Including the Dean's List on your resume can strategically highlight your academic achievements and dedication to excellence. This accolade showcases your GPA and qualities like diligence, time management, and a strong work ethic.
However, deciding whether and how to create a resume that features the Dean's List requires careful consideration of factors like its relevance to the job, consistency in achieving the honor, and the institution’s prestige.
This guide explores the pros and cons of listing the Dean's List on a resume and provides practical tips on featuring it in a way that gets results.
Key takeaways
- The Dean’s List should be strategically displayed on your resume in the education, awards, or summary section, ensuring it complements your GPA or other honors to enhance your profile without redundancy.
- Dean’s List is most impactful when achieved consistently across multiple semesters, signaling dedication and strong academic performance.
- This accolade is particularly valuable for recent graduates or entry-level candidates with limited professional experience, helping differentiate their profiles.
- Avoid including the Dean’s List if it appears redundant with Latin honors, achieved infrequently, or if your professional experience outweighs academic accomplishments.
The best time is now to check and see if your resume is ready to start sending out. Run it through Enhancv’s AI resume checker before you do anything else!
Is your resume good enough?
Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
What defines the “Dean’s List” across colleges?
The Dean's List is a recognition awarded to students who achieve a high GPA during a specific academic term. While the exact criteria vary by institution, it often requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher, full-time enrollment, and graded coursework.
Some universities only recognize the top 10-20% of students, and standards may differ across schools or programs within the same university. Graduate students are typically ineligible, as the Dean's List is primarily an undergraduate honor.
Including the Dean’s List on your resume can strengthen your application when done strategically.
Here are the scenarios and benefits to consider:
When should you mention Dean’s List on a resume?
- Consistent achievement: If you made the Dean’s List for most or all semesters, it reflects a strong work ethic and consistent academic excellence.
- Prestigious institution: Achieving the Dean’s List at a highly regarded university or program adds credibility and elevates your academic credentials.
- Early-career applications: For recent graduates or those with limited professional experience, including the Dean’s List helps differentiate your resume by emphasizing academic achievements.
- Showcases academic excellence: Demonstrates your ability to perform at a high academic level and achieve your goals.
- Builds credibility: Highlights qualities like discipline and dedication, which employers value in candidates.
While the Dean’s List can bolster your resume, there are situations where it’s best left out:
When to avoid including Dean’s List on resumes
- Limited appearances: If you achieved it fewer than three times, it might suggest inconsistency to employers.
- Redundancy: Listing the Dean’s List alongside GPA or recognized honors may appear repetitive and unnecessary.
- Extensive work experience: For seasoned professionals with a significant job history, work accomplishments are generally more impactful than academic accolades.
- Potential confusion: Varying criteria for Dean’s List across institutions can dilute its perceived value, particularly for lesser-known schools.
- Latin honors present: When you’ve earned universally recognized accolades like cum laude distinctions, these should take precedence.
This honor can be put in several places on your resume. Let’s have a look at where and how you should consider presenting it.
Where and how to include Dean’s List on your resume
If you decide to include the Dean’s List, proper placement and formatting are essential.
Education section
The education section is the most common place to list the Dean’s List. Provide it alongside your GPA if applicable:
- Place it beneath your degree and GPA.
2020 
- •Dean’s List for 6 semesters
Awards section
If your education section is already robust or if you’re listing other honors, consider adding the Dean’s List to an awards section:
- Ideal if you have additional accolades to feature.
Resume summary (optional for entry-level candidates)
For entry-level candidates, you can mention the Dean’s List in your objective statement. More experienced job seekers can include it in the resume summary to immediately highlight their academic excellence.
Let’s look at an example of a well-written objective statement:
And now for a resume summary:
Conclusion
Listing the Dean’s List on your resume can bolster your credibility and showcase your dedication to academic excellence, especially for recent graduates or early-career professionals. However, it’s essential to weigh its relevance and present it effectively. Tailor your inclusion of this honor to your unique academic and professional story, ensuring it enhances your overall narrative.
Make one that's truly you.
