Have you made the Dean’s List? Congratulations! It’s a prestigious academic honor that also looks good on your resume. If you’re applying for an internship or your first job, it’s definitely worth highlighting this distinction.
In this article, we’ll show you how to list the Dean’s List on your resume to showcase your academic excellence.
Why should you include the Dean’s List on your resume?
Including Dean’s List honors on your resume has many benefits, especially if you’re a current student or a recent graduate.
You can add this award to your resume for the following reasons:
- It’s an impressive academic achievement. Not everyone gets on the Dean’s List. You can list this honor on your resume to show prospective employers your academic success.
- It shows your work ethic. Meeting the GPA requirements for the Dean’s List takes hard work and dedication. Many employers look for these indicators of work ethic when hiring for entry-level positions.
- It can add value if you lack work experience. If you’re a recent graduate with little or no work experience, listing your Dean’s List honors can help round out your resume.
- It can make your resume stand out. When applying for your first job, putting the Dean’s List on your resume can make you stand out from other entry-level candidates.
Where to put the Dean’s List on a resume
Your Dean’s List honors should go in your resume education section. Put this information below your completed or in-progress degree. It also makes sense to include your GPA, since most schools use grades to award Dean’s List honors.
Check out this example that shows you how to list the Dean’s List on your resume education section:
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Princeton University
Expected graduation May 2026
3.9 GPA, Dean’s List for six semesters
How to include the Dean’s List on a resume
Follow these essential steps for how to put the Dean’s List on your resume:
1. Fill out your education details
Since the Dean’s List goes in your education section, start by filling out those details. Provide your degree and field of study, such as “Bachelor of Science in Engineering.”
Below your degree, list the name of your school and the date you graduated (or expect to graduate, if you’re currently in school).
You can use this template to complete your resume education section:
[Full name of degree]
[Name of school or institution]
[Graduation date]
[GPA], [Dean’s List, Semesters/years/times earned]
2. Mention the frequency
Making the Dean’s List multiple times shows consistency and dedication to your schoolwork. When listing this honor on your resume, explain how many times you earned it. You can specify the exact semesters you made the Dean’s List or the total number of times you earned this honor.
For example, you can follow any of these formatting options:
- Dean’s List, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
- Dean’s List, 4 semesters
- Dean’s List, all semesters
If you only made the Dean’s List once or twice, putting it on your resume might draw attention to the fact that you didn’t make it consistently. In this case, consider whether there’s another academic achievement you can list instead, like a scholarship you earned.
3. Consider moving your education to the top
When you’re just starting your career, it’s common to have more academic achievements than professional ones. In this case, you can put your education section at the top of your resume, so that an employer sees your most impressive accomplishments first.
When to remove the Dean’s List from your resume
While academic achievements, like a high GPA and the Dean’s List, deserve a spot on your resume when you’re just starting out, they don’t belong there forever. After you’ve gained two years of work experience, remove those honors from your education section to make space for your professional accomplishments.
Dean’s List resume examples
If you need more guidance, view these other examples of how to put the Dean’s List on a resume:
Dean’s List on a student resume
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of Michigan
Expected graduation May 2028
GPA: 3.8
Dean’s List, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Dean’s List on a recent graduate resume
Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
Boston University
May 2025
Dean’s List, 5 semesters
FAQs about putting the Dean’s List on a resume
Have more questions about listing academic honors on your resume? Here are answers to some other commonly asked questions about this topic:
Do you put the Dean’s List on your resume?
Yes, you should include Dean’s List honors on your resume if you’re a current student or a recent graduate who earned the designation multiple times.
Should I put the Dean’s List on LinkedIn?
Absolutely! The Dean’s List is a great distinction to add to your LinkedIn profile as you search for internships during school or your first job after graduation.
Is the Dean’s List a big deal?
Yes, the Dean’s List is a prestigious academic honor that you should feel proud of accomplishing. When applying for jobs, highlighting the Dean’s List can show employers that you’re dedicated, driven, and someone who takes pride in your work.
What other academic honors should you put on your resume?
Other academic honors you can put on your resume include:
- A high GPA (typically 3.5 or higher)
- The President’s List
- Latin honors, such as summa cum laude or magna cum laude
- Graduation distinctions, such as valedictorian
- Scholarships
- Fellowships or grants
- Departmental or class honors
- Honor roll
Keep in mind that once you begin working, your resume should prioritize your professional achievements over your academic ones. Usually, you can remove these academic honors from your resume after a few years in the workforce.
If you need more inspiration on how to include the Dean’s List and other academic awards on your resume, have a look at our resume samples and resume templates.
