absence does not leave an unexplained blank.

In that case, transfer what matters—courses, certificates, or project outcomes—into Professional Development or Projects.

The goal is to keep the resume concentrated on proof that moves you forward.

Wording That Helps vs. Wording That Hurts

  • Use: “Expected Graduation,” “In Progress,” “Completed X credits toward…,” “Relevant coursework,” “Re-enrolled.”

  • Avoid: Leading with “unfinished” or “incomplete” as a label. Describe progress and outcomes instead of the gap.

Common FAQs

  1. How do you put a degree on a resume if it's not completed?

List the degree honestly and show progress or outcomes. Include the degree name, school, city, and either “Expected Graduation: Month Year” (if you plan to finish) or “Completed X credits toward [Degree]” plus relevant coursework or projects (if you do not intend to finish). Place it in the Education section, above Experience if you are early-career, or below if you are more experienced.

  1. How do you say unfinished degree?

Avoid negative labels like “unfinished” or “incomplete.” Instead, use positive, factual wording such as “In Progress,” “Expected Graduation: [Month Year],” “Re-enrolled,” or “Completed X credits toward [Degree].” This frames the entry around progress and skills gained rather than what was not finished.

  1. Should you put an unfinished degree on a resume?

Yes—include it when the coursework, skills, or timeline are relevant to the job. It is especially helpful if you are currently enrolled, plan to finish soon, or completed enough credits/projects to show expertise. If the program is unrelated and its absence does not create a gap, you can omit the degree and move relevant courses or certificates into a Professional Development section instead.

  1. What happens if you don't finish your degree?

Not finishing a degree does not automatically disqualify you. Employers often care more about the skills, knowledge, and experience you bring to the role. If you do not finish, you can still highlight completed credits, relevant coursework, certifications, and projects on your resume. Being upfront about your education status prevents confusion during background checks and shows integrity.

  1. Should I put college on my resume if I dropped out?

Yes, if the coursework or skills are relevant to the job, you can include the college with dates and credits completed. List it factually, such as “Completed 45 credits toward B.A. in Business Administration.” If the program is unrelated and omitting it does not leave a large gap, you can leave it off.

  1. How to list an unfinished degree on your resume?

Use a clear label that shows progress without emphasizing the gap. For example:
B.S. in Computer Science - State University, City - Completed 60 credits, Relevant coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Engineering.
If enrolled, include “Expected Graduation: Month Year.”

  1. How to put education on a resume if you didn't graduate high school?

List the highest level of education completed. If you earned a GED, include it. If not, you can still show professional development, certifications, or relevant training. Example:
GED - Completed 2022
or
Relevant Training: OSHA Certification, Customer Service Workshop.

  1. How to complete an incomplete degree?

Re-enroll at the same institution or transfer your earned credits to another accredited program. Many schools offer degree completion or online options designed for working professionals. Check transfer credit policies, update your transcript, and plan a realistic timeline to finish remaining requirements.

  1. Should I put college on my resume if I dropped out Reddit?

The same rules apply regardless of where you ask: include it if it supports your application, omit it if it is irrelevant or redundant. What matters is framing—show credits, coursework, or skills gained, and avoid labels like “dropped out.”

  1. How to list ongoing education on a resume?

Place ongoing education in the Education section and show status with an Expected Graduation date. Example:
Master of Public Health - University of Michigan - In Progress; Expected 2026.
If relevant, add coursework, GPA, or projects to highlight current learning.

Concluding Points

  • An unfinished degree can strengthen your resume when it is framed with clarity and relevance.
  • Use positive labels like In Progress, Expected Graduation, or Completed X credits instead of “unfinished” or “incomplete.”
  • Highlight relevant coursework, projects, and academic achievements to show what you gained.
  • Place Education above Experience if you are a student or recent graduate, and below if you are experienced.
  • Omit the degree only if it is irrelevant and its removal does not create an unexplained gap—then move useful learning into Professional Development or Projects.
  • Always keep dates and credits accurate, since background checks can verify enrollment and completion history.
  • Complement your resume with a short cover-letter line if context is needed to reframe your progress positively.

Handled with the right wording, an unfinished degree does not have to be a setback—it can be evidence of progress, skills, and determination.

If you want to make sure your resume highlights the right details and positions you competitively, Hiration’s AI-powered platform can help.

From resume reviews and rewrites to interview prep and LinkedIn optimization, we give you expert-backed tools to present your education and experience in the best light.

Try Hiration today and turn your unfinished degree into a stronger career story.