GPA on your resume: Should you include it, and how?

You spent years working to maintain a good grade point average, commonly known as a GPA. But now that you’ve graduated, you might wonder, does it matter anymore? Could your GPA help you land a great job, or is your past studiousness irrelevant to an employer? We’ll explain whether you should add your GPA to your resume and how to include it when appropriate.

When to include your GPA on your resume

You may want to include your GPA on your resume if you’re currently studying or you’re a recent graduate. If you have little to no professional experience, a good GPA can tell employers that you’re a hard worker with strong relevant knowledge who could be an asset to their business. Once you gain three years of professional experience, you’ll have more professional achievements to note, and your GPA will become less relevant. You may decide to remove your GPA details earlier if you’re moving on from your first full-time job.

Unless your GPA is excellent, you’ll probably want to keep it off your resume. As a rule, it’s best to only list your GPA if it’s between 3.5 and 4.0. If you have a lower GPA, omit it and focus on other information that shows your potential, such as your resume objective, hobbies, and any experience gained through part-time jobs or volunteering. If you graduated with Latin honors, include your title rather than your GPA, as this will communicate more effectively that you’ve excelled in your studies.

You should always include your GPA when applying for jobs with employers who specifically ask you to include it or request candidates whose GPA falls within a particular range. With more than 38% of employers screening candidates according to their GPA, including your GPA on your resume could help you make the shortlist of candidates. Providing your GPA when employers ask for it also shows that you can follow instructions. Make sure that you add your GPA to your resume when you’re applying for roles with such instructions, even if you graduated many years ago, you have Latin honors, or your GPA is less than stellar.

Tips for including your GPA on your resume

If your GPA deserves a place on your resume, follow conventions to make your achievements clear. These tips can help you structure your resume with your GPA correctly:

Add your GPA to your education section

As your GPA relates to your academic performance, it belongs in the education section of your resume. List your GPA near the relevant degree or high school qualification for clarity.

Include the best GPA details

If you’re a college or university graduate, you’ll have two GPAs: your major GPA based on the subject you majored in and your overall GPA based on your coursework. If both your major and overall GPAs are strong, you can list them both. If you did much better in your major subjects than your general coursework, you can leave your overall GPA off and just include your major GPA. Choose whichever option paints you in the best light.

“If you have little to no professional experience, a good GPA can tell employers that you’re a hard worker with strong relevant knowledge who could be an asset to their business.”

Include the most relevant GPA details

If you’ve recently graduated high school, your high school GPA is the most relevant figure to include on your resume. If you decide to continue your studies, your college GPA will become more important. You can remove your high school GPA and provide your college GPA instead, as employers will be more interested in your most recent academic performance.

Write your exact GPA to two decimal places

Resist the temptation to round up your GPA to make yourself seem like a more appealing candidate. Your resume should accurately document your achievements. Being honest helps ensure that an employer sees you as trustworthy if they decide to review your academic transcript. If you fudge the truth, you may not go very far in the recruitment process.

Most GPAs have two decimal places. If yours has three, it’s best practice to truncate your GPA rather than round it up. For example, a GPA of 3.448 becomes 3.44 rather than 3.45.

Resume GPA templates and examples

There are several ways to format your GPA. The following templates and examples can give you some inspiration for your resume:

Option 1

This basic template and example show the simplest way to list your overall GPA on your resume.

[Degree and major]
GPA: [Overall GPA to two decimal places]

Bachelor of Science in Psychology
GPA: 3.75

Option 2

This template and example show another option for listing your overall GPA, with the pipe separating this GPA from the major.

[Degree], [Major name] | GPA [Overall GPA to two decimal places]
[University], [Graduation year]

Bachelor of Science, Psychology | GPA 3.75
Queens University, 2023

Option 3

This template and example show one way of listing your major GPA that emphasizes your degree and university.

[Degree], [University], [Graduation year]
Major: [Major name] (GPA [Major GPA to two decimal places])

Bachelor of Science, Queens University, 2023
Major: Psychology (GPA 3.82)

Option 4

This template and example show an alternative way of listing your major GPA that emphasizes your grades.

[Degree], [Major name] (GPA [Major GPA to two decimal places])
[University], [Graduation year]

Bachelor of Science, Psychology (GPA 3.82)
Queens University, 2023

Option 5

This template and example show how to list both your overall and major GPAs.

[Degree], [University], [Graduation year]
Overall GPA: [Overall GPA to two decimal places])
Major: [Major name] (GPA [Major GPA to two decimal places])

Bachelor of Science, Queens University, 2023
Overall GPA: 3.75
Major: Psychology (GPA 3.82)

Tips for highlighting your GPA

Adding other details about your academic success can promote your GPA and separate you from other candidates. Here are some strategies for emphasizing your GPA:

Note academic awards

Listing academic awards can distinguish you from your peers in the eyes of a potential employer. Coupled with your GPA, it helps paint you as a studious candidate with strong knowledge. Academic awards that could impress employers include being your high school valedictorian or on the dean’s list at university.

Add standard test scores

If you’re a high school graduate, you could add your standardized test scores along with your GPA. Employers may look more favorably on your application if they can see that you’ve excelled on the American College Test or Scholastic Aptitude Test. Your results may be very relevant for some roles, such as becoming an SAT tutor.

Include details of your thesis

If your thesis topic relates to the position you’re applying for, you could also add it to your resume. Including details of your thesis alongside a good GPA shows an employer how your research experience and knowledge are relevant to the role.

As you make your way in your career, your GPA will become less relevant. However, if you have a good GPA, it can help you get your foot in the door and allow you to take your first steps up the corporate ladder. Following common conventions for listing your GPA on your resume could help you land an entry-level role. You can start your job hunt by uploading your resume with CareerBuilder.

Related reading: Job tips for graduates

Finding a job without experience can be challenging, but these tips can help you identify the right entry-level roles. 

You’ve recently graduated, so what’s next? Use this guide to help find a job after college. 

A professional cover letter can help you make a good first impression on an employer. Learn how to write a strong cover letter with our handy guide.

It’s not always appropriate to list your GPA on your resume. Here are five more pieces of information best omitted.

Learn from the mistakes of other first-time job seekers to increase your chances of landing the right role.