When and How to Include Dean’s List On Your Resume

Getting on the Dean’s list in college isn’t easy. So if you made the cut, it’s tempting to add it to your recent graduate resume. After all, including Dean’s list on your resume:

• Shows you’re a high achiever
• Demonstrates you’d be a serious, hard-working employee
• Highlights your drive and ability to succeed
• Adds an honor to your resume
• Helps make up for a lack of professional experience

However, every piece of information on your resume impacts an employer’s decision to hire (or not hire) you. So before you add Dean’s list to your resume, consider whether or not it’s the right move for you.

Should you put Dean’s list on your resume?

Yes, you should include Dean’s list on your resume in two specific circumstances.

1. You were on the Dean’s list consistently

Include Dean’s list on your resume if you made the list regularly. Making the Dean’s list for many semesters throughout your college career demonstrates a strong, consistent work ethic, as well as academic ability.

If, on the other hand, you only made the list a couple of times, you shouldn’t include it on your resume.

While making Dean’s list is an achievement, including it when you only made the list once or twice makes you appear inconsistent.

2. You attended or graduated from a prestigious university

The more prestigious the university, the more seriously you should consider putting Dean’s list on your resume.

This applies if you attend(ed) one of the Ivy League universities (e.g. Yale, Harvard and Princeton), or any of the colleges and universities widely recognized as the best in the United States. Knowing that you made the Dean’s list at such a competitive institution will impress employers even more, and help the name of your university stand out.

Even if you only made the Dean’s list once or twice, consider adding it to your resume if you attended a prestigious university like any of the above.

How to put Dean’s list on your resume

If you decide to put Dean’s list on your resume, make sure you do it the right way by using the proper format.

Include Dean’s list under your education section

You should always list the Dean’s list in your resume education section, because it’s part of your educational history. This is also where employers expect to see it.

Place the Dean’s list next to the GPA on your resume. This line belongs beneath the name, city, and state of your university, as well as your degree title and graduation year.

Here’s a template you can use for your own resume:

Education
University or College Name — City, State
Degree title (including minors)
Graduation year
GPA, Dean’s List for [X] semesters

Note how many times you made the Dean’s list

The more times you made the Dean’s list, the more impressive it is to an employer because it reflects consistent excellence. If you made the Dean’s list multiple times, include the number in your education section.

However, if you made the list less than three times, leave it off. Only graduates from top schools should mention they made the list once or twice.

List the number right after you mention “Dean’s List” in your education section, like in this example:

Examples of Dean’s list on a resume

Here are some examples of how to properly add Dean’s list to your resume: