How to List Dean's List on a Resume: 5 Examples to Impress Recruiters
Should You Put Dean's List on Your Resume? The Definitive Answer
You worked hard for it, but now you're staring at your resume and asking the big question: "Does the Dean's List still matter?" For job seekers, especially recent graduates, this academic honor can be a powerful signal of your work ethic and high achievement. But listing it incorrectly can waste valuable space or, worse, look unprofessional.
This guide goes beyond the basic advice. We'll provide clear, actionable strategies and examples to ensure this accomplishment enhances your resume, passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and impresses recruiters.
When to Include Dean's List on Your Resume (A Simple Framework)
Not everyone should include the Dean's List. It's most effective in specific scenarios. Here’s a quick decision guide:
- You're a current student or recent graduate: Absolutely. With limited professional experience, academic awards are your strongest proof of capability.
- You have less than 5 years of experience: Yes. It reinforces your qualifications and demonstrates a history of excellence.
- You're changing careers: It can be useful, especially if your academic performance is relevant to the new field.
- You have over 5-10 years of experience: Probably not. At this stage, your professional achievements and career progression should be the focus. An academic award from a decade ago can look like you're trying to fill space.
How to List Dean's List on a Resume: 5 Essential Examples
The key is to list it within your Education section. Be concise and consistent. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to parse your resume, so clarity is crucial Jobscan.
Here are five clear, ATS-friendly examples.
Example 1: The Simple & Clean Method
**University of California, Berkeley** | Berkeley, CA
*Bachelor of Arts in Economics* | May 2024
- Dean's List
Example 2: The Multi-Semester Specific Method
**New York University** | New York, NY
*Bachelor of Science in Computer Science* | May 2023
- Dean's List: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022
Example 3: The Consecutive Years Method
**University of Texas at Austin** | Austin, TX
*Bachelor of Business Administration* | May 2024
- Dean's List: 2022-2024
Example 4: The GPA Combo Method
This method is great if your GPA is also impressive (3.5 or higher).
**University of Washington** | Seattle, WA
*Bachelor of Science in Nursing* | June 2024
- GPA: 3.8/4.0
- Dean's List (7 semesters)
Example 5: The Honors Sub-Section Method
If you have multiple honors, group them to keep the section organized.
**University of Florida** | Gainesville, FL
*Bachelor of Arts in Journalism* | May 2023
- **Honors:**
- Dean's List (4 consecutive semesters)
- Summa Cum Laude
- Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society
Do's and Don'ts for Listing Dean's List
To avoid common mistakes, follow these simple rules.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Do place it in your Education section. | Don't create a separate "Awards" section unless you have 3+ significant, non-academic awards. |
| Do be specific about the duration if possible. | Don't lie or exaggerate the number of times you made the list. |
| Do keep the formatting clean and simple. | Don't write a long sentence about it. Let the achievement speak for itself. |
The Ultimate Test: Is Your Resume ATS-Ready?
Listing the Dean's List is a smart move, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Your entire resume needs to be optimized to get past automated screeners and impress a human. JobSeekerTools offers a free resume scan that analyzes your document against specific job descriptions, providing instant feedback on how to improve your chances. Ensure your hard-earned achievements are actually seen by a recruiter.
Conclusion
For early-career professionals, adding the Dean's List to your resume is a strategic way to showcase your dedication and academic success. By choosing the right format and placing it correctly within your education section, you provide recruiters with another compelling reason to move your application to the top of the pile. Focus on clarity, honesty, and relevance, and let your achievements speak for themselves.
Visual Guides
The 2-Minute Decision: Should You List Dean's List on Your Resume?
START HERE
│
▼
Are you a current student or
recent graduate (0-2 years)?
│
┌───────────┴───────────┐
│ │
YES NO
│ │
▼ ▼
✅ YES, INCLUDE IT! Do you have less than
5 years of experience?
│
┌───────────┴───────────┐
│ │
YES NO
│ │
▼ ▼
✅ YES, INCLUDE IT! Are you changing careers
OR is it relevant to
your new field?
│
┌───────────┴───────────┐
│ │
YES NO
│ │
▼ ▼
✅ CONSIDER ❌ PROBABLY NOT
INCLUDING IT - Focus on work
experience instead
Key Takeaway: For early-career professionals, Dean's List is a valuable credential. For experienced professionals (5-10+ years), your work achievements should take precedence.
Dean's List on a Resume: Good vs. Bad Examples
| ❌ BAD EXAMPLE | ✅ GOOD EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Education Section | Education Section |
| University of California, Berkeley | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| B.A. Economics 2024 | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | May 2024 |
| I was on the Dean's List for several semesters during my time at college which demonstrates my academic excellence and strong work ethic. | - GPA: 3.8/4.0 |
| - Dean's List: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 |
Why the Good Example Works:
- ✅ Clean, professional formatting
- ✅ Specific dates/semesters listed
- ✅ Concise - lets the achievement speak for itself
- ✅ ATS-friendly with clear structure
- ✅ Includes location and graduation date
- ✅ Uses bullet points for easy scanning
Why the Bad Example Fails:
- ❌ Wordy and unprofessional
- ❌ Vague ("several semesters")
- ❌ Over-explains the obvious
- ❌ Poor formatting and structure
- ❌ Missing key details (location, GPA)
- ❌ Difficult for ATS to parse
Pro Tip: Place Dean's List in your Education section as a bullet point. Be specific about duration but keep it brief - recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds on initial resume scans.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it okay to put Dean's List on my resume if I only made it for one semester? Yes, it's still an achievement worth noting. In this case, use the "Simple & Clean Method" (Example 1) without specifying the semester. If a recruiter asks, you can be honest. It's better to include it than to leave it off.
2. What if my university doesn't have a Dean's List but I had a high GPA? If you have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, you should absolutely list it. A high GPA is a direct and universally understood measure of academic excellence, serving the same purpose as a Dean's List notation.
3. Should I include my Dean's List certificate on my resume? No, you should not attach or embed any certificates or documents directly into your resume file. The text notation under your Education section is the standard and expected way to list this honor.