Should I Put My GPA On My Resume? (Where And How To List It) - Zippia (2024)

Including your GPA on a resume can be a nerve racking decision. Your grade point average, or GPA, is a numerical summary of how well you did in school. A high GPA demonstrates your achievements as a student and improves the quality of your resume, while a low GPA on your resume impacts how a recruiter or hiring manager perceives your application.

Early on in your career you will have to choose whether or not to list your GPA on your resume. And then identify where on your resume to place your GPA.

With that in mind, you can follow this set of guidelines to understand if, and where, to include your GPA on your resume you:

• Include your GPA on your resume if you are a college student or a recent graduate with less than 3 years of experience and you have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

• Or include your GPA on your resume if the the job requires you to share it.

• It’s OK if you do not add your GPA, instead supplement your resume with skills, experience, and other relevant qualifications.

• Your GPA will go in the education section of your resume.

Below you’ll find the answers to the most common questions as they relate to deciding if and where to put your GPA on a resume.

What Is A GPA?

GPA is your total grade point average and can be found on your school transcript.

You always received grades in school. Grades for tests, for projects, for homework. No matter what it was that you did you received some sort of grade. Those grades reflected your performance on any given assignment.

These grades come together and produce an average for each year you were in school. By the time senior year came around, you received a final average — your GPA.

A GPA is usually calculated on a scale between 0 and 4, with a 4.0 being the highest possible GPA.

When Do I Include My GPA On My Resume?

You should only put your GPA on your resume if you meet the following:

• You are in college or are a recent grad with limited professional experience.

• And You have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

• Or the job requires you to share your GPA.

As a student or recent graduate, putting down your GPA on a resume can offer a huge advantage to you. It can get your foot in the door for an interview. It may even waiver doubts the employer has about you. A GPA helps supplement your resume when you lack professional experience.

This is particularly true for higher GPAs. A GPA under 3.5 isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn’t really make you stand out either. A high GPA meanwhile shows that you have exceptional academic skills which may translate to the professional world.

When Not To Put Your GPA On A Resume

Conversely you should not put a GPA on your resume if:

• You have more than three years of professional experience.

• You have a GPA lower than 3.5.

If you are a student or a recent graduate and your GPA is lower than you would like, highlight the extracurriculars you have done. Note the awards or groups you are a part of. You do not fit the resume, tailor the resume to fit you.

Acknowledge your achievements and experiences. Employers not only care about past grades. They care about their workplace environment and community. They care about what you bring to their table.

Anyone who has had over three years of professional experience doesn’t need to show their GPA unless they are asked. Employers are going to be more focused on your professional skills once you have enough experience.

Where And How To List Your GPA On A Resume

A GPA will go with the education experience of your resume. The placement of the GPA should be tailored to the resume format. Most of the time it will follow after the name of your university, the location of the university, and your major.

It is important to place the GPA in a natural spot. It doesn’t need to be the center of attention.

If there is one thing to keep in mind it is, to be honest. The truth will come out sooner than later. Save yourself from getting fired, and tell the truth up front.

Examples On How To Include Your GPA On A Resume

Remember, only include your GPA if it is a 3.5 or higher.

There are several ways to list your GPA on your resume. Here are a few based on a recent college graduate named Connie.

This first one demonstrates the grading scale. Some schools can use a 5.0 GPA scale whereas others can use a 4.0 GPA scale. This demonstrates that Connie obtained a 3.8 on a 4.0 GPA scale.

This second one does not demonstrate the grading scale. Some people prefer to not include the scale. It is your decision. Here are a few more examples below.

In this example above, the cumulative GPA is listed. The cumulative GPA represents the total average of years in school grade point average.

In college, there tends to be a difference between cumulative GPA and the GPA given by major. For instance:

Including Your GPA On Your Resume FAQs

1. Should I put a 3.2 GPA on my resume?

   No, you should not put a 3.2 GPA on your resume. The general rule of thumb is to only include a GPA on a resume if it is over 3.5. The same applies for GPAs of 3.0 and 3.1 — you should not include a GPA of 3.0 or 3.1 on your resume.

2. Should I put my 3.4 GPA on my resume?

   Yes, you can put a 3.4 GPA on your resume if, and only if, your major GPA is higher than 3.5. You can then reference your major GPA before your cumulative GPA. You need to be able to explain why your major GPA was higher and how you improved your GPA from freshman to senior year.

   You could also consider the same type of logic for adding a GPA of 3.3 to your resume — but your story has to be strong.